Chapter 1 - Lecture notes 1 - Intro To General Psychology PDF

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Chapter 1.
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Chapter 1 Thinking Critically With Psychological Science 1. “For a lot of bad ideas, science is society's garbage disposal.” Describe what this tells us about the scientific attitude and what's involved in critical thinking. Many ideas and questions may be scrutinized scientifically, and the bad ones end up discarded as a result. Scientific thinking combines (1) curiosity about the world around us, (2) skepticism about unproven claims and ideas, and (3) humility about one's own understanding. This process leads us to evaluate evidence, assess conclusions, and examine our own assumptions, which are essential parts of critical thinking. 2. What event defined the start of scientific psychology? Scientific psychology began in Germany in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory. 3. Why did introspection fail as a method for understanding how the mind works? People's self-reports varied, depending on the experience and the person's intelligence and verbal ability. 4. The school of structuralism used introspection to define the mind's makeup; functionalism focused on how mental processes enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish. 5. From the 1920s through the 1960s, the two major forces in psychology were behaviorism and Freudian psychology. 6. How did the cognitive revolution affect the field of psychology? It recaptured the field's early interest in mental processes and made them legitimate topics for scientific study. 7. What is natural selection? This is the process by which nature selects from chance variations the traits that best enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment. 8. What is contemporary psychology's position on the nature–nurture issue? Psychological events often stem from the interaction of nature and nurture, rather than from either of them acting alone. 9. How do the scientific attitude's three main components relate to critical thinking?

The scientific attitude equips us to be curious, skeptical, and humble in scrutinizing competing ideas or our own observations. This attitude carries into everyday life as critical thinking, which puts ideas to the test by examining assumptions, appraising the source, discerning hidden biases, evaluating evidence, and assessing conclusions. 10. What were some important milestones in psychology's early development? Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychological laboratory in 1879 in Germany. Two early schools were structuralism and functionalism.

11. How did psychology continue to develop from the 1920s through today? Early researchers defined psychology as "the science of mental life." In the 1920s, under the influence of John B. Watson and the behaviorists, the field's focus changed to the "scientific study of observable behavior." Behaviorism became one of psychology's two major forces well into the 1960s. However, the second major force of Freudian psychology, along with the influences of humanistic psychology and cognitive psychology, revived interest in the study of mental processes. Psychology is now defined as the science of behavior and mental processes.

12. How has our understanding of biology and experience, culture and gender, and human flourishing shaped contemporary psychology? Our growing understanding of biology and experience has fed psychology's most enduring debate. The nature–nurture issue centers on the relative contributions of genes and experience, and their interaction in specific environments. Charles Darwin's view that natural selection shapes behaviors as well as bodies led to evolutionary psychology's study of our similarities because of our common biology and evolutionary history, and behavior genetics' focus on the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Cross-cultural and gender studies have diversified psychology's assumptions while also reminding us of our similarities. Attitudes and behaviors may vary somewhat by gender or across cultures, but because of our shared human kinship, the underlying processes and principles are more similar than different. Psychology's traditional focus on understanding and treating troubles has expanded with positive psychology's call for more research on human flourishing and its attempt to discover and promote traits that help people to thrive.

13. What are psychology's levels of analysis and related perspectives? The biopsychosocial approach integrates information from three differing but complementary levels of analysis: biological, psychological, and social-cultural. This approach offers a more complete understanding than could usually be reached by relying on only one of psychology's

current perspectives (neuroscience, evolutionary, behavior genetics, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and social-cultural).

14. What are psychology's main subfields? Within the science of psychology, researchers may conduct basic research to increase the field's knowledge base (often in biological, developmental, cognitive, personality, and social psychology) or applied research to solve practical problems (in industrialorganizational psychology and other areas). Those who engage in psychology as a helping profession may assist people as counseling psychologists, helping people with problems in living or achieving greater well-being, or as clinical psychologists, studying and assessing people with psychological disorders and treating them with psychotherapy. (Psychiatrists also study, assess, and treat people with disorders, but as medical doctors, they may prescribe drugs in addition to psychotherapy.) Community psychologists work to create healthy social and physical environments (in schools, for example). Structuralism (P.5): early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind. Counseling psychology (P.12): a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being. Evolutionary psychology (P.8): the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection. Psychiatry (P.12): a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy. Functionalism (P.5): early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function—how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish. Critical thinking (P.3): thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. Psychology (P.7): the science of behavior and mental processes. Humanistic psychology (P.7): historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential.

Biopsychosocial approach (P.10): an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis. Clinical psychology (p. 12): a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders. Positive psychology (p. 10): the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive. Cognitive neuroscience (p. 8): the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language). Community psychology (p. 12): a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups. Behavior genetics (p. 8): the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Culture (p. 9): the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. Behaviorism (p. 6): the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). Nature–nurture issue (p. 8): the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture. Natural selection (p. 8): the principle that those chance inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations. Basic research (p. 12): Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base. Applied research (p. 12): scientific study that aims to solve practical problems. Levels of analysis (p. 10): the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon. 15. In 1879, in psychology's first experiment, Wilhelm Wundt and his students measured the time lag between hearing a ball hit a platform and pressing a key.

16. William James would be considered a(n) ________. Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener would be considered ________. A functionalist; evolutionary . theorists B. evolutionary theorist; structuralists C. functionalist; structuralists D. structuralist; functionalists

17. In the early twentieth century, ________ redefined psychology as “the science of observable behavior.” Abraham Maslow John B. Watson Sigmund Freud D. William James A . B . C.

18. Nature is to nurture as A biology is to . experience. B. personality is to intelligence. C. psychological traits are to behaviors. D. intelligence is to biology.

19. “Nurture works on what nature endows.” Describe what this means, using your own words.

The environment (nurture) has an influence on us, but that influence is constrained by our biology (nature). Nature and nurture interact. People predisposed to be very tall (nature), for example, are unlikely to become Olympic gymnasts, no matter how hard they work (nurture). 20. A psychologist treating emotionally troubled adolescents at a local mental health agency is most likely to be a(n) A clinical . psychologist. B. industrial-organizational psychologist. C. psychiatrist. D. research psychologist.

21. A mental health professional with a medical degree who can prescribe medication is a psychiatrist . 22. A psychologist conducting basic research to expand psychology's knowledge base would be most likely to A interview children with behavioral problems and suggest . treatments. B. observe 3- and 6-year-olds solving puzzles and analyze differences in their abilities. C. design a computer screen with limited glare and assess the effect on computer operators' eyes after a day's work. D. treat older people who are overcome by depression. 23. Questions such as "What do you mean?" and "How do you know?" illustrate how scientists approach claims with a curious _____. skepticism 24. Who was the first female president of the American Psychological Association (APA)? Mary Whiton Calkins Jean Piaget Margaret Floy Washburn Rosalie Rayner

25. Which of the following is the interdisciplinary study of brain activity associated with cognition? cognitive neuroscience behaviorism humanistic psychology Freudian psychology 26. Doubting a claim because it is not based on evidence is an example of _____ thinking. Critical 27. An early representative of psychologists who today focus on the adaptive functions of behaviors and emotions is _____. William James 28. The biopsychosocial approach provides an understanding of social-cultural influences integrated within the larger framework of evolutionary psychology. multiple levels of analysis. social-cultural perspective. psychodynamic perspective. 29. Because Josh accepts everything his teacher tells him as absolute truth, we say that he lacks the scientific attitude of _____. gullibility humility introspection skepticism

30. Because Josh accepts everything his teacher tells him as absolute truth, we say that he lacks the scientific attitude of _____. gullibility humility introspection skepticism 31. Dr. Wright is a therapist who believes that our unconscious thought processes impact our behavior, which is a core belief of: humanistic psychology behaviorism. Freudian psychology

cognitive psychology 32. Javier has a problem controlling his temper and violent behavioral outbursts. Considering the complexity of his problem, ______ is the best approach to understanding his problems. evolutionary psychology the psychodynamic perspective the social-cultural perspective the biopsychosocial approach 33. Doubting a claim because it is not based on scientific evidence exemplifies: natural selection. humility. critical thinking. introspection.

34. A psychologist asks research participants to report their immediate sensations, images, and feelings as they taste a new soda, a research method called _____. Introspection

35. Dr. Infield assesses and treats people with mental, emotional, and behavior disorders. She is a: clinical psychologist. counseling psychologist. psychiatrist. community psychologist. 36. Dr. Nichols is licensed to prescribe drugs and otherwise treat the physical causes of psychological disorders. He is a _____. psychiatrist 37. Your professor directs a child and adolescent clinic that focuses on helping patients change their behavior, not on helping them understand themselves or satisfy their inner needs. Which branch of psychology is represented in your professor's views? Behaviorism 38. Dr. Franz conducts research on how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information. Dr. Franz favors the_____ perspective. behavioral behavioral genetics

neuroscience cognitive 39. Curiosity, skepticism, and humility, which are essential when considering researchers' claims, prepare us to examine any assumptions behind the claims, discern hidden biases, and evaluate the evidence. This demonstrates how the scientific attitude is related to _____ thinking. critical 40. Dr. Keely works to create social and physical environments that are healthy for all. He is a: clinical psychologist. community psychologist. psychiatrist. counseling psychologist. 41. Your professor directs a child and adolescent clinic that focuses on helping patients change their behavior, not on helping them understand themselves or satisfy their inner needs. Which branch of psychology is represented in your professor's views? humanistic psychology functionalism Freudian psychology behaviorism 42. In his research, Dr. Edwards focuses on how we learn observable responses. Dr. Edwards favors the_____ perspective. social-cultural evolutionary cognitive behavioral 43. Curiosity, skepticism, and humility, which are essential when considering researchers' claims, prepare us to examine any assumptions behind the claims, discern hidden biases, and evaluate the evidence. This demonstrates how critical thinking is related to the _____ attitude. scientific 44. Dr. Hernandez helps people cope with challenges and crises and to improve their personal and social functioning. She is a: clinical psychologist. counseling psychologist. psychiatrist.

community psychologist. 45. In her research, Dr. Cabello focuses on how our genes and our environment influence our individual differences. Dr. Cabello favors the_____ perspective. cognitive evolutionary social-cultural behavioral genetics 46.Nasim's class is discussing global warming. Colton notes that carbon emissions are up 15 percent in the last 10 years and that the average temperature worldwide has risen two degrees Fahrenheit in that same period. He attributes these changes to increased use of fossil fuels. Nasim wonders about the source of those statistics and whether they could have an alternative explanation. In other words, she is demonstrating _____ thinking. critical 46. The leader of a self-help group has asked you to recommend an approach to psychology that emphasizes personal growth and people's need for love and acceptance. Which branch of psychology would you recommend for this group? Humanistic Psychology 47. A psychologist asks research participants to report their immediate sensations, images, and feelings as they taste a new soda, a research method called: behaviorism. functionalism. structuralism. Introspection. 48. You're having trouble coping with stressful life events, so you begin seeing a therapist. The therapist emphasizes the importance of your need for love and acceptance. Her approach is best described as _____. Humanistic 49. A local school board is setting up a program to help prepare children to become scientists. The teachers should encourage their students to be curious, _____, and humble. Skeptical 50. Sam, who experiences auditory hallucinations and other symptoms of schizophrenia, has not been taking his medication. Dr. Kohn is evaluating Sam and may admit him to the hospital so that she can restart his medications and monitor his response. Dr. Kohn is most likely a: psychiatrist 51. In psychology class, when Matt claims that women are more empathic than men, Shari asks, "How do you know?" She is demonstrating the scientific attitude of _____. Skepticism

52. Dr. Orsen works to create social and physical environments that are healthy for all. He is a_____ psychologist. Community 53. Dr. Montague assesses and treats people with mental, emotional, and behavior disorders. She is a_____ psychologist. Clinical 54. Manipulation of the experiment means that: only the person running the experiment knows which is the control group and which is the experimental group. . participants are divided into groups by the researcher to minimize random assignment. . all variables are controlled for, except the one being tested. results of the experiment can't be replicated by other researchers. 55. If different researchers get consistent results from testing a hypothesis, the results are said to be: A. valid. B. manipulated. C. reliable. D. randomly assigned. 56. An in-depth observation of a small sample or single individual is an example of which research method? A naturalistic observation . B. a case study C. an experiment D. a survey 57. The ______ approach involves directly observing the topic of interest. deductive empirical correlational rational

58. Which of the following is NOT a tool that can be used in empirical research? the human eye

a telescope a microscope content analysis 59. Professor Patel is conducting observational research on children in kindergarten. Her data will make it possible for her to: make allusions. explain causation. describe the children. make predictions. 60. Professor Tan found a strong correlation between SAT scores and introductory psychology grades for students at his college. His data will allow him to: describe how students study for introductory psychology tests. explain what causes high introductory psychology grades. predict a student's introductory psychology score based on their SAT scores. explain what causes high SAT scores. 61. The only research method that can be used to explain what caused a change in a variable is ______ research. rational experimental observational correlational 62. Professor West has 30 participants drink either 0 mg, 2 mg or 4 mg of caffeine mixed in juice before completing two tasks; a response time task and a memory task. In this experiment, the independent variable is: the memory task. the amount of caffeine consumed. the response time task. the number of participants. 63. Professor Enfield has 8 ten-year-olds and 8 fifteen-year-olds study a book about beekeeping for either 5 minutes or 10 minutes and then recall as much information as possible. In this experiment, the dependent variable is: the number of participants. the amount of time spent studying.

recall of beekeeping information. the age of the participant. 64. In an experiment, a researcher can make claims about causation if: changing the dependent variable resulted in changes in the independent variable. it is the same ...