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PSYC Discovering Psychology and Research Methods
Chapter 1
40
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
05/05/2013

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
Psychology
Definition
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Term
Overt
Definition
Directly observable behaviors
Term
Covert
Definition
Private, internal activities such as emotions, thinking, dreaming, and memory
Term
Research Method
Definition
A systematic approach to answering scientific questions
Term
Description
Definition
In scientific research, the process of naming and classifying
Term
Understanding
Definition
When the causes of a behavior can be stated
Term
Prediction
Definition
An ability to accurately forecast behavior
Term
Control
Definition
Altering conditions that influence behavior
Term
Pseudopsychology
Definition
Any false and unscientific system of beliefs and practices that is offered as an explanation of behavior
Term
Critical Thinking
Definition
An ability to reflect on, evaluate, compare, analyze, critique, and synthesize information
Term
Phrenology
Definition
Actually based on some reasonable neurological findings but taken too far
Term
Graphology
Definition
Personality traits are revealed by handwriting
Term
Astrology
Definition
The positions of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth determine personality traits and affect behavior
Term
The Scientific Method
Definition
Observing, defining a problem, proposing a hypothesis, gathering data/ testing the hypothesis, publishing results, building a theory
Term
Uncritical Acceptance
Definition
the tendency to believe generally positive or flattering descriptions of oneself
Term
Fallacy of Positive Instances
Definition
The tendency to remember or notice information that fits one's expectations, while forgetting discrepancies
Term
Barnum effect
Definition
The tendency to consider a personal description accurate if it is stated in very general terms
Term
William Wundt
Definition
Considered the "Father of Psychology"; studied conscious experience: reactions to various stimuli; used introspection
Term
Introspection
Definition
To look within; to examine one's own thoughts, feelings, or sensations
Term
Edward Titchener
Definition
Brought Wundt's ideas to the US; renamed ideas structuralism; also used introspection; tried to analyze "structure" of mental life
Term
William James
Definition
Studied how the mind functions to help us adapt; applied the term functionalism
Term
John Watson
Definition
Deemed introspection as unscientific; objected to study of the mind; adopted Ivan Pavlov's concept of conditioning; observed relationship between stimuli and response
Term
B.F. Skinner
Definition
Studied relationship between actions, rewards, and punishments; emphasized positive reinforcement vs. punishment; worked with animals
Term
Max Wertheimer
Definition
Influenced perception and personality
Term
Sigmund Freud
Definition
Behavior is largely influenced by unconscious wishes, thoughts, and desires; especially sex and aggression; "talking cure"
Term
Gestalt psychology
Definition
A school of psychology emphasizing the study of thinking, learning, and perception in whole units, not by analysis into parts
Term
Biological Perspectives
Definition
Behavior can be explained through internal physical, chemical, and biological principles
Term
Psychological Perspectives
Definition
Behavior results from psychological processes; includes cognitive psychology and consciousness
Term
Sociological Perspectives
Definition
Many thoughts and behaviors are influenced by one's culture
Term
Research Participant Bias
Definition
Changes in behavior (experiment) caused by expectations
Term
Placebo Effect
Definition
Changes in behavior (experiment) caused by the belief one has taken a drug
Term
Single-Blind Experiment
Definition
Participants do not know if they are in experimental or control group; blind to the hypothesis
Term
Researcher Bias
Definition
Change in behavior due to researcher's unintended influence
Term
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Definition
Prediction prompting people to act --> makes prediction come true
Term
Double-Bling Experiment
Definition
Neither researcher nor participants know who is in the experimental vs. control group
Term
Correlation
Definition
Consistent, systematic relationship between two or more events, measures, or variables
Term
Positive Correlation
Definition
Increases in one measure match increases in the other measure; decreases in one measure match decreases in the other measure
Term
Negative Correlation
Definition
Increases in one measure match decreases in the other measure
Term
Case Study
Definition
In-depth focus of all aspects of a single subject
Term
Survey
Definition
Polling technique to answer psychological questions
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