PSYC 101 Overview: Mind, Brain, & Behavior –
Structuralism, Behaviorism, Experimental,
Social, Developmental, Industrial, Clinical,
and Behavioral Neuroscience; Empirical &
Non-Empirical Knowledge; Logic, Math,
Metaphysics; Scientific Method, Parsimony,
Laws, Causality, Correlation, Determinism,
Free Will, Materialism, Solipsism, Dualism,
Psychophysical Interactionism, Parallelism,
Epiphenomenalism, Emergent Properties;
Nervous System – Neurons, Glial Cells, Action
Potential, EPSP, IPSP, Neurotransmitters
(Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA,
Glutamate); CNS & PNS (Somatic, Autonomic,
Sympathetic, Parasympathetic) Exam
Questions Verified and Provided with A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Psychology
The study of "mental" events; the "mind". Will be seen as a science.
Psyche
Greek meaning breath, soul, spirit, mind
Structuralist
Wants to analyze the adult mind in simplest definable components. Titchener and Wundt
founded this.
Introspection
Used by structuralists. Examining your own mental events; subjective method.
,Behaviorism
The study of behavior and brain events. Watson is known for this. Is objective and can be
validated.
Experimental psychology
Studying human and animal learning and memory.
Scientific: understand learning. Practical: help people learn.
Social Psychology
Studies how an individuals psychology is influenced by groups.
Scientific: how pressure impacts us.
Practical: how to help deal with this.
Developmental Psychology
Studies how psychology differs through life.
Scientific: How people change
Practical: How to help people of all ages.
Industrial Psychology
Studies psychology in industry, human relations, how employees treat others...
Scientific: Understand machines and people
Practical: Help people while at work
Behavioral Neuroscience
Understanding neurological substrings of psychology.
Scientific: Experimental
Practical: Help with diseases.
Clinical Psychology
Deals with behavior, cognition, issues and needs someone to help.
Scientific: Understand people
Practical: Therapy
Empirical Knowledge
Gained and validated via the senses (observations, sensory experiences). Not all is scientific.
Non-Empirical Knowledge
, No observations or sensory experience is necessary to gain or to prove the knowledge. Logic
and Math, and Metaphysics are a part of this.
Logic and Math
Deductive, axiomatic. Validate through logical analysis of consistency.
Metaphysics
Means beyond physics. Ethics, religion. Gained by revelation. Not validated by experience or
logical analysis.
Scientific Method
Observe, form question, form hypothesis, test hypothesis, form general theories or laws.
Minnesota Fats is not a scientist because not parsimony.
Goal of Science?
To formalize parsimonious laws. Also to look for causes of events.
Formalize
To state a proposition in an unambiguous manner
Law
Statement of universal form that states the relationship among events. Can be verified but not
proven because it can change. Must be verifiable and falsifiable.
Parsimony
Simplicity, the simplest explanation is best. Seen when group two laws into one.
When does "A" cause "B"?
When A is antecedent (occurs first), necessary (needs to happen so B can occur), and sufficient.
Correlation
A mathematical relationship between the level of two variables.
Coefficient of Correlation
r= +- 1.0
When both var. move together, +
When they are different, -
Correlation does not...
Structuralism, Behaviorism, Experimental,
Social, Developmental, Industrial, Clinical,
and Behavioral Neuroscience; Empirical &
Non-Empirical Knowledge; Logic, Math,
Metaphysics; Scientific Method, Parsimony,
Laws, Causality, Correlation, Determinism,
Free Will, Materialism, Solipsism, Dualism,
Psychophysical Interactionism, Parallelism,
Epiphenomenalism, Emergent Properties;
Nervous System – Neurons, Glial Cells, Action
Potential, EPSP, IPSP, Neurotransmitters
(Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA,
Glutamate); CNS & PNS (Somatic, Autonomic,
Sympathetic, Parasympathetic) Exam
Questions Verified and Provided with A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Psychology
The study of "mental" events; the "mind". Will be seen as a science.
Psyche
Greek meaning breath, soul, spirit, mind
Structuralist
Wants to analyze the adult mind in simplest definable components. Titchener and Wundt
founded this.
Introspection
Used by structuralists. Examining your own mental events; subjective method.
,Behaviorism
The study of behavior and brain events. Watson is known for this. Is objective and can be
validated.
Experimental psychology
Studying human and animal learning and memory.
Scientific: understand learning. Practical: help people learn.
Social Psychology
Studies how an individuals psychology is influenced by groups.
Scientific: how pressure impacts us.
Practical: how to help deal with this.
Developmental Psychology
Studies how psychology differs through life.
Scientific: How people change
Practical: How to help people of all ages.
Industrial Psychology
Studies psychology in industry, human relations, how employees treat others...
Scientific: Understand machines and people
Practical: Help people while at work
Behavioral Neuroscience
Understanding neurological substrings of psychology.
Scientific: Experimental
Practical: Help with diseases.
Clinical Psychology
Deals with behavior, cognition, issues and needs someone to help.
Scientific: Understand people
Practical: Therapy
Empirical Knowledge
Gained and validated via the senses (observations, sensory experiences). Not all is scientific.
Non-Empirical Knowledge
, No observations or sensory experience is necessary to gain or to prove the knowledge. Logic
and Math, and Metaphysics are a part of this.
Logic and Math
Deductive, axiomatic. Validate through logical analysis of consistency.
Metaphysics
Means beyond physics. Ethics, religion. Gained by revelation. Not validated by experience or
logical analysis.
Scientific Method
Observe, form question, form hypothesis, test hypothesis, form general theories or laws.
Minnesota Fats is not a scientist because not parsimony.
Goal of Science?
To formalize parsimonious laws. Also to look for causes of events.
Formalize
To state a proposition in an unambiguous manner
Law
Statement of universal form that states the relationship among events. Can be verified but not
proven because it can change. Must be verifiable and falsifiable.
Parsimony
Simplicity, the simplest explanation is best. Seen when group two laws into one.
When does "A" cause "B"?
When A is antecedent (occurs first), necessary (needs to happen so B can occur), and sufficient.
Correlation
A mathematical relationship between the level of two variables.
Coefficient of Correlation
r= +- 1.0
When both var. move together, +
When they are different, -
Correlation does not...
