GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY RUTGERS EXAM I QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% ANSWERED CORRECTLY GRADED A+
What is psychology?
the scientific study of thought, behavior, and emotion
Biological/Neuroscientific Perspective
How physical systems, like the brain, affect behavior, feelings, and thoughts
(Ex. Neurotransmitters in serial killer's brain)
Evolutionary Perspective
The natural selection of traits
(Ex. Humans who isolated themselves unable to survive and reproduce-->died off--
>why humans need social interaction now)
Behavior Genetics Perspective
The contribution of genes and environment to behaviors
(Ex. Intelligence is affected by both genes and environment)
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Perspective
The unconscious dynamics of the individual
(Ex. How unconscious thoughts affect your moods)
Behavioral Perspective
Learning via reinforcements and punishments
(Ex. When you're kind and generous, people smile at you, so you learned to be that
way)
Cognitive Perspective
,How people reason, remember and interpret
(Ex. Individual perceptions affect mood and behavior)
Sociocultural Perspective
How social and cultural forces shape individuals' behaviors
(Ex. Men are seen as more aggressive in American culture-->American men are
expected to be tough/insensitive, so they are)
Wilhelm Wundt
Had the first psychological laboratory in 1879
Introspection
Wilhelm Wundt Asking people to report what they are feeling
EB Thitchner
Uses structuralism
Structuralism
The analysis of mental structures (what is the mind?)
William James
Uses functionalism
Functionalism
The study of how the mind works (why does the mind do what it does?)
Hindsight Bias
After an outcome occurs, it's easy for people to say they could have predicted it. It's
easier to look back once you know the outcome, which is why people think research is
not needed and psych is common sense
The Scientific Method
, The testing of ideas with the use of data/evidence (EMPIRICISM)
-First you formulate the research question
-Then you formulate the hypothesis
-Then you design the study to test the hypothesis
-Then you perform the study -Then interpret data
-Then communicate the findings
Hypothesis
A testable prediction (if, then statement)
(Ex. If people do expressive writing, then their stress levels will go down)
Operational Definition
A statement about the procedures the researcher used to measure a variable
( Ex. The designed study to measure stress was measuring heart rate levels. You must
operationally define what you mean by stress levels/expressive writing)
Case Study
An in depth analysis of one subject (or a small sample), there is usually something
unusual about the subject
Limits of a Case Study
You can't make generalizations/conclusions about the entire population based on a
case study
Naturalistic Observation
Describing and measuring people's and/or animals' behavior systematically in a regular
environment
Limits of Naturalistic Observation
SOLUTIONS 100% ANSWERED CORRECTLY GRADED A+
What is psychology?
the scientific study of thought, behavior, and emotion
Biological/Neuroscientific Perspective
How physical systems, like the brain, affect behavior, feelings, and thoughts
(Ex. Neurotransmitters in serial killer's brain)
Evolutionary Perspective
The natural selection of traits
(Ex. Humans who isolated themselves unable to survive and reproduce-->died off--
>why humans need social interaction now)
Behavior Genetics Perspective
The contribution of genes and environment to behaviors
(Ex. Intelligence is affected by both genes and environment)
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Perspective
The unconscious dynamics of the individual
(Ex. How unconscious thoughts affect your moods)
Behavioral Perspective
Learning via reinforcements and punishments
(Ex. When you're kind and generous, people smile at you, so you learned to be that
way)
Cognitive Perspective
,How people reason, remember and interpret
(Ex. Individual perceptions affect mood and behavior)
Sociocultural Perspective
How social and cultural forces shape individuals' behaviors
(Ex. Men are seen as more aggressive in American culture-->American men are
expected to be tough/insensitive, so they are)
Wilhelm Wundt
Had the first psychological laboratory in 1879
Introspection
Wilhelm Wundt Asking people to report what they are feeling
EB Thitchner
Uses structuralism
Structuralism
The analysis of mental structures (what is the mind?)
William James
Uses functionalism
Functionalism
The study of how the mind works (why does the mind do what it does?)
Hindsight Bias
After an outcome occurs, it's easy for people to say they could have predicted it. It's
easier to look back once you know the outcome, which is why people think research is
not needed and psych is common sense
The Scientific Method
, The testing of ideas with the use of data/evidence (EMPIRICISM)
-First you formulate the research question
-Then you formulate the hypothesis
-Then you design the study to test the hypothesis
-Then you perform the study -Then interpret data
-Then communicate the findings
Hypothesis
A testable prediction (if, then statement)
(Ex. If people do expressive writing, then their stress levels will go down)
Operational Definition
A statement about the procedures the researcher used to measure a variable
( Ex. The designed study to measure stress was measuring heart rate levels. You must
operationally define what you mean by stress levels/expressive writing)
Case Study
An in depth analysis of one subject (or a small sample), there is usually something
unusual about the subject
Limits of a Case Study
You can't make generalizations/conclusions about the entire population based on a
case study
Naturalistic Observation
Describing and measuring people's and/or animals' behavior systematically in a regular
environment
Limits of Naturalistic Observation
