PSYCHOLOGY 1100 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
psychological science
the study of mind, brain, and behavior
culture
the beliefs, values rules, and customs that exist within a group of people who share a
common language and environment and that are transmitted through learning from one
generation to the next
nature/nurture debate
the arguments concerning whether psychological characteristics are biologically innate
or acquired through education, experience, and culture
mind/body problem
a fundamental psychological issue that considers whether mind and body are separate
and distinct or whether the mind is simply the subjective experience of the physical
brain
evolutionary theory
in psychological science, a theory that emphasizes the inherited, adaptive value of
behavior and mental activity throughout the history of species
adaptations
in evolutionary theory, the physical characteristics, skills, or abilities that increase the
chances of reproduction or survival and are therefore likely to be passed along to future
generations
natural selection
Darwin's theory that those who inherit characteristics that help them adapt to their
particular environments have a selective advantage over those who do not
introspection
a systematic examination of subjective mental experiences that requires people to
inspect and report on the content of their thoughts
structuralism
an approach to psychology based on the idea that conscious experience can be broken
down into its basic underlying components or elements
stream of consciousness
a phrase coined by William James to describe one's continuous series of ever-changing
thoughts
functionalism
an approach to psychology concerned with the adaptive purpose, or function, of mind
and behavior
Gestalt theory
a theory based on the idea that the whole of personal experience is different from
simply the sum of its constituent elements
unconscious
the mental processes that operate below the level of conscious awareness
psychoanalysis
, a method developed by Sigmund Freud that attempts to bring the contents of the
unconscious into conscious awareness so that conflicts can be revealed
behaviorism
a psychological approach that emphasizes the role of environmental forces in producing
behavior
cognitive psychology
the study of how people think, learn, and remember
social psychology
the study of group dynamics in relation to psychological processes
cognitive neuroscience
the study of the neural mechanisms that underlie thought, learning, and memory
critical thinking
a systematic way of evaluating information to reach reasonable conclusions
scientific method
a systematic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena to answer questions
about what happens, when it happens, what causes it, and why
theory
a model of interconnected ideas and concepts that explains what is observed and
makes predictions about future
hypothesis
a specific prediction of what should be observed in the world if a theory is correct
research
scientific process that involves the systematic and careful collection of data
data
objective observations or measurements
replication
repetition of an experiment to confirm the results
variable
something in the world that can be measured and that can vary
naturalistic observation
a passive description study in which observers do not change or alter ongoing behavior
participant observation
a type of descriptive study in which the researcher is actively involved in the situation
descriptive studies
observing and classifying behavior
longitudinal studies
observing and classifying developmental changes that occur in the same people over
time
cross-sectional studies
observing and classifying developmental changes that occur in different groups of
people at the same time
observer bias
systematic errors in observation that occur because of an observer's expectation
experimenter expectancy effect
actual change in the behavior of the people or animals being observed that is due to
observer bias
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
psychological science
the study of mind, brain, and behavior
culture
the beliefs, values rules, and customs that exist within a group of people who share a
common language and environment and that are transmitted through learning from one
generation to the next
nature/nurture debate
the arguments concerning whether psychological characteristics are biologically innate
or acquired through education, experience, and culture
mind/body problem
a fundamental psychological issue that considers whether mind and body are separate
and distinct or whether the mind is simply the subjective experience of the physical
brain
evolutionary theory
in psychological science, a theory that emphasizes the inherited, adaptive value of
behavior and mental activity throughout the history of species
adaptations
in evolutionary theory, the physical characteristics, skills, or abilities that increase the
chances of reproduction or survival and are therefore likely to be passed along to future
generations
natural selection
Darwin's theory that those who inherit characteristics that help them adapt to their
particular environments have a selective advantage over those who do not
introspection
a systematic examination of subjective mental experiences that requires people to
inspect and report on the content of their thoughts
structuralism
an approach to psychology based on the idea that conscious experience can be broken
down into its basic underlying components or elements
stream of consciousness
a phrase coined by William James to describe one's continuous series of ever-changing
thoughts
functionalism
an approach to psychology concerned with the adaptive purpose, or function, of mind
and behavior
Gestalt theory
a theory based on the idea that the whole of personal experience is different from
simply the sum of its constituent elements
unconscious
the mental processes that operate below the level of conscious awareness
psychoanalysis
, a method developed by Sigmund Freud that attempts to bring the contents of the
unconscious into conscious awareness so that conflicts can be revealed
behaviorism
a psychological approach that emphasizes the role of environmental forces in producing
behavior
cognitive psychology
the study of how people think, learn, and remember
social psychology
the study of group dynamics in relation to psychological processes
cognitive neuroscience
the study of the neural mechanisms that underlie thought, learning, and memory
critical thinking
a systematic way of evaluating information to reach reasonable conclusions
scientific method
a systematic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena to answer questions
about what happens, when it happens, what causes it, and why
theory
a model of interconnected ideas and concepts that explains what is observed and
makes predictions about future
hypothesis
a specific prediction of what should be observed in the world if a theory is correct
research
scientific process that involves the systematic and careful collection of data
data
objective observations or measurements
replication
repetition of an experiment to confirm the results
variable
something in the world that can be measured and that can vary
naturalistic observation
a passive description study in which observers do not change or alter ongoing behavior
participant observation
a type of descriptive study in which the researcher is actively involved in the situation
descriptive studies
observing and classifying behavior
longitudinal studies
observing and classifying developmental changes that occur in the same people over
time
cross-sectional studies
observing and classifying developmental changes that occur in different groups of
people at the same time
observer bias
systematic errors in observation that occur because of an observer's expectation
experimenter expectancy effect
actual change in the behavior of the people or animals being observed that is due to
observer bias
