Test Bank: Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to
Mind and Behavior
Psychology - Answers The scientific study of behavior and mental processes as well as animal
behavior.
Scientific observation - Answers An empirical investigation structured to answer questions
about the world in a systematic and intersubjective fashion (observations can be reliably
confirmed by multiple observers).
Research method - Answers A systematic approach to answering scientific questions.
Animal model - Answers In research, an animal whose behavior is used to derive principles that
may apply to human behavior.
Description - Answers In scientific research, the process of naming and classifying.
Understanding - Answers In psychology, understanding is achieved when the causes of a
behavior can be stated.
Prediction - Answers An ability to accurately forecast behavior.
Control - Answers Altering conditions that influence behavior.
Critical thinking - Answers An ability to reflect on, evaluate, compare, analyze, critique, and
synthesize information.
,Uncritical acceptance - Answers The tendency to believe generally positive or flattering
descriptions of oneself.
Fallacy of positive instances - Answers The tendency to remember or notice information that fits
one's expectations while forgetting discrepancies.
Barnum effect - Answers The tendency to consider a personal description accurate if it is stated
in very general terms.
Scientific method - Answers A form of critical thinking based on careful measurement and
controlled observation.
Hypothesis - Answers The predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about the
relationship between variables.
Theory - Answers A system of ideas designed to interrelate concepts and facts in a way that
summarizes existing data and predicts future observations.
Stimulus - Answers Any physical energy sensed by an organism.
Natural selection - Answers Darwin's theory that evolution favors those plants and animals best
suited to their living conditions.
Behaviorism - Answers The school of psychology that emphasizes the study of overt, observable
behavior.
Response - Answers Any muscular action, glandular activity, or other identifiable aspect of
behavior.
,Cognitive behaviorism - Answers An approach that combines behavioral principles with
cognition (perception, thinking, anticipation) to explain behavior.
Gestalt psychology - Answers A school of psychology emphasizing the study of thinking,
learning, and perception in whole units, not by analysis into parts.
Unconscious - Answers Contents of the mind that are beyond awareness, especially impulses
and desires not directly known to a person.
Repression - Answers The unconscious process by which memories, thoughts, or impulses are
held out of awareness.
Psychoanalysis - Answers A Freudian approach to psychotherapy emphasizing the exploration of
unconscious conflicts.
Neo-Freudian - Answers A psychologist who accepts the broad features of Freud's theory but
has revised the theory to fit his or her own concepts.
Psychodynamic theory - Answers Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts,
motives, and unconscious forces.
Humanism - Answers An approach to psychology that focuses on human experience, problems,
potentials, and ideals.
Determinism - Answers The idea that all behavior has prior causes that would completely
explaine one's choices and actions is all such causes were known.
Free will - Answers The idea that human beings are capable of freely making choices or
decisions.
, Self-actualization - Answers The ongoing process of fully delevoping one's personal potential.
Biological perspective - Answers The attempt to explain behavior in terms of underlying
biological principles.
Psychological perspective - Answers The traditional view that behavior is shaped by
psychological processes occurring at the level of the individual.
Positive psychology - Answers The study of human strengths, virtues, and effective functioning.
Sociocultural perspective - Answers The focus on the importance of social and cultural contexts
in influencing the behavior of individuals.
Cultural relativity - Answers The ideas that behavior must be judged relative to the values of the
culture in which it occurs.
Social norms - Answers Rules that define acceptable and expected behavior for members of a
group.
Clinical psychologist - Answers A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of psychological
and behavioral disturbances or who does research on such disturbances.
Counselling psychologist - Answers A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of milder
emotional and behavioral disturbances.
Counselor - Answers A mental health professional who specializes in helping people with
problems not involving serious mental disorder.
Mind and Behavior
Psychology - Answers The scientific study of behavior and mental processes as well as animal
behavior.
Scientific observation - Answers An empirical investigation structured to answer questions
about the world in a systematic and intersubjective fashion (observations can be reliably
confirmed by multiple observers).
Research method - Answers A systematic approach to answering scientific questions.
Animal model - Answers In research, an animal whose behavior is used to derive principles that
may apply to human behavior.
Description - Answers In scientific research, the process of naming and classifying.
Understanding - Answers In psychology, understanding is achieved when the causes of a
behavior can be stated.
Prediction - Answers An ability to accurately forecast behavior.
Control - Answers Altering conditions that influence behavior.
Critical thinking - Answers An ability to reflect on, evaluate, compare, analyze, critique, and
synthesize information.
,Uncritical acceptance - Answers The tendency to believe generally positive or flattering
descriptions of oneself.
Fallacy of positive instances - Answers The tendency to remember or notice information that fits
one's expectations while forgetting discrepancies.
Barnum effect - Answers The tendency to consider a personal description accurate if it is stated
in very general terms.
Scientific method - Answers A form of critical thinking based on careful measurement and
controlled observation.
Hypothesis - Answers The predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about the
relationship between variables.
Theory - Answers A system of ideas designed to interrelate concepts and facts in a way that
summarizes existing data and predicts future observations.
Stimulus - Answers Any physical energy sensed by an organism.
Natural selection - Answers Darwin's theory that evolution favors those plants and animals best
suited to their living conditions.
Behaviorism - Answers The school of psychology that emphasizes the study of overt, observable
behavior.
Response - Answers Any muscular action, glandular activity, or other identifiable aspect of
behavior.
,Cognitive behaviorism - Answers An approach that combines behavioral principles with
cognition (perception, thinking, anticipation) to explain behavior.
Gestalt psychology - Answers A school of psychology emphasizing the study of thinking,
learning, and perception in whole units, not by analysis into parts.
Unconscious - Answers Contents of the mind that are beyond awareness, especially impulses
and desires not directly known to a person.
Repression - Answers The unconscious process by which memories, thoughts, or impulses are
held out of awareness.
Psychoanalysis - Answers A Freudian approach to psychotherapy emphasizing the exploration of
unconscious conflicts.
Neo-Freudian - Answers A psychologist who accepts the broad features of Freud's theory but
has revised the theory to fit his or her own concepts.
Psychodynamic theory - Answers Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts,
motives, and unconscious forces.
Humanism - Answers An approach to psychology that focuses on human experience, problems,
potentials, and ideals.
Determinism - Answers The idea that all behavior has prior causes that would completely
explaine one's choices and actions is all such causes were known.
Free will - Answers The idea that human beings are capable of freely making choices or
decisions.
, Self-actualization - Answers The ongoing process of fully delevoping one's personal potential.
Biological perspective - Answers The attempt to explain behavior in terms of underlying
biological principles.
Psychological perspective - Answers The traditional view that behavior is shaped by
psychological processes occurring at the level of the individual.
Positive psychology - Answers The study of human strengths, virtues, and effective functioning.
Sociocultural perspective - Answers The focus on the importance of social and cultural contexts
in influencing the behavior of individuals.
Cultural relativity - Answers The ideas that behavior must be judged relative to the values of the
culture in which it occurs.
Social norms - Answers Rules that define acceptable and expected behavior for members of a
group.
Clinical psychologist - Answers A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of psychological
and behavioral disturbances or who does research on such disturbances.
Counselling psychologist - Answers A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of milder
emotional and behavioral disturbances.
Counselor - Answers A mental health professional who specializes in helping people with
problems not involving serious mental disorder.
