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AP Psychology Unit 1 Flashcards

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10817148304Barnum EffectThe tendency to think vague useless information, such as horoscopes and assessments, are true and applicable0
10817148305Perspectivescurrent points of view and sets of assumptions that influence both what psychologists will study and how. Determines what to look for, where to look, and the methods to use.1
10817148306Empirical EvidenceEvidence that is carefully gathered thru objective observations and carefully measured.2
10817148307Structuralisman early school of thought that used introspection and the brain's response to stimuli to discover the structure of the human mind.3
10817148308FunctionalismAn early school of thought that explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish4
10817148309Basic PsychologyThe study of behavior and thinking using research methods.5
10817148310BehaviorismThe view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) not (2).6
10817148311Cognitive NeuroscienceThe interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition(including perception, thinking, memory, and language).7
10817148312PsychologyThe study using the scientific process, that looks at organisms' observable adjustment to an environment and their mental processes8
10817148313Applied PsychologyType of psychology that uses psychological principles to help others out.9
10817148314Biological approachBiological approach: considered the natural selection of adaptive traits, genetic predisposition responding to environments, brain mechanisms, and hormone influences.10
10817148316Social-cultural approachconsidered the presence of others, cultural, societal, and family expectations, peer and other group influences, and compelling models (including media)11
10817148317Biological psychologyHow the body's brain, nervous system, and endocrine system(hormones) cause behaviors. Scientists look for neurotransmitters(chemicals), active in the brain and which areas are associated with which tasks. They look inside the body using MRIs, PET scans, and blood tests.12
10817148318Evolutionary psychologyExamines natural selection in regards to traits and their perpetuation. Believes that mental abilities were developed by time because they serve adaptive purposes. The looks for trends over time and cultures in the environment using observation.13
10817148319Psychodynamic psychologyBehavior driven by powerful inner forces such as inherited instincts, biological drives expressed through dreams, and attempts to resolve conflict with personal needs and societal demands. The purpose is to reduce tension by focusing on the now. Scientists look for tension, anxiety, and conflict in responses to stimuli, themes of conversations/therapy visits, transference, and dream content. Methods like talk therapy and dream analysis are used.14
10817148320Behavioral psychologyStudies observable behavior and response to environmental stimuli. Looks at the environmental conditions, behavioral response, and consequences. A response to stimuli can be tested by looking or collecting body's data(blood test).15
10817148322Cognitive psychologyStresses human thought and process of knowing. Attending(encode), thinking(process), remembering (store&retrieve), solving problems(process). Thoughts are results and causes of overt behavior. Scientists look for thought patterns in the brain through introspection(self-reports) and various types of brain scanning equipment.16
10817148323Social-cultural psychologyStudies behavior in the context of different cultures by taking theories and tests whether they apply to all humans or particular groups. Scientists look for common behaviors and thoughts across cultures and time using introspection(self-reports) and observation.17
10817148324Humanistic BehaviorsPurpose of behavior is to strive to be the best person of one's self by filling the void. Studies patterns in individual's history, integrating mind, body, and behavior, and social cultural forces. They do this by looking at happiness and satisfaction through self-reports(introspection) using talk therapy.18
10817148326Basic ResearchData from pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.19
10817148327Developmental PsychologyA branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.20
10817148328Educational psychologythe study of how psychological processes affect and enhance teaching and learning.21
10817148329Personality psychologythe study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.22
10817148330Social psychologythe scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.23
10817148331Applied researchScientific study that aims to solve practical problems.24
10817148332Industrial-organizational psychology(I/O)the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces.25
10817148333Human factors psychologyAn I/O psychology subfield that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use.26
10817148334Counseling psychologyA branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living(often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.27
10817148335Clinical psychologyA branch of psychology that studies, asses, and treats people with psychological disorders.28
10817148336Psychiatrymedical doctors licensed to prescribe drugs and otherwise treat physical causes of psychological disorders.29
10817148337Hindsight BiasThe natural tendency to believe that, after seeing the outcome, one would have foreseen it. (knew it all along phenomenon)30
10817148338OverconfidenceThe natural tendency to think that we know more and are more efficient than we actually are.31
10817148339Theoryan organized set of concepts that explain phenomena.32
10817148340Hypothesisprediction of how two or more factors are likely to be related.33
10817148341Samplethe subgroup of the population that participates in the study34
10817148342Random Selectionchoosing of members of a population so that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen. Purpose is to have a representative sample.35
10817148343Operational definitionA carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example human intelligence can be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.36
10817148344Replicationrepeating the essence a of research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic findings extends to other participants and circumstances.37
10817148345Case StudyA study of one individual using observation of overt behavior and internal testing. Strengths: all access to the subjects to run tests, can do a thorough background, and can approach from biopsychosocial standpoint. Weaknesses: it costs a large sum and requires a great deal of manpower, it does not guarantee the truth, and it is not representative.38
10817148346SurveyA study of a large group of people through the answering of constant questions either online or in person on paper. Strengths: it is cheap, fast, includes a large number of people, allows for generalizations to be made, and is anonymous. Weaknesses: It does not go in depth, has fixed responses, and it is hard to avoid volunteer bias.39
10817148347Naturalistic observationA study of a group or person in their "natural habitat" without disturbance or awareness that can alter their behavior. Strengths: it eliminates lying, is convenient, and generally not expensive. Weaknesses: It is not descriptive, forces assumptions to be made, is hard to measure, and there is no control.40
10817148348sampling biasa flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample41
10817148349Populationall those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.42
10817148350Random sample/selectiona sample that fairly represents a population because because each member has a equal chance of inclusion. This helps to balance extraneous variables.43
10817148351CorrelationTo assess if and how one variable will predict another, or observe two variables' relationship. CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION.44
10817148352Correlation coefficientThe statistical measurement that reveals how closely two things vary together. +1 is a perfect positive correlation, -1 is a perfect negative correlation, and 0 indicated no correlation. 0-0.1 is no correlation, 0.1-0.3 is a weak correlation, 0.4-0.6 is a moderate correlation, and 0.7-1.0 is a strong correlation.45
10817148353ScatterplotShows correlation by showing how closely negative or positive data trends.46
10817148354Illusory correlationthe tendency of people to see relationships where they don't exist. People see streaks and patterns in random data. Also, more bizarre events stand out against mundane ones leading to their remembrance and the idea of a correlation.47
10817148355ExperimentExamines cause and effect by manipulating factor and observing isolated responses using experiments and random assignment. ONLY experiments can examine cause and effect. Follows the scientific method and isolates independent and dependent variables by eliminating confounding variables.48
10817148356Random assignmentAssigning participants randomly to the experimental and control group to minimize preexisting differences between the groups.49
10817148357Double-blind procedureAn experiment where neither the experimenter or the participants know which group they are in.50
10817148358Placebo effectExperimental result caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.51
10817148359Experimental groupin an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.52
10817148360Control groupin an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.53
10817148361Descriptive statisticsStatistical procedures used to summarize sets of scores with respect to central tendencies, variability, and correlation. They are merely observational and inferences cannot be made.54
10817148363Standard deviationA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score. 68% of data is +/- 1 standard deviation away from the mean and 95% of data is +/- 2 standard deviations away from the mean. This only applies to mound-shaped data.55
10817148364Independent variablethe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect are being studied.56
10817148365Confounding variableany variable that can affect/impact the dependent variable.57
10817148366Dependent variablethe outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.58
10817148371Statistical SignificanceThe difference between experimental conditions that would have occurred by chance less than 95% of trials.59
10817148373Informed consentAn ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they with to participate60
10817148374Debriefingthe post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose an any deceptions, to its participants.61
10817148375SocratesBelieved that the mind worked without the body and continued to function after the body had passed away. Know thyself.62
10817148377AristotleBelieved that through data and observation, knowledge is gained from experience.63
10817148380Mary Whiton CalkinsThe first female psychology student at Harvard that studied under William James. Harvard refused to give her a degree despite graduating at the top of her class. She went on to become the APA's first female president.64
10817148381Charles DarwinThe scientists that created the theory of evolution and natural selection.65
10817148382Rene DescartesAgreed with the ideas of Socrates and Plato. He also believed that animal spirits in the form of a fluid flowed through the nerve passages and holes that were made in the brain each time memories were formed. I think therefore I am.66
10817148383Dorothea DixCreated the first generation of american mental asylums.67
10817148384Sigmund FreudEmphasized the ways emotional responses to childhood experiences and our unconscious though processes affect our behavior. Freudian psychology looked at the psychodynamic approach.68
10817148385G. Stanley HallFocused on childhood development and evolutionary theory. He is the founder/father of developmental psychology and founded the American Psychological Association.69
10817148386William JamesAn american who founded a laboratory at Harvard that took a functionalist approach. Studied the evolved functions of thoughts and feelings and their fitness. Wrote a psychology textbook called the principles of psychology.70
10817148387Abraham MaslowA humanistic psychologist who looked at how one's current environment affects their growth potential, and the role of love and acceptance.71
10817148391Carl RodgersA humanistic psychologist who looked at how one's current environment affects their growth potential, and the role of love and acceptance.72
10817148392B.F. SkinnerBelieved in behavioralism and that psychology can only be what is observable. Believed that you can measure response to stimuli by not by introspection and that behavior is influenced by learned associations in the process of conditioning.73
10817148393E.B. TitchenerAimed to use introspection to determine the mind's structure. Founded Structuralism.74
10817148394Margaret Floy WashburnWrote the animal mind and was the first female with a Ph.D in psychology. She was the second female president of the APA.75
10817148395John B. WatsonBelieved in behavioralism and that psychology can only be what is observable. Believed that you can measure response to stimuli by not by introspection and that behavior is influenced by learned associations in the process of conditioning.76
10817148396Wilhelm WundtA German scientist that founded a laboratory that took a structuralist approach to psychology. Used introspection to separate perception and sensation as different processes. Also measured "atoms of the mind" and things such as comprehension.77

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