Psychology Chapter 1- 1.1

Psychology is defined as the ____.

• science of conscious and unconscious forces

• empirical study of the mind and behavior

• scientific study of the mind

• scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Define critical thinking

Answer explanation

The process of objectively evaluating, comparing, analyzing, and synthesizing information.

_____ is generally acknowledged to be the father of psychology.

• Sigmnund Freud

• B. F. Skinner

• Wilhelm Wundt

• William Tell

Which on the following term do not belong together?

• structuralism, unconscious behavior

• behaviorism, observable behavior

• psychoanalytic, unconscious conflict

• humanism, free will

The views biological processes, psychological factors, and social forces as interrelated influences, and it is one of the most widely accepted themes of modern psychology.

• eclectic perspective

• nature-nurture model

• interactionist position

• biopsychosocial model

In the prologue of this textbook, you learned about critical thinking components (CTCs). Among these are distinguishing fact from opinion (behavioral)m welcoming divergent views (affective), and synthesizing information (cognitive). Disscuss how each of these CTCs is relevent to the study of psychology.

Answer explanation

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Distinguishing fact from opinion is one of the most basic requirements of a science. Because behavior and mental processes are so complex, it is unlikely that a single perspective or theory would fully explain what we know about it. By welcoming divergent views, we are better able to consider things we might overlook or take for granted (such as our own culture or gender). Finally, psychologists try to understand behavior and mental processes by synthesizing or combining various perspectives and scientific data into a meaningful and useful composite.

In Chapter 16, (Social Psychology), you'll discover some of the reasons why people choose to help each other. Using at least three of the seven modern perspectives of psychology, explain why a person might choose to help (or not to help) a person in need.

Answer explanation

There are many reasons why a person might choose to help another. For an example, a behaviorist might say that I chose to help you because I have been rewarded for such behavior in the past. A humanistic psychologist might suggest that we help others because human nature is naturally positive and we are predisposed to do good deeds. According to a cognitive psychologist, helping behavior could depend on whether I perceive that someone needs my help and whether I determine that I have the skills or means to help without harm to myself.

The discipline of psychology places high value on _____ and ____.

What are pseudopsychologies?

• People who believe in psychic powers and are not based on scientific evidence

• People who base everything on scientific evidence

• People who don't believe in anything

What is the functionalist approach? And who lead it?

Answer explanation

The functionalist approach, led by William James, considered the father of American psychology, studied the way the mind functions to enable humans and nonhuman animals to adapt to their environment.