Psych 1010 Iowa State Exam 1
Questions and Answers
flow - ANS-a completely involved, focused state of consciousness, with diminished
awareness of self and time, resulting from optimal engagement/challenge of one's skills
Psychology definition - ANS-the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
science - ANS-The use of systematic methods to observe the natural world and to draw
conclusions.
Scientific Method Steps - ANS-Observations, Hypothesis, testing/Experiment,
Conclusion, evaluate theory
behavior - ANS-Everything we do that can be directly observed. (ex. kissing someone, a
baby crying)
mental processes - ANS-The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us
experiences privately but that cannot be observed directly. (ex. thinking about kissing
someone, a babys feeling when their parent leaves the room)
Four attitudes of the scientific approach - ANS-critical thinking, skepticism, objectivity,
curiosity
Critical thinking - ANS-The process of reflecting deeply and actively, asking questions,
and evaluating the evidence. Asking ourselves how we know something. Question and
test what people say are facts
Skepticism - ANS-A philosophy which suggests that nothing can ever be known for
certain. Challenge whether a fact is true. If something sounds too good to be true it
probably is (ex. new diet helps you lose weight without exercise)
Pseudoscience - ANS-A fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no
scientific evidence. (ex. astrologers explaining people based on when they were born)
empirical method - ANS-Gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the
collection of data, and logical reasoning.
thinking objectively - ANS-Being open to evidence, seeing the world as it is and not as
we want it to be
,curiosity - ANS-a strong desire to know or learn something
clinical psychologist - ANS-psychologist who treats people serious psychological
problems or conducts research into the causes of behavior
Sigmund Freud - ANS-Austrian neurologist known for his work on the unconscious
mind. Father of psychoanalysis. Most of human behavior is caused by dark, unpleasant,
unconscious impulses. "Little is good about human beings on the whole".
Positive psychology - ANS-A branch of psychology that emphasizes human strengths.
Psychology seeks to answer these questions - ANS-How do we learn? What is
memory? Why does one person grow and flourish while another struggles?
Rene Descartes - ANS-mind and body are completely separate. focused attention on
mind
Aristotle - ANS-happiness. Hypothesized about human behavior (means of persuasion,
mind and body.) logos, pathos (emotions, sympathy, imagination), ethos(credibility,
authority, reliability)
Wilhelm Wundt - ANS-established the first psychology laboratory at Leipzig, Germany.
Measure the time lag between the instant someone heard a sound and the moment
they pressed a telegraph key to signal they heard it. Measured the time the human brain
and nervous system translate information to action. Learned mental processes can be
measured
Structuralism - ANS-Wundt's approach to discovering the basic elements, or structures,
of mental processes; so called because of its focus on identifying the structures of the
human mind. Method: introspection
Introspection - ANS-A method of self-observation in which participants report their
thoughts and feelings. Entirely on the persons conscious refelction. Systematic, self-
report of thoughs and feekings
William James - ANS-founder of functionalism; studied how humans use perception to
function in our environment. Modern psychology. What mind is for (purpose, functions).
Mind is flexible and fluid
Functionalism - ANS-James's approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions
and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individual's adaptation to the environment.
Why is human thought adaptive?
stream of consciousness psychology - ANS-James belief that the mind is flexible and
fluid, characterized by constant change in response to continuous flow of information
from the world
, Natural selection - ANS-Darwin's principle of an evolutionary process in which
organisms that are better adapted to their environment will survive and produce more
offspring.
Biological approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially
the brain and nervous system. ( the way your heart races when you are afraid, how your
hands sweat when you tell a lie, etc)
Neuroscience - ANS-The scientific study of the structure, function, development,
genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system, emphasizing that the brain and
nervous system are central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion. Study of
nervous system
Behavioral approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on the scientific study
of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants. (done by
behaviorists)
Skinner - ANS-operant conditioning. Psychology should be about what people do
(actions and behaviors). Rewards and punishments determine our behavior.
Skinner's Operant Conditioning - ANS-Development consists of the pattern of
behavioral changes that are brought about by rewards and punishments
Psychodynamic approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on unconscious
thought, the conflict between biological drives (such as the drive for sexual pleasure)
and society's demands, and early childhood family experiences. Founded by Sigmund
Freud.
Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis - ANS-Developing the idea of the human
subconscious, he believed this had an enormous effect on an individual's life and
consisted mainly of the ego, id, and superego. (memory, dreams, thoughts). Early
relationships with parents shape an individuals personality.
Humanistic approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on a person's positive
qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose one's destiny.
People can choose to live by higher human values such as altruism and free will.
Revived interest in mental processes
altruism - ANS-unselfish regard for the welfare of others
Cognitive Approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on the mental
processes involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think,
and solve problems.
Questions and Answers
flow - ANS-a completely involved, focused state of consciousness, with diminished
awareness of self and time, resulting from optimal engagement/challenge of one's skills
Psychology definition - ANS-the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
science - ANS-The use of systematic methods to observe the natural world and to draw
conclusions.
Scientific Method Steps - ANS-Observations, Hypothesis, testing/Experiment,
Conclusion, evaluate theory
behavior - ANS-Everything we do that can be directly observed. (ex. kissing someone, a
baby crying)
mental processes - ANS-The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us
experiences privately but that cannot be observed directly. (ex. thinking about kissing
someone, a babys feeling when their parent leaves the room)
Four attitudes of the scientific approach - ANS-critical thinking, skepticism, objectivity,
curiosity
Critical thinking - ANS-The process of reflecting deeply and actively, asking questions,
and evaluating the evidence. Asking ourselves how we know something. Question and
test what people say are facts
Skepticism - ANS-A philosophy which suggests that nothing can ever be known for
certain. Challenge whether a fact is true. If something sounds too good to be true it
probably is (ex. new diet helps you lose weight without exercise)
Pseudoscience - ANS-A fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no
scientific evidence. (ex. astrologers explaining people based on when they were born)
empirical method - ANS-Gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the
collection of data, and logical reasoning.
thinking objectively - ANS-Being open to evidence, seeing the world as it is and not as
we want it to be
,curiosity - ANS-a strong desire to know or learn something
clinical psychologist - ANS-psychologist who treats people serious psychological
problems or conducts research into the causes of behavior
Sigmund Freud - ANS-Austrian neurologist known for his work on the unconscious
mind. Father of psychoanalysis. Most of human behavior is caused by dark, unpleasant,
unconscious impulses. "Little is good about human beings on the whole".
Positive psychology - ANS-A branch of psychology that emphasizes human strengths.
Psychology seeks to answer these questions - ANS-How do we learn? What is
memory? Why does one person grow and flourish while another struggles?
Rene Descartes - ANS-mind and body are completely separate. focused attention on
mind
Aristotle - ANS-happiness. Hypothesized about human behavior (means of persuasion,
mind and body.) logos, pathos (emotions, sympathy, imagination), ethos(credibility,
authority, reliability)
Wilhelm Wundt - ANS-established the first psychology laboratory at Leipzig, Germany.
Measure the time lag between the instant someone heard a sound and the moment
they pressed a telegraph key to signal they heard it. Measured the time the human brain
and nervous system translate information to action. Learned mental processes can be
measured
Structuralism - ANS-Wundt's approach to discovering the basic elements, or structures,
of mental processes; so called because of its focus on identifying the structures of the
human mind. Method: introspection
Introspection - ANS-A method of self-observation in which participants report their
thoughts and feelings. Entirely on the persons conscious refelction. Systematic, self-
report of thoughs and feekings
William James - ANS-founder of functionalism; studied how humans use perception to
function in our environment. Modern psychology. What mind is for (purpose, functions).
Mind is flexible and fluid
Functionalism - ANS-James's approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions
and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individual's adaptation to the environment.
Why is human thought adaptive?
stream of consciousness psychology - ANS-James belief that the mind is flexible and
fluid, characterized by constant change in response to continuous flow of information
from the world
, Natural selection - ANS-Darwin's principle of an evolutionary process in which
organisms that are better adapted to their environment will survive and produce more
offspring.
Biological approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially
the brain and nervous system. ( the way your heart races when you are afraid, how your
hands sweat when you tell a lie, etc)
Neuroscience - ANS-The scientific study of the structure, function, development,
genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system, emphasizing that the brain and
nervous system are central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion. Study of
nervous system
Behavioral approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on the scientific study
of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants. (done by
behaviorists)
Skinner - ANS-operant conditioning. Psychology should be about what people do
(actions and behaviors). Rewards and punishments determine our behavior.
Skinner's Operant Conditioning - ANS-Development consists of the pattern of
behavioral changes that are brought about by rewards and punishments
Psychodynamic approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on unconscious
thought, the conflict between biological drives (such as the drive for sexual pleasure)
and society's demands, and early childhood family experiences. Founded by Sigmund
Freud.
Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis - ANS-Developing the idea of the human
subconscious, he believed this had an enormous effect on an individual's life and
consisted mainly of the ego, id, and superego. (memory, dreams, thoughts). Early
relationships with parents shape an individuals personality.
Humanistic approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on a person's positive
qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose one's destiny.
People can choose to live by higher human values such as altruism and free will.
Revived interest in mental processes
altruism - ANS-unselfish regard for the welfare of others
Cognitive Approach - ANS-An approach to psychology focusing on the mental
processes involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think,
and solve problems.
