PSYC 1F90 UNIT 1 DEFINITIONS-
BROCK UNIVERSITY Study Guide and
Answers 2026/2027.
uncritical acceptance - Answer The tendency to believe claims because they seem true or
because it would be nice if they were true. a failure to evaluate claims with sufficient logical
rigor. Instead, we have a tendency to accept beliefs as true for illogical reasons, such as:having
someone we respect or trust assure us that the claims are true, believing the claims despite
having weak or nonexistent evidence, frequently encountering repetitions of claims, especially
from multiple sources or the media, wanting the claims to be true
confirmation bias - Answer The tendency to remember or notice information that fits one's
expectations, while forgetting or ignoring discrepancies
superstition - Answer Unfounded belief held without evidence or in spite of falsifying
evidence.
imageless thought - Answer An old term describing the inability of introspectionists to become
subjectively aware of some mental processes; an early term describing the cognitive
unconscious.
cognitive unconscious - Answer The part of the mind of which we are subjectively unaware
and that is not open to introspection.
self-report data - Answer Information that is provided by participants about their own
thoughts, emotions, or behaviors, typically on a questionnaire or during an interview.
dynamic unconscious - Answer In Freudian theory, the parts of the mind that are beyond
awareness, especially conflicts, impulses, and desires not directly known to a person.
psychoanalysis - Answer Freudian approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the exploration
of using free association, dream interpretation, resistances, and transference to uncover
unconscious conflicts.
neo-Freudians - Answer Psychologist who accept the broad features of Freud's theory but has
revised the theory to include the role of cultural and social factors while still accepting some of
its basic concepts.
psychodynamic theory - Answer Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts,
motives, and unconscious forces.
, determinism - Answer The idea that all behavior has prior causes that would completely
explain one's choices and actions if all such causes were known.
free will - Answer The ability to freely make choices that are not controlled by genetics,
learning, or unconscious forces; the idea that human beings are capable of making choices or
decisions themselves.
Humanistic psychology - Answer Study of people as inherently good and motivated to learn
and improve.
Self-actualization - Answer The process of fully developing personal potential.
biopsychology - Answer Study of the physical brain and body structures that underlie behavior
and mental processes
Physiological data - Answer Data that comes from participants' physiological processes
(including measures of the brain and heart, muscles, and production of hormones).
cognitive psychology - Answer Study of information processing, thinking, reasoning, and
problem solving.
operational definition - Answer Defining a scientific concept by stating the specific actions or
procedures used to measure it. For example, hunger might be defined as the number of hours
of food deprivation.
psychology - Answer The scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes.
biopsychosocial model - Answer An approach acknowledging that biological, psychological,
and social factors interact to influence human behavior and mental processes.
biological perspective - Answer The attempt to explain behavior in terms of underlying
biological principles.
Evolutionary psychology - Answer Approach that emphasizes inherited, adaptive aspects of
behavior and mental processes. The study of the evolutionary origins of human behavior
patterns.
BROCK UNIVERSITY Study Guide and
Answers 2026/2027.
uncritical acceptance - Answer The tendency to believe claims because they seem true or
because it would be nice if they were true. a failure to evaluate claims with sufficient logical
rigor. Instead, we have a tendency to accept beliefs as true for illogical reasons, such as:having
someone we respect or trust assure us that the claims are true, believing the claims despite
having weak or nonexistent evidence, frequently encountering repetitions of claims, especially
from multiple sources or the media, wanting the claims to be true
confirmation bias - Answer The tendency to remember or notice information that fits one's
expectations, while forgetting or ignoring discrepancies
superstition - Answer Unfounded belief held without evidence or in spite of falsifying
evidence.
imageless thought - Answer An old term describing the inability of introspectionists to become
subjectively aware of some mental processes; an early term describing the cognitive
unconscious.
cognitive unconscious - Answer The part of the mind of which we are subjectively unaware
and that is not open to introspection.
self-report data - Answer Information that is provided by participants about their own
thoughts, emotions, or behaviors, typically on a questionnaire or during an interview.
dynamic unconscious - Answer In Freudian theory, the parts of the mind that are beyond
awareness, especially conflicts, impulses, and desires not directly known to a person.
psychoanalysis - Answer Freudian approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the exploration
of using free association, dream interpretation, resistances, and transference to uncover
unconscious conflicts.
neo-Freudians - Answer Psychologist who accept the broad features of Freud's theory but has
revised the theory to include the role of cultural and social factors while still accepting some of
its basic concepts.
psychodynamic theory - Answer Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts,
motives, and unconscious forces.
, determinism - Answer The idea that all behavior has prior causes that would completely
explain one's choices and actions if all such causes were known.
free will - Answer The ability to freely make choices that are not controlled by genetics,
learning, or unconscious forces; the idea that human beings are capable of making choices or
decisions themselves.
Humanistic psychology - Answer Study of people as inherently good and motivated to learn
and improve.
Self-actualization - Answer The process of fully developing personal potential.
biopsychology - Answer Study of the physical brain and body structures that underlie behavior
and mental processes
Physiological data - Answer Data that comes from participants' physiological processes
(including measures of the brain and heart, muscles, and production of hormones).
cognitive psychology - Answer Study of information processing, thinking, reasoning, and
problem solving.
operational definition - Answer Defining a scientific concept by stating the specific actions or
procedures used to measure it. For example, hunger might be defined as the number of hours
of food deprivation.
psychology - Answer The scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes.
biopsychosocial model - Answer An approach acknowledging that biological, psychological,
and social factors interact to influence human behavior and mental processes.
biological perspective - Answer The attempt to explain behavior in terms of underlying
biological principles.
Evolutionary psychology - Answer Approach that emphasizes inherited, adaptive aspects of
behavior and mental processes. The study of the evolutionary origins of human behavior
patterns.
