VCU Psychology 101 Exam 1 Questions and Answers Already Passed

VCU Psychology 101 Exam 1 Questions and Answers Already Passed What is Psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. goals of psychology To accurately measure and describe, explain, predict, and control/alter behavior and mental processes William Wundt first person to call himself a psychologist, opened first psych lab in Germany (Univ of Leipzig), called his approach Structuralism. He looked inward on experiences and how they related to one another. William James American, influenced by Darwin, FUNCTIONALISM, interested in the adaptive functions served by behavior and thought, not a question of whether we smell or not, but what it does for us, more practical, also first classroom teacher of psychology (Darwinism- animals and humans have certain traits that are functional or not functional) interested in how the things we do allow us to get along in the world, what's the function of a peacock having a huge tail? Wrote the textbook "Principles of Psychology" John Watson Championed psychology as the science of behavior and demonstrated conditioned responses on a baby, behaviorist (science rooted in observation) B.F. Skinner Behaviorist, he rejected introspection and studied how consequences shape behavior. Sigmund Freud emphasized the ways emotional responses to childhood experiences and our unconscious thought processes affect our behavior, thus psychology till the 1920's was defined as the "the science of mental life" Neuro-biological/Physiological behavioral and mental processes are ultimately explained by the activities of the nervous system, especially the brain, and the action of hormones, neurotransmitters and other chemicals psychodynamic how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts Horney, Erikson, Freud (psychoanalytic) *behavior and mental processes are largely determined by unconscious mental and emotional conflicts. Usually put instincts or desires for sex, aggression, security, and power against environmental obstacles to fulfillment of those desires, Structuralism ; where introspection was used to explore the structural elements of the human mind. Was first formal school of psychology, begun by Willhelm Wundt Functionalism which focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish. Begun by American philosopher William James. Behaviorism science should be an objective science and studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Neurobiological/Physiological Behavior and mental processes are ultimately explained by the activities of the nervous system, especially the brain, and the action of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other chemicals. Psychodynamic Freud and followers. Behavior and mental processes are largely determined by unconscious mental and emotional conflicts. Behavioral Psychology can be studied scientifically by examining the overt behavior of humans and animals. Behavior is largely shaped by the patterns & punishments that each person has experienced in his/her environment Cognitive Behavior is determined by how information is encoded, stored, retrieved, or otherwise processed by the brain Humanistic historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for personal growth. Humans make choices by thinking, rather than by simple influence from the environment biopsychosocial model the integrated viewpoint that incorporates various levels of analysis and offers a more complete picture of any given