Introduction to Psychology Final Exam Study Guide

Introduction to Psychology Final Exam Study Guide (Key Topics, Definitions, and Examples) Chapter 1: History and Perspectives 1. Major Psychological Perspectives • Psychoanalytic Theory: Focuses on unconscious motives, childhood experiences, and personality development (e.g., Freud’s emphasis on repressed memories) • Behaviorism: Studies observable behavior (e.g., Watson’s conditioning experiments) • Humanism: Emphasizes free will, self-actualization, and personal growth (e.g., Maslow’s hierarchy of needs). • Cognitive Perspective: Examines thought processes, memory, and problem solving (e.g., how beliefs influence behavior). 2. Foundational Figures • Wilhelm Wundt (Introspection), William James (Functionalism), John B. Watson (Behaviorism), Max Wertheimer (Gestalt). Chapter 2: Research Methods 1. Empirical Science: Relies on observable evidence (e.g., experiments, surveys). 2. Critical Thinking: Evaluating claims using scientific reasoning (e.g., testing "left/right brain" myths). 3. Experimental Design: Independent/dependent variables, control groups, and replication. Chapter 3: Biological Psychology 1. Gate Control Theory: Explains how psychological factors influence pain perception (e.g., athletes ignoring injuries). 2. Prosopagnosia: Inability to recognize faces due to temporal lobe damage. 3. Neurotransmitters: Serotonin (mood), dopamine (reward), and their roles in behavior. Chapter 4: Sensation and Perception 1. Gestalt Principles: • Proximity: Grouping nearby objects (e.g., stars forming constellations). • Closure: Filling in gaps (e.g., seeing a circle from broken lines). 2. Illusions: Ponzo illusion (depth perception) and Müller-Lyer illusion (line length). Chapter 5: Learning and Memory 1. Classical Conditioning: Pavlov’s dogs (pairing bell with food). 2. Operant Conditioning: Skinner’s reinforcement (e.g., rewards for good grades). 3. Functional Fixedness: Inability to see new uses for objects (e.g., using a shoe as a hammer). Chapter 6: Intelligence and Testing 1. WAIS: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (measures verbal and performance IQ). 2. Spearman’s G: General intelligence underlying all cognitive abilities. 3. Savant Syndrome: Exceptional skill in one area despite limited general intelligence (e.g., calendar calculation). Chapter 7: Personality 1. Big Five Traits: • Openness: Creativity, curiosity. • Conscientiousness: Organization, dependability. • Extroversion: Sociability, assertiveness. • Agreeableness: Compassion, cooperativeness. • Neuroticism: Emotional instability. 2. Assessment Tools: California Q-sort (self-descriptive statements) and projective tests (Rorschach inkblots). Chapter 8: Social Psychology 1. Attribution Theory: Explaining behavior as situational (e.g., stress) vs. dispositional (e.g., personality). 2. Autokinetic Effect: Perceiving stationary light as moving in darkness (used in conformity studies). 3. ABC Model: Affect (emotions), Behavior (actions), Cognition (thoughts) in attitude formation. Chapter 9: Psychological Disorders 1. Schizophrenia: • Positive Symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions. • Negative Symptoms: Flat affect, social withdrawal. 2. Defense Mechanisms: Repression (forgetting trauma), projection (attributing feelings to others). Chapter 10: Therapies 1. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (changing maladaptive thoughts). 2. Psychoanalysis: Exploring unconscious conflicts (e.g., dream analysis). Study Tips • Flashcards: Use Quizlet/Brainscape decks for memorization. • Practice Tests: Take timed exams on S. • Case Studies: Apply theories to real-world examples (e.g., prosopagnosia in patient cases). References • Studocu. (2024). Intro to Psychology Final Exam Study Guide With Answers. • Quizlet. (2024). Intro to Psychology Final Exam Flashcards. • S. (2024). Psychology 101: Intro to Psychology Final Exam. • YouTube. (2020). PSYC 1001 Final Exam Review.