Psychology 101 Midterm Ivy Tech
Questions and Answers
1. psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
2. science: the use of systematic methods to observe the natural world and to draw conclusions
3. mental processes: the thoughts, feelings and motives that each of us experience privately that
cannot be
directly observed
4. behavior: everything we do that can be directly observed
5. empirical method: gaining knowledge through observation of events and logical reasoning
6. critical thinking: the process of thinking deeply and actively, asking questions and evaluating the
evidence
7. structuralism: Wundt's approach to discovering the basic elements, or structures of mental
processes
primary research – introspection
8. natural selection: Darwin's principle of an evolutionary process in which organisms that are
best adapted to their environment will survive and produce ottspring
,9. functionalism: James's approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions and purposes
of the mind and behavior in the individual's adaptation to the environment
10. neuroscience: 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
11. biological approach: an approach in psychology focusing on the body, especially the
brain and nervous
system
12. behavioral approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing the scientific study of
observable behav- ioral responses and their environmental determinants
Watson and Skinner
13. psychdynamic approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing unconscious
thought, the conflict between biological drives and society's demands, and early childhood family
experiences
Freud
14. psychoanalysis: technique for unlocking one's unconscious conflicts by talking about
childhood memories, dreams, thoughts and feelings
, 15. humanistic approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing a person's positive
qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and freedom to choose one's destiny
16. cognitive approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing the mental processes
involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems
17. evolutionary approach: an approach to psychology which emphasizes
evolutionary ideas such as adaptation, reproduction and natural selection as the basis for
explaining specific human behaviors
18. sociocultural approach: an approach to psychology which emphasizes the ways in
which social and cultural environment influence behavior
19. scientific method: observing some
phenomenon formulating a hypothesis
testing through empirical research
drawing conclusions
evaluation of conclusions
20. variable: anything that can change
21. theory: a broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to
make predictions
about future observations
Questions and Answers
1. psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
2. science: the use of systematic methods to observe the natural world and to draw conclusions
3. mental processes: the thoughts, feelings and motives that each of us experience privately that
cannot be
directly observed
4. behavior: everything we do that can be directly observed
5. empirical method: gaining knowledge through observation of events and logical reasoning
6. critical thinking: the process of thinking deeply and actively, asking questions and evaluating the
evidence
7. structuralism: Wundt's approach to discovering the basic elements, or structures of mental
processes
primary research – introspection
8. natural selection: Darwin's principle of an evolutionary process in which organisms that are
best adapted to their environment will survive and produce ottspring
,9. functionalism: James's approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions and purposes
of the mind and behavior in the individual's adaptation to the environment
10. neuroscience: 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
11. biological approach: an approach in psychology focusing on the body, especially the
brain and nervous
system
12. behavioral approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing the scientific study of
observable behav- ioral responses and their environmental determinants
Watson and Skinner
13. psychdynamic approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing unconscious
thought, the conflict between biological drives and society's demands, and early childhood family
experiences
Freud
14. psychoanalysis: technique for unlocking one's unconscious conflicts by talking about
childhood memories, dreams, thoughts and feelings
, 15. humanistic approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing a person's positive
qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and freedom to choose one's destiny
16. cognitive approach: an approach to psychology emphasizing the mental processes
involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems
17. evolutionary approach: an approach to psychology which emphasizes
evolutionary ideas such as adaptation, reproduction and natural selection as the basis for
explaining specific human behaviors
18. sociocultural approach: an approach to psychology which emphasizes the ways in
which social and cultural environment influence behavior
19. scientific method: observing some
phenomenon formulating a hypothesis
testing through empirical research
drawing conclusions
evaluation of conclusions
20. variable: anything that can change
21. theory: a broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to
make predictions
about future observations
