Chapter 2

Question 1

Three challenges to study human psych (VCR)

Answer 1

1. Variability (no two individuals ever do, say, think, feel exact same way) ex: studies often include 12% of total world pop, WEIRD psych (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democracies)
2. Complexity: many processes, factors, variables that shape our feelings/actions
3. Reactivity: ppl often think/feel a certain way when being observed vs naturally (aka The Hawthorne effect)

Question 2

Research methods in psych

Answer 2

1. Case studies (gathering info by studying single case or individual)
   pros: study rare phenomena, insight into new areas of research
   cons: lack of generalizability, hard to replicate
2. Correlational methods (pos, neg, none), how does variable A RELATE TO variable B: limited bc doesn’t say anything about causation, could be “third variable problem”(influences both) main tool for observations of behavior “in the wild” and some variables are impossible to manipulate
3. Experimental research: technique for est causal relationship between variables, key feature is manipulation (how does manipulation of one variable affect the other variable–how does variable A AFFECT variable B)

Question 3

Phineas Gage accident: what did it teach us

Answer 3

1. brain’s selective recruitment: brain is able to selectively choose non-injuired areas to help perform functions previously assigned to the injured portion)
2. The frontal lobe is crucial for regulating decision-making and personality (before this accident frontal lobes were thought to have no functional role)