What is Psychological Science?
Study of brain, mind, and behavior
Includes mental activity, biochemical processes, and observable actions.
Define Amiable Skepticism.
Keeping an open, yet weary mind
Weighing facts and checking evidence before making decisions.
List the types of Bias in thinking.
- Confirmation Bias
- Seeing causal relationships that do not exist
- Hindsight Bias
- Heuristics
Biases affect how we interpret information and make decisions.
What is the Dunning-Kruger Effect?
Blissful ignorance of one’s own weaknesses
People with lower ability often overestimate their performance.
What is the Mind/Body Problem?
Are the mind and body separate or intertwined?
Philosophical debate on the relationship between mental and physical states.
Who proposed the theory of dualism?
Rene Descartes
Suggested that mental functions and body functions are separate yet interconnected.
What did William James contribute to psychology?
Functionalism
Focused on the adaptive purpose of mental activities and behaviors.
What is Functionalism?
The adaptive purpose of mind and behavior
How the mind helps humans adapt to environmental demands.
What are the three major advances in understanding psychological phenomena?
- Brain imaging
- Genetics and epigenetics
- Immunology and other peripheral systems
These advances have enhanced the scientific understanding of psychology.
What is Big Data in psychology?
Using tools from computer science to identify patterns in large data sets
Helps answer complex questions in psychological research.
Define Open Science.
Movement to improve research transparency and promote data sharing
Aims to increase the speed, efficiency, and quality of research.
What is the Biopsychosocial model?
Integrates biological, individual, and social levels of analysis
Provides a comprehensive approach to understanding behavior.
What is Distributed Practice?
Learning material over a prolonged time frame
Considered one of the best ways to learn.
What is the significance of Retrieval-based learning?
Being tested on a subject helps learn the material
Enhances retention and understanding of information.
What are popular areas of specialization in psychology?
- Clinical
- Cognitive
- Cultural
- Developmental
- Health
- Industrial/Organizational
- Relationships
- Social-Personality
These areas reflect the diverse applications of psychological science.
What is the Nature vs Nurture debate?
Discussion on whether psychology is more influenced by genetics or environment
A longstanding question in psychological research.
What does Elaborative interrogation involve?
Thinking through why a fact is true
Encourages deeper understanding of material.
What is the role of self-explanation in learning?
Making sense of material yourself
Helps reinforce understanding and retention.
