Osteochondroma

Chapter 1 Psychology Notes
1. Official Definition of Psychology: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
2. Goals of Psychology: learning how things work in psychology there’s a process unto uncovering the mysteries in human and animal behavior; description, explanation, production, and control.
3. Describe historical figures in Psychology (who are they and why are they important)?
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920): Known as the father of psychology, believed that the mind was made up of thoughts, experiences, emotions and other basic elements. The only way he believed he could inspect these thoughts was through the processes objective introspection the beginning key factor of structuralism, which became a founding ovation in America.
William James (1842-1910): Writer of Principles of Psychology believed there was more than just analyzing the mind, there was a process, functionalism figuring out how the mind allows people to adapt to their surroundings and everyday life
Sigmund Freud: A neurologist whom specialized in disorders in the nervous system. He put forth the idea of the unconscious mind, the unknown area into we push or hide all of our threatening urges and desires. Freudian psychoanalysis is the theory and therapy based on Freuds work a modern version of this would be psychotherapy, process in which a psychological professional helps a person with their behavior by analyzing their inner self.
John B Watson: Psychologist greatly influenced by Pavlov’s work in conditioning, he focused more on the observable areas of behavior, a very influential idea that became to be known as Behaviorism.
Ivan Pavlov: Russian physiologist whom believed that certain actions had a known factor that contributed to its reflexive response, a processed called conditioning.
4. Describe in detail the 7 modern perspectives in psychology, link historical figures to the perspectives.
Psychodynamic Perspective: Based on Freuds theory of psychoanalysis to concentrate on the role of the unconscious mind and the effects it has on the conscious behavior. Basically knowing the motives for feelings or actions we may have that may have been repressed due to our early on developmental process.
Behavioral Perspective: Founded by John B Watson. B.F Skinner continues on the research in classical conditioning as well as developing a theory called classical conditioning which focuses on behavioral responses. The key element to behavioral perspective.
Humanistic Perspective: Named the third force in psychology, Main Idea is that we are in control of our potential. We have free will to be who it is we want and basically have control to relationships we may or not decide to have. We are at free will. Influenced by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.
Biopsychological Perspective: Behavior and mental processes in animal and human behavior due to problems in the body. Hormones, heredity, brain chemicals, tumors, and diseases.
Cognitive Perspective: Focuses on how people think, remember, store, and use information. Has a background in Gestalt psychology.
Sociocultural Perspective: The outcome of an individual’s behavior due to our cultural background or presence of other groups and or individuals.
Evolutionary Perspective: Focuses on the way we all share many mental characteristics.
5. Differences between the following within the field of Professional Psychology and what degrees they Hold?
Psychologist: Has a doctorate degree and has a variety of possible settings based on their chosen area of specialization. Works with either humans or animals. Must be licensed to practice independently, may prescribe medications but very uncommon.
Psychiatrist: Medical Doctor that specializes in treatment of psychological disorders , can prescribe medication.
Psychoanalyst:
Psychiatrist Social Worker/Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Usually Possesses a Masters Degree, focuses more on the impact environmental conditions have on mental disorders, such as poverty, overcrowding, stress, and drug abuse. Often have a professional license to practice.
6. The Science of psychology: Using the scientific method.
Scientific Method
Perceiving the Question- Figuring a legitimate question, that will bring a scientific explanation to an event or problem.
Forming a Hypothesis- Forming an educated guess.
Testing the Hypothesis- Create a strategy/test to collect data, and from their analyze your results.
Drawing Conclusions- Concluding if your hypothesis was successful or failed to explain the event and or problem
Reporting your Results: Sharing your success or failure is another end or beginning to figuring out your hypothesis.
Why are Statistics important in analyzing data? It helps organize and refine the data.
What is replication and why is it important? If someone conducts the same report and has the dame outcome it only supports your initial findings
7. Describe what happens in each of the following research methods used by psychologist.
Descriptive Methods: There are four descriptive data collection methods. First there is the naturalistic observation which allows a researcher to watch an animal or human in their natural environment. This strategy lacks the ability to control for an animal or human may not act normally because they are being observed, a process called the observer effect. In other circumstances a researcher might become a participant. They may hide in a devious way so that his presence is not known for being an observer this technique is known as participant observation. A disadvantage to being a participant in your own research leads to observer bias, focusing on what it is you expect see. Laboratory observations allow researchers to watch animals or humans in a simulated situation which gives them more control over seeing their reaction. Another descriptive technique is called the case study a process where researchers study an individual in great detail. They learn everything they can about that one individual. The last descriptive method is Surveys. Surveys allow questions to be answered in a very confidential matter, this allows researcher to gain information in a matter that allows people to be more open. Its very hard to gather data when a group is of majority so researchers choose a representative sample. This sample is a fraction of the amount but it makes it easier to gather information from various groups in different places.
Finding relationships between variables based on descriptive correlation

8. Ethics in Psychology: I believe the biggest concern of the ethics in psychology is trusting the judgment of someone other than your own. If I were part of an experiment I would be more skeptical about the truthfulness in the actual procedures. In the end researchers want to know some things and being a participant and knowing may change the outcome so being deceived is a must and that depending on the experiment is quite scary.
9. The characteristics of critical thinking have four basic reasoned judgments first there are very few truths that need to be subject to testing in other words faith and other unimportant thing don’t need scientific truth, second is finding out if information gathered in a certain circumstance is indeed accurate with its outcome and why it is accurate and not just half assed . Third is not believing everything you hear just because it’s a person of wisdom because you just don’t know where they get there information, and lastly is the ability to keep an open mind I think generally because we are all wrong at some point.