Psychology Test #1

1. to describe how people and animals behave 2. to explain and understand the causes of these behaviours 3. to predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions 4. to influence or control behaviour through knowledge and control over its causes to enhance human welfare.

If we understand the causes of a behaviour ad know when the causal factors are present or absent, then we should be able to successfully predict when the behaviour will occur. If we can control the causes, we should be able to control the behaviour.

Structuralism: the analysis of the mind in terms of its basic elements. Believed that sensations are the basic elements of consciousness; study sensations through method of interspection ("looking within"). (Wundt and Titchene) Functionalism: psychology should study the functions (the "whys") of consciousness, rather than its structure (the "whats"). Influenced by Darwin's evolutionary theory-stressed the importance of adaptive behaviour in helping organisms respond successfully to their environment and survive. (William James)

Behaviourism: a school of thought that emphasizes environmental control of behaviour through learning.

John B. Watson: leader of new movement. Argued that the proper subject matter of psychology was observable behaviour, not unobservable inner consciousness. B.F. Skinner: leading modern figure in behaviourism.

Humanistic perspective: arose largely out of philosophical schools that emphasize free will, innate tendencies toward growth and the attempt to find ultimate meaning in one's existence. Contrast to the psychoanalytic emphasis on unconscious determinants of behaviour, humanists stress the importance of conscious motives, freedom and choice. Differs from behaviourism in the sense that behaviourism puts emphasis on structured learning rather than free will.

Three levels of analysis for describing various aspects of behaviour and classifying causal factors: biological, psychological, and environmental. Depression: biological level of analysis: genetic factors, biochemical factors and sleep/ wakefullness rhythms, disruptions in biological rhythms. Depression: psychological level of analysis: thinking style- person views events in pessimistic ways, blame themself for negative things, personality style- overreact to future losses b.c of childhood losses or rejections, pessimistic personality develops. Depression: environmental level of analysis: non-rewarding environment, complaining, seeking excessive reassurance/support from others. Bevaviours begin to alienate others, shy away from depressed person. Sociocultural environment also affects depressed people.

Biological: Conception of human nature: the human animal. Major causal factors of behaviour: genetic and evolutionary factors; brain and biochemical processes. Predominant focus and methods of behaviour: study of brain-behaviour relations; role of hormones and biochemical factors on behaviour; behaviour genetics research.

Cognitive: Conception of human nature: the human as thinker and information processor. Major causal factors of behaviour: thought, anticipations, planning, perception, memory processes. Predominant focus and methods of behaviour: study of cognitive processes, usually under highly controlled lab conditions.

Psychodynamic: Conception of human nature: human as controlled by inner forces and conflicts. Major causal factors of behaviour: unconscious motives, conflicts and defences; early childhood experiences and unresolved conflicts. Predominant focus and methods of behaviour: intensive ibservations of personality processes in clinical settings; some lab research on personality processes.

Behavioural: Conception of human nature: the human as a reactor to the environment. Major causal factors of behaviour: past learning experiences and the stimuli and behavioural consequences that exist in the current environment. Predominant focus and methods of behaviour: study of learning processes in both lab and real world settings, with an emphasis on rpecise observation of stimuli and response.

Humanistic: Conception of human nature: human as free agent, seeking self actualization and personal meaning. Major causal factors of behaviour: free will, choice, and innate drive towards self actualization; search for personal meaning of existence. Predominant focus and methods of behaviour: study of meaning, values and purpose in life; study of self-concept and its role in thought, emotion and behaviour.

Sociocultural: Conception of human nature: human as a social being embedded in a culture. Major causal factors of behaviour: social forces, including norms, social interactions and group processes in one's cultural and social environment. Predominant focus and methods of behaviour: comparisons of the behaviours and mental processes of people cultures; effects of culturally acquired personal characteristics or behaviour.