What is psychology?

The scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior.

What three levels of analysis does psychology consider?

Biological, psychological, and social/cultural.

What does psychology recognize about behavior and traits?

They usually have multiple causes.

What is the nature vs. nurture perspective?

Behavior is influenced by both biology (nature) and experience (nurture).

What does "multiply determined" mean?

Most behaviors and traits have multiple causes.

What are individual differences?

Differences in behavior, personality, and abilities among people.

What is reciprocal determinism?

People influence their environments, and environments influence people.

How does culture affect behavior?

Culture shapes how people think, feel, and behave.

What is an emic approach?

Understanding a culture from within that culture.

What is an etic approach?

Studying or describing a culture from an outsider's perspective.

What is naïve realism?

The belief that we see the world exactly as it is and that others should see it the same way.

What are folk theories?

Common-sense explanations of behavior that are often untested.

How does psychology function as a science?

By systematically gathering and evaluating empirical evidence.

What is empirical evidence?

Evidence gained through observation and experience.

Why does psychology use the scientific method?

To minimize bias and improve accuracy.

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to seek evidence that supports existing beliefs.

What is a theory?

A broad explanation built on substantial empirical evidence.

What is a hypothesis?

A specific, testable prediction that can be supported or rejected.

How is scientific knowledge built?

Through observations, hypotheses, testing, and revision.

What is hypothesis falsification?

Testing hypotheses by looking for evidence that could prove them wrong.

Can science prove a hypothesis?

No. Science can only increase confidence or falsify hypotheses.

Why is falsification important?

Because evidence against a hypothesis is more informative than evidence supporting it.

What is a non-falsifiable hypothesis?

A hypothesis that cannot possibly be tested or disproven.

What do theories explain?

Underlying processes and mechanisms that account for observations.

How can a theory be overturned?

Through contradictory observations or a better explanation.

What is parsimony?

Preferring the simplest explanation that accounts for the evidence.

What is Occam's Razor?

The simplest explanation is usually the most likely to be correct.

What is the first principle of scientific thinking?

Ruling out rival hypotheses.

What does correlation vs. causation mean?

Just because two variables are related does not mean one causes the other.

What is falsifiability?

The ability of a claim to be tested and potentially proven wrong.

What is replicability?

The ability of researchers to repeat findings consistently.

What is meant by extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence?

Unusual claims require especially strong evidence.

What is generalizability?

The extent to which findings apply to the broader world.

What is pseudoscience?

Claims that appear scientific but lack proper safeguards against bias.

What is an example of pseudoscience?

Astrology.

Is religion science or pseudoscience?

Neither.

How does science differ from religion?

Science studies testable questions; religion focuses on moral values and beliefs that cannot be tested with data.

What is an ad hoc immunizing hypothesis?

An explanation added solely to protect a theory from being disproven.

Why are ad hoc hypotheses problematic?

They make theories difficult or impossible to test.

What is a lack of self-correction?

Failure to revise beliefs when contradictory evidence appears.

What is belief perseverance?

Holding onto beliefs despite evidence against them.

Why are anecdotes weak forms of evidence?

They are difficult to verify and may not represent typical outcomes.

What are the three dangers of pseudoscience?

Opportunity cost, direct harm, and blocking critical thinking.

What is opportunity cost in pseudoscience?

Wasting time, money, or resources on ineffective ideas.

What is the first major historical perspective in psychology?

Structuralism.

What did structuralism focus on?

Breaking conscious experience into basic elements.

What is functionalism?

Studying the purpose and adaptive function of behavior and mental processes.

What is behaviorism?

Studying observable behavior rather than mental processes.

What is cognitivism?

Studying mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

What is psychoanalysis?

A perspective emphasizing unconscious motives and conflicts.

What five major perspectives shaped modern psychology?

Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Psychoanalysis.

How would you describe contemporary psychology?

Broad and diverse, drawing from many perspectives.