PSY101 Lesson 1

1. Define psychology.
   Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes in
   humans and animals.
2. Who is widely credited with founding the first psychological
   laboratory?
   Wilhelm Wundt is widely credited with founding the first psychological
   laboratory in 1879.
3. Name the two main components studied in psychology.
   The two main components studied in psychology are overt behavior and
   covert mental processes.
4. List three of the main goals of psychology.
   Three main goals of psychology are description, understanding, and
   prediction of behavior and mental processes.
5. What is a common misconception about psychologists?
   A common misconception is that psychologists can read people’s
   personalities like magicians.
6. Are psychologists medical doctors?
   No, psychologists are not medical doctors; psychiatrists are physicians
   who specialize in mental health.
7. What branch of psychology deals with the diagnosis and
   treatment of abnormal behavior?
   Clinical Psychology deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of
   abnormal behavior.
8. What does I/O psychology study?
   Industrial/Organizational psychology studies psychology in action at the
   workplace, including productivity and job satisfaction.

 
9. Explain why psychology is considered a science.
Psychology is considered a science because it employs the scientific method,
using systematic, objective procedures to gather knowledge about behavior and
mental processes.

10. How does the behavioral perspective differ from the
    psychodynamic perspective in its focus?
    The behavioral perspective focuses on observable behavior and
    environmental stimuli, while the psychodynamic perspective emphasizes
    unconscious inner forces and conflicts motivating behavior.
11. Explain the significance of Wundt’s first laboratory for the
    field of psychology.
    Wundt’s first laboratory established psychology as a separate,
    experimental science, moving it away from philosophy and physiology.
12. Why do psychologists sometimes study animal behavior?
    Psychologists study animal behavior to better understand human behavior,
    especially when research cannot be conducted on humans due to ethical or
    safety concerns.
13. How does the definition of psychology reflect its scope?
    The definition “science of behavior and mental processes”
    reflects its broad scope, encompassing both observable actions and
    internal cognitive and emotional experiences.
14. Contrast the roles of a psychologist and a psychiatrist.
    A psychologist typically holds a doctoral degree in psychology and focuses
    on psychotherapy and assessment, while a psychiatrist is a medical doctor
    who can prescribe medication and treats psychological disorders from a
    biological perspective.
15. Explain how a health psychologist might contribute to public
    health.
    A health psychologist might contribute to public health by promoting
    healthy behaviors (like exercise) and discouraging unhealthy ones (like
    smoking) through understanding the psychological factors influencing
    physical health.
16. Why is critical thinking an important skill for studying
    psychology?
    Critical thinking is important because it drives scientific inquiry,
    allowing one to skeptically investigate ideas, test assumptions, and
    evaluate evidence, leading to a deeper understanding.
17. What does the humanistic approach emphasize about human nature?
    The humanistic approach emphasizes that people are in control of their
    lives, have free will, and are naturally inclined towards personal growth
    and self-actualization.

18. A child is afraid of dogs. Based on the behavioral approach, how might this
fear have been learned?
This fear could have been learned through classical conditioning, where a
neutral stimulus (a dog) was paired with a frightening event (a loud bark),
leading to a conditioned fear response.

19. An industrial psychologist wants to improve employee morale.
    What is one factor they might investigate?
    They might investigate job satisfaction levels and the quality of
    interpersonal relationships among employees and management.
20. A consumer psychologist is hired by a car company. What is one
    aspect of consumer behavior they might study?
    They might study how different advertising styles affect consumers’
    perceptions and buying habits regarding the company’s cars.
21. A school counselor uses principles from psychology to help
    students develop better study habits. Which goal of psychology is this an
    example of?
    This is an example of the control or modification of behavior, a key goal
    of psychology aimed at applying understanding to improve real-life
    situations.
22. A researcher is conducting an experiment where she manipulates
    room temperature to see its effect on test performance. What is the
    independent variable in this scenario?
    The independent variable is the room temperature.
23. Read this description: “A branch of psychology that
    focuses on the relationship between people and their physical
    environment.” Which specialized area of psychology is this?
    This describes Environmental Psychology.
24. A person believes their psychologist can predict their future.
    Using your knowledge of misconceptions, how would you correct this belief?
    You would explain that psychologists are not fortune-tellers; they use
    scientific principles to assess personality and predict behavioral
    tendencies, not destiny.
25. A clinical psychologist is working with a client who is
    experiencing grief. Based on the text, what is one issue this psychologist
    is trained to address?
    The psychologist is trained to diagnose and treat problems ranging from
    everyday crises of life, such as grief due to the death of a loved one.