Category: Questions

The Study of Mental Processes and Behavior Define and explain the science of psychology

1. Outline the following philosophical issues psychology tries to answer
2. free will vs determinism;
3. nature vs nurture;
4. body vs mind
5. Describe the following major perspectives in terms of key author and key focus
6. Psychodynamic;
7. Behaviourism
8. Humanism
9. Evolutionary psychology
10. Define and give an example of the major sub-disciplines of psychology
11. Clinical
12. Forensic
13. Counseling
14. Sport
15. Industrial/organisational
16. How does the text explain how you should become an effective learner in this online course ñ include the following:

The Study of Mental Processes and Behavior

1. Time management and study schedule
2. Active [not passive] learning

Resources for this weekís material

1. Students should read the introduction chapter in the area

The recommended text is:

Burton, L., Westen, D. & Kowalski (2016).Psychology [either 3rd or 4th Edition] Wiley: New York.

Note: library will have the text [and suitable other texts]

An e-text can be located at the following site:

http://www.wileydirect.com.au/buy/psychology4th-edition/

Second hand text are available

Some notes are provided below that cover most of the material that will be covered on the exam.

Please note:

The Study of Mental Processes and Behavior Sample multiple choice test

To prepare [and test] yourself, the following sample test is made available at the end of the notes. The answers are listed on the final [separate page]

Define and explain the [science of] Psychology

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of human behavior. This also includes all aspects of conscious and unconscious thoughts that make up the human mind. It is an academic discipline [all Universities have a psychology discipline] and a social and behavioural science that seeks to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles through scientific research. There are also professional practitioners; also called psychologists; who can specialize in areas such as clinical, counseling, forensic, sport and industrial/organizational. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental [cognitive] functions in individual and social behavior within society, while also exploring the physiological and biological processes that underlie these cognitive functions and socialn behaviors.

Psychologists explore behavior and mental processes, including: biological and physiological  basis of behaviour; sensation and perception; learning and memory; motivation and emotion; personality; health; attitudes, social cognitions and interpersonal processes; and, psychological disorders. Psychologists employ empirical [scientific] methods to infer causal and correlational relationships between all of these biopsychosocial variables. Finally, psychology has been described as a “hub science”, with psychological findings linking to research and perspectives from the social sciences, natural sciences, medicine and nursing, humanities, and business studies.

The Study of Mental Processes and Behavior

While psychological knowledge is often applied to the assessment and treatment of mental health problems, it is also directed towards understanding and solving problems in all spheres of human activity [from domestic violence, homelessness, youth suicide, up to global warming]. By many accounts psychology ultimately aims to benefit society.

The majority of psychologists are involved in some kind of therapeutic role, practicing in clinical, counseling, or school settings. Many do scientific research on a wide range of topics related to mental processes and behavior, and typically work in university psychology departments or teach in other academic settings (e.g., medical schools, hospitals). Some are employed in industrial and organizational settings, or in other areas such as human development and aging, sports, health, and the media, as well as in forensic investigation and other aspects of law.

Major schools

There are four major academic schools of psychology: biological and cognitive; life span developmental; behavioural; and, social.

Biological and cognitive

Psychologists generally consider the organism the basis of the mind, and therefore a vitally related area of study. Biological Psychologists and neuropsychologists work at the interface of mind and body. Biological psychology, also known as physiological psychology or neuropsychology is the study of the biological substrates of behavior and mental processes.

Key research topics in this field include memory, perception which involves the physical mechanics of sensation as well as neural and mental processing. For centuries, a leading question in biological psychology has been whether and how mental functions might be localized in the brain. Cognitive neuroscientists investigate the neural correlates of psychological processes in humans using neural imaging tools, and neuropsychologists conduct psychological assessments to determine, for instance, specific aspects and extent of cognitive deficit caused by brain damage or disease. The biopsychosocial model is an integrated perspective toward understanding consciousness, behavior, and social interaction.

It assumes that any given behavior or mental process affects and is affected by dynamically interrelated biological, psychological, and social factors. Behavioral Psychologists take human behavior as a main area of study. Much of the research in this area assume that while humans have a biological basis for all behaviours, the actual behaviours they exhibit are learnt. For instance, Noam Chomsky argues that some social behaviours [for example language acquisition] is too complex a mental process just to learn by trial and error.

 

The Study of Mental Processes and Behavior

Question 1.

Which of the following terms is/are included in the definition of psychology?

1. a) Scientific;
2. b) Study;
3. c) Human;
4. d) Behaviour;
5. e) All of the above

Question 2.

There are four major areas of psychology. Which area is defined as ìworking at the interface of the body and the mindî?

1. a) Biological and cognitive psychology;
2. b) Behavioural psychology;
3. c) Life span development;
4. d) Social and evolutionary psychology;
5. e) Personality and psychopathology;

.

Question 3.

Which one of the main philosophical debates is associated with humans inherit all

behavioral tendencies versus human behavior are determined by personal experience?

1. a) Free will versus determinism;
2. b) Nature versus nurture;
3. c) Body versus mind;
4. d) Pluralism versus tabula rasa;
5. e) a priori versus a posteri

Question 4.

Which of the following is the correct match?

1. a) Nature ñ all children learn a language;
2. b) Nurture ñ children learn the language that is spoken in their early life environment;
3. c) Nurture ñ genetic/inherited factors are a major influence in human intelligence;
4. d) All of the above;
5. e) (a) and (b).

Question 5.

Humanistic psychology primarily arose because of:

1. a) Carl Rogers;
2. b) Limitations of Freudian psychodynamics;
3. c) Limitations of the behavioral approaches;
4. d) All of the above;
5. e) (a) and (b).

Question 6.

Match the correct psychic state with their description.

1. a) Id ñ unconscious reservoir of (motivating) energy;
2. b) Ego ñ repository of an individualís moral values;
3. c) Super-ego ñ general management of personality, balancing inherited drives, reality and moral challenges;

1. d) All of the above are correct;
2. e) (b) and (c).

Question 7.

Match the sub-discipline with the following description ìunderstanding the fundamental

processes of the law.î

1. a) Clinical;
2. b) Forensic;
3. c) Counseling;
4. d) Sport;
5. e) Industrial-Organizational.

Question 8.

Which of the following is not one of the roles of an Industrial-Organizational psychologist?

1. a) Improving work performance;
2. b) Providing psychotherapy for distressed employees;
3. c) Improving selection and training programs;
4. d) Transitioning staff through organizational change;
5. e) Improving job satisfaction.

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