Understanding Human Behavior: Genetics, Environment, and Evolution Study Guide
This guide delves into the fundamental concepts of nature vs. nurture, behavioral genetics, evolutionary psychology, and epigenetics. Learn how genes and environment interact to influence behavior, explore evolutionary theories like natural selection and error management, and understand the molecular mechanisms of epigenetics. Essential for students of psychology and anyone interested in the biological and environmental factors that shape us.
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Foundations of Psychological Science and History
Psychological Science and Research Methods
A study guide covering the characteristics of scientific research, psychological theories, reasoning methods, and ethical guidelines.
- Empirical methods
- Hypothesis
- Theory
- Systematic observation
- Cumulative knowledge
- Informed consent
- Confidentiality
- Debriefing
- Inductive reasoning
- Deductive reasoning
- Representative sample
- Falsifiability
- Pseudoscience
- Null hypothesis significance testing
- Type I error
- Type II error
- Biological level of explanation
- Cognitive level of explanation
- Behavioural level of explanation
- Social level of explanation
History and Evolution of Psychology
Psychology developed from philosophy and physiology through various schools of thought including structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, and the cognitive revolution.
- Philosophy and physiology roots
- Empiricism
- Psychophysics
- Structuralism
- Functionalism
- Gestalt psychology
- Behaviourism
- Operant conditioning
- Conditioned reflexes
- Cognitive revolution
- Applied psychology
- Scientist-practitioner model
- Scholar-practitioner model
Statistical Thinking and Research Designs
Statistical Thinking and Research Methodology
A guide to the basic investigation cycle, reliability, validity, p-values, confidence intervals, and the distinction between random sampling and random assignment.
- Basic investigation cycle
- Reliability
- Validity
- p-values
- Null hypothesis
- Confidence intervals
- Population parameter
- Margin of error
- Random sampling
- Random assignment
- Generalization
- Causal conclusions
- Statistical significance
- Effect size
- Correlation
- Causation
Understanding Statistical Thinking and Research Methodology
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Psychological Research Designs and Methods
This study guide examines various research designs, including correlational, experimental, and longitudinal methods, alongside real-world research techniques and validity types.
- Correlational research
- Correlation coefficient
- Experimental research
- Independent variable
- Dependent variable
- Random assignment
- Confounds
- Placebo effects
- Participant demand characteristics
- Experimenter expectancy effects
- Double-blind procedures
- Surveys
- Longitudinal research
- Quasi-experiments
- Qualitative and naturalistic methods
- Participant observation
- Case study
- Narrative methods
- Naturalistic observation
- Internal validity
Biological, Evolutionary, and Learning Foundations
Nature, Nurture, and Evolutionary Psychology
This study guide explores the nature-nurture debate, behavioural genetics, evolutionary theories, and epigenetic mechanisms in psychology.
- Nature-Nurture debate
- Behavioural genetics
- Adoption studies
- Twin studies
- Monozygotic twins
- Dizygotic twins
- Heritability
- Gene-environment interaction
- Natural selection
- Survival adaptations
- Reproductive adaptations
- Sexual selection
- Intrasexual competition
- Intersexual selection
- Inclusive fitness
- Psychological adaptations
- Sexual Strategies Theory
- Error Management Theory
- Epigenetics
- DNA methylation
The Interplay of Nature, Nurture, and Evolutionary Psychology
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Factors Influencing Learning and Conditioning
Learning is a relatively lasting change in knowledge, behaviour, perception, or response caused by experience through processes such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
- Implicit learning
- Implicit memory
- Perceptual learning
- Nonassociative learning
- Habituation
- Sensitization
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Unconditioned stimulus
- Unconditioned response
- Conditioned stimulus
- Conditioned response
- Prediction error
- Blocking
- Preparedness
- Extinction
- Spontaneous recovery
- Renewal
- Law of effect
- Positive reinforcement
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