Contemporary Psychology o Contemporary psychology Nature vs. nurture: longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors; today’s science sees traits and behaviors arising from a combination of both Natural selection: the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations Evolutionary psychology: the study of the evolution of behavior and mind, using principls of natural selection Behavior genetics: the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior Culture: the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next Positive psychology: the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities thrive Levels of analysis: the differing complementary view, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing a given phenomenon  Biopsychological approach: an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis  Biological influences: genetic predispositions, genetic mutations, natural selection of adaptive traits and behaviors passed down through generations, genes responding to the environment  Psychological influences: learned fears and other learned expectations, emotional reponses, cognitive processing and perceptual interpretations  Social-cultural influences: presence of others, cultural and societal and family expectations, peer and other group influences, compelling models (media) Basic research: pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base Applied research: scientific study that aims to solve practical problems Psychology professions  Counseling psychology: a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (school, work, marriage) and in achieving greater well-being  Clinical psychology: a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders  Psychiatry: a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatment as well as psychological treatment  Community psychology: a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups Grades and studying  Testing effect: enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information  SQ3R: a study method incorporating 5 steps o Survey: take a bird’s eye view and notice how chapter is organized o Question: test your understanding before reading to discover what you don’t know yet so you will learn and remember it better o Read: actively search for the answers to the questions; read actively and critically o Retrieve: test yourself to learn and retain the information more effectively o Review: read over notes you took; eye the organization again; review whole chapter