Psychology
310 2012 - 2013
NOTE: Additional readings may be
distributed from time to time
Some Questions which arise from readings: These are to be seen as guidelines as to what points to derive from the articles.
1. What is the potential for Psychology's future in health care?
2. The article on Newtonian Psychology represents an interesting short history of the evolution of psychology in the Newtonian model. Briefly, trace this history. What is meant by the Newtonian Psychology.
3. Morowitz challenges the strictly reductionist approach to human behavior. Describe the history of this approach, as outlined in the article, as well as developments leading us to question it.
4. How does Kuhn define the term “paradigm”? What are its supposed advantages? What is meant by the expression "a science concerned only with quantity and based exclusively on measurement is ... unable to deal with experience, quality or values" ?
5. Stones makes the case for qualitative research in contrast to quantitative research. What are the five main contrasting issues? What are the three main phenomenological research methods Stones proposes.
6. What are the methods goals and benefits of phenomenological research according to Osborne (1994).
7. Briefly, what methodological approaches are proposed by
8. What are the 5 basic postulates of Humanistic Psychology?
9. a. What does Sperry mean by Psychology's "new mentalist
paradigm" in contrast to the "materialist microdeterministic
view."
b. What is meant by the emergent properties of brain
activity.
c. How does Sperry resolve the free will - determinism
paradox.
10. The Caccioppo & Bernston
article develops the idea that although many psychological phenomena can be
studied as neurophysiological processes, we may also lose valuable information
if we try to reduce such phenomena to nothing but neurophysiological processes.
a. What do they mean by social neuroscience?
b. What are the advantages or disadvantages of single level
analysis as opposed to multilevel analysis.
c .What is the significance of Fodor & McLaughlin's statements
about "doing psychology at the level of units."
d. What is the doctrine of multilevel analysis. What
are the conclusions drawn about reductionism.
11. The Garcia & Koelling article provides compelling evidence in support of the selective association principle. Describe this study and its implications.
12. What is the significance of the Breland and Breland article?
13. Demonstrate that species-specific defense reaction (SSDR) are a particular case of avoidance responding supports the selective association principle as well. How does the Bolles article provide evidence in this regard.
14. Rachman & Seligmian suggest that human phobias are prepared fears acquired under the selective association principle. What are their arguments? What evidence is raised in support of these arguments? How do they account for some apparent exceptions?
15. Discuss the implications of the Jones and Friman (1999) article on phobias
16. The etiology of childhood phobia sheds some light on Rachman's three pathways theory - discuss
17. Discuss the view in the Poulton and Menzies study that the role of the environment is to abate biologically relevant fears rather than account for their emergence. What are the implications for the for pathway model? What are the implications for clinical practice?
18. Discuss the significance of Bernstein's article on acquired food aversions in clinical situations
19. The Barash chapter on the Sociobiology of
Human Behavior reviews a number of important issues, as does the chapter by
Noonan. Be familiar with:
a. some of the general issues and problems raised
b. the relationship between personal satisfaction and
adaptive significance (why is sugar sweet)
c. mate selection and related issues (jealousy,
cuckolding, etc.)
d. parental strategies and childrens'
inducements for parental investment
e.
f. altruism and reciprocity
20. What does the Noonan article suggest about behavior and evolution. What six evolutionary theories are said to be indispensable to Psychology.
21. Fully discuss the issues raised in the article "The Biology of Violence." Do you feel more sympathetic to the evolutionary explanation of some behavior?
22. The Buss et al., article seems to support the view that sex differences in jealousy are evolved adaptations. Discuss.
23. The Eagly and Wood (1999) article presents a different view - Discuss
24 . What are the findings and implications of Rosenhan's classic article "On Being Sane in Insane Places."
25. According to the Nathan article what are the improvements and remaining shortcomings of the DSM-IV.
26. Compare the classical view of learned helplessness (Seligman, 1975) with the newer informational inconsistency model (Sedek & Kofta, 1990).
27. The Siegal et al (1982) article illustrates the conditioning that accompanies drug use. Discuss
28.
29. Discuss the implications of the Kiecolt- Glaser (1992) article on psychological interventions and immune function
30. Discuss Rainey's (1972) example of in vivo flooding.
31. Discuss Eccles et al., (1988) in vivo desensitization procedures.
32. Since Mowrer & Mowrer's (1938) "urine alarm treatment" for bedwetting other approaches have been explored. The Hauts et al., article compares these. What are the specific and general implications for the currently increasingly common practice of control through medication.
33. Discuss the implications of the Flor & Birbaumer (1993) article on the efficacy of EMG biofeedback in the control of pain.
34. Discuss the Gutkin et al., (1994) article regarding home relaxation training for tension headaches.
35. What approaches may be used to promote generalization of treatment outcomes (summarized from Schreibman et al., 1990).
36. Skinner (1988) in The Operant Side of Behavior Therapy, makes a number of statements about such concepts as mind, intention, discouragement, etc., and behavior therapy in general. Discuss Skinner's views on such matters.
37. How does the Wegner and Wheatly (1999) article seem to support the Radical Behaviorist view
38. McDowell (1982) and Plaud (1992) discuss the importance of the matching law for the regulation of human behavior. In particular, describe the matching law (referring also to the several implications on page 29 of Plaud) the intervention strategies that arise from it, and the potential clinical significance of it.
36. Frankl suggests that how one interprets events rather than the events themselves (i.e., finding "meaning in life" in any circumstance) has implications for psychological health. How does the Zika and Chamberlain (1992) article speak to this issue. Can "meaning in life" be measured.
The reading sections on Stress and Pain have no “questions” assigned but are
to be thoroughly explored.