psychology - concepts and contents

bias

flaws, distortions, errors in thinking, sampling, or conducting research

causality

clear cause-and-effect relationship between an independent and dependent variable

change

alterations in human behavior, cognitive processes, or biology over time - gradual, sudden, planned, or unplanned

measurement

observing, defining, and quantifying psychological behaviors or constructs objectively

perspective

theoretical framework - biological, cognitive, or sociocultural - used to explain human behavior

responsibility

ethical and social obligations psychologist hold to participants, society, and application of their findings

biological approach

Body is major contributing factor to our behavior, direct psychical/biological roots. Actions shaped by brain structures, genes, and chemical imbalance

cognitive approach

Internal mental processes are major contributing factors to our behavior. Mind takes in information from environment, processes, stores, and produces output. How people think dictates how they feel or act.

sociocultural approach

social interaction, norms, family, and environment are major contributing factors to our behaviors. Individuals cannot be fully understood without looking at groups, cultures, communities, values, expectations, and social roles that shape behavior and mental health