Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology

Wilhelm Wundt

founded the first formal laboratory devoted to experimental psychology and is often referred to as the father of psychology

Edward Titchener

one of the first psychologists in the United States, who expanded on Wundt's ideas and developed structuralism

William James

an American philosopher and psychologist, known for his contributions to functionalism

structuralism

a theory of psychology that seeks to understand the structure of the mind by analyzing its components and their relationships

Max Wertheimer

a German psychologist and one of the founders of Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes understanding perception and experience as a whole rather than by breaking it down into parts.

functionalism

a psychological approach that focuses on the purpose of mental processes and behavior in adapting to the environment

psychodynamic perspective

a theory of psychology that emphasizes the influence of unconscious processes and early life experiences on behavior and mental states

behaviorist perspective

a theory that emphasizes the role of environmental stimuli in shaping behavior, focusing on observable actions rather than internal mental statesand the principles of conditioning.

humanistic perspective

a psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the importance of free will in shaping behavior and mental health

Who pioneered behaviorism?

John Watson and B. F. Skinner

Who was involved in the humanistic perspective?

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

cognitive perspective

a psychological approach that focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, emphasizing how these processes influence behavior

biological perspective

a psychological approach that examines the influence of biological factors, such as genes, the brain, the nervous system, and the endocrine system

behavioral neuroscience

a field that attempts to understand the brain processes underlying behaviors such as sensation, learning, and emotion

cognitive neuroscience

this field focuses on studying the brain bases of higher cognitive functions such as memory and language

evolutionary perpective

the study of behavior and the mind through the principles of evolutionary theory (a.k.a. Darwin’s theory)

sociocultural perspective

the perspective that focuses on cross-cultural differences in the causes and consequences of behavior