History and Systems Exam 4 Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts and definitions from the study guide on Gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, and contemporary developments in psychology.

Gestalt Psychology

A movement that emerged in early 1900s Germany, emphasizing the study of holistic perception rather than breaking it into elements.

Phenomenology

The study of conscious experience as it appears from the first-person perspective, focusing on subjective experience over objective measurement.

Phi Phenomenon

The illusion of movement created by two flashing lights, discovered by Max Wertheimer, challenging the view that perception can be reduced to elements.

Field Theory

Kurt Lewin's theory that behavior is shaped by social forces and psychological fields.

Zeigarnik Effect

The phenomenon where incomplete tasks are better remembered than completed tasks, as discovered by Kurt Lewin.

Ego Psychology

Developed by Anna Freud, this branch emphasizes the role of the ego and defense mechanisms.

Object Relations Theory

Melanie Klein's theory focusing on early relationships with caretakers and using play therapy to access unconscious processes.

Collective Unconscious

Carl Jung's concept that includes the memories and archetypes shared by all humans.

Self-Actualization

The realization of one's potential and capabilities, often identified as a characteristic of psychologically healthy individuals according to Maslow.

Cognitive Psychology

A branch focusing on mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, that emerged as a reaction against behaviorism.

Turing Test

A test developed to determine if a machine's behavior is indistinguishable from that of a human.

Deliberation-Without-Attention

A concept suggesting that nonconscious processing is rational and fast, aiding in problem-solving.

Evolutionary Psychology

A field that applies Darwinian principles to psychological phenomena, focusing on adaptive mechanisms.

Behaviorism

A psychological approach that emphasizes observable behaviors over internal mental processes.

Humanistic Psychology

A psychological perspective that emphasizes personal growth and the concept of self-actualization.

Cognitive Dissonance

A theory proposed by Leon Festinger, indicating that people experience discomfort when holding conflicting beliefs or behaving in ways that contradict their values.

Schema Theory

A cognitive framework that helps organize and interpret information based on pre-existing knowledge.

Social Learning Theory

Albert Bandura's theory that people learn behaviors by observing others and the outcomes of those behaviors.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory proposing that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

Attachment Theory

John Bowlby's framework for understanding the bonds between children and their caregivers, which influences relational styles.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach founded by Sigmund Freud, focusing on unconscious motivations and conflicts as influences on behavior and thoughts.

Id, Ego, Superego

Freud's structural model of the psyche: the id seeks pleasure, the ego mediates reality, and the superego represents moral standards.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety produced by internal conflicts, such as repression, denial, and projection.

Transference

The phenomenon where patients project feelings and attitudes from previous relationships onto their therapist during psychoanalysis.

Countertransference

The therapist's emotional reaction to the patient, influenced by the therapist's own background and experiences, which can affect therapeutic relations.

Dream Analysis

A method used in psychoanalysis to interpret dreams as a reflection of unconscious desires and conflicts.

Libido

Freud's term for the sexual drive or energy that is a key part of human motivation and behavior, extending beyond mere sexuality to encompass creativity and life instincts.

Oedipus Complex

A child's emotions and desires, typically a boy's, for his mother and rivalry with his father; a central concept in Freudian development theory.