Introduction to Psychology Notes

Flashcards covering key terms and core perspectives from introductory psychology lecture notes.

Psychodynamic

A psychological perspective stating that feelings & behaviors are influenced by unconscious thoughts/feelings and unresolved child issues.

Behaviorism

A perspective focused on what can be seen after an action through interaction with the environment, where actions resulting in good outcomes are repeated and bad outcomes are not.

Humanistic

A perspective stating that everyone has control over their path, proposing that people want to improve and reach their goals for self-improvement.

Cognitive

A perspective focusing on how we think, remember, solve problems, and use language, where decisions are based on thinking and planning.

Biological

A perspective exploring how the brain & parts of the body, along with chemicals and genes, affect thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Evolutionary

A perspective that uses ideas from evolution, including natural selection, to explain why we might act the way we do.

Sociocultural

A perspective examining how other people, social environments, and cultural rules shape human behavior.

Biopsychosocial

A perspective combining biological, psychological, and social factors (culture, norms, social environment) to understand how we think, act, and feel.