Psych._Chap._1_Midterm.docx

Functionalism

A psychological theory that views mental activity as a way to adapt to the environment.

Introspection

The process of observing one's own consciousness to study mental activities.

Structuralism

A perspective in psychology that focuses on breaking down conscious experience into its basic elements.

Empirical Method

An approach that emphasizes observation and experimentation to gather information about behavior.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process through which behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Hierarchy of Needs

A theory by Abraham Maslow that categorizes human needs into a hierarchical structure, influencing motivation.

Gestalt Principles

Laws that explain how the human brain organizes visual information into a whole.

Unconditional Positive Regard

A concept by Carl Rogers where a therapist accepts clients without judgment.

Humanism

A psychological perspective emphasizing personal growth and the innate potential for goodness in individuals.

Cognitive Psychology

The branch of psychology focused on understanding how people acquire, process, and use information.

Cecil Sumner

The first African American to receive a PhD in psychology in the United States.

Margaret Floy Washburn

The first woman to earn a doctoral degree in psychology in the United States.

Multicultural Psychology

A field that studies the impact of cultural factors on behavior and mental processes.

Behaviorism

A psychological approach focusing on observable behaviors and the effects of environmental stimuli.

Good Figure

A Gestalt principle stating that objects grouped together are perceived as a single figure.

Proximity

A Gestalt principle where objects that are close to each other tend to be grouped together.

Similarity

A Gestalt principle stating that objects that are similar in appearance tend to be grouped together.

Continuation

A Gestalt principle that describes how people perceive intersecting objects as single uninterrupted forms.

Closure

A Gestalt principle where the mind fills in gaps to create a whole perception from incomplete information.

Symmetry

A Gestalt principle where the human brain tends to perceive objects as symmetrical around their center.