GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 100 - Introduction and Beginnings in Psychology

Flashcards covering introductory psychology terminology, historical figures, research methods, and scientific principles based on the first lecture.

Psychology

The scientific study of the mind, encompassing hundreds of sub-disciplines including animal behavior and neuroscience.

John Locke

Philosopher who proposed the concept of 'Tabula rasa,' suggesting the mind starts as a blank slate.

Wilhelm Wundt

A German scientist recognized as the first experimental psychologist (1832-1920).

Introspection

A method of metacognition where individuals describe their own consciousness, famously used by Wilhelm Wundt.

Structuralism

A psychological perspective focused on understanding the mind by analyzing mental processes and the way people think.

Functionalism

A theory based on Darwin's evolutionary theory, suggesting behaviors and traits are selected through evolution; focused on the mind as a whole.

William James

The first American experimental psychologist who focused on how physical features of the brain allow the mind to exist.

Psychoanalysis

A theory developed by Freud to release unconscious influences on behavior and mood, marking the beginning of talk therapy.

Gestalt Psychology

A theory focusing on perception as a single whole rather than a collection of individual pieces or sensory systems.

Scientific Method

A process for investigating behavior and neuroscience that includes observation, hypothesis, testing with predictions, and theory development.

Hypothesis

A logical and testable explanation for an observation.

Scientific Theory

A hypothesis that has yielded positive results through thousands of tests by different scientists.

Scientific Law

A description or prediction of natural phenomena that does not necessarily explain how the phenomena occurs.

Deductive Reasoning

A top-down approach to research where ideas are tested in the real world to reach a conclusion.

Inductive Reasoning

A bottom-up approach where specific observations lead to the development of broader ideas and predictions.

Case Studies

Observational research characterized by a very small sample size ($n$ size), often focusing on rare illnesses or behaviors.

Naturalistic Observation

The study of behavior in its natural setting without any manipulation or interference by the researcher.

Observer Effect

A phenomenon where the presence of an observer changes the behavior of the subject being studied.

Inter-rater Reliability

A measure of consistency where multiple observers compare their results statistically to avoid observer bias.

Sample

A subset of individuals selected from a larger population to be studied.

Population

The entire group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying.

Longitudinal Studies

Research that observes the same group of individuals repeatedly across a given period of time.

Cross-sectional Studies

Research that compares different groups of people to each other at the same single time-point.

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical measure represented by a value from $-1$ to $1$ that indicates the relationship between two variables.

Confounding Variables

External factors that may explain a strong correlation between two variables, leading to incorrect causal conclusions.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to only pay attention to evidence that supports one's own conclusion while ignoring evidence that disproves it.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter.

Dependent Variable

The measured outcome of an experiment used to see if the independent variable had any effect.

Double-blind Study

A study design where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental or control group.

Placebo Effect

An improvement in a patient's condition caused by the expectation of treatment rather than an active substance.

Nocebo Effect

The experience of negative side-effects after taking an inactive substance (placebo), often worsened if the subject is told side-effects are possible.

Reliability

The ability of a measure or experiment to consistently produce the same result.

Validity

The extent to which a tool or variable accurately reports or measures what it is supposed to measure.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

An ethics committee that reviews and accepts proposals for research involving human subjects.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

An ethics committee that reviews and accepts proposals for research involving animal subjects.