Introduction to Psychology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for reviewing key terms and concepts from Chapter 1 of an introductory psychology textbook.

Psychology

The scientific study of mind and behavior.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation to explain a phenomenon, fitting into the context of a scientific theory.

Scientific Theory

A broad explanation or group of explanations for some aspect of the natural world that is consistently supported by evidence over time.

Testable

Necessary for any explanation in science, meaning the phenomenon must be perceivable and measurable.

Empirical Method

A method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than solely on logical argument or previous authorities.

Critical Thinking

The active application of a set of skills to information for the understanding and evaluation of that information.

Structuralism

An attempt to understand the structure or characteristics of the mind.

Functionalism

Focused on how mental activities helped an organism fit into its environment.

Unconscious Mind

A repository of feelings and urges of which we have no awareness.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Focuses on the role of a person’s unconscious, as well as early childhood experiences.

Gestalt Psychology

Deals with the fact that although a sensory experience can be broken down into individual parts, how those parts relate to each other as a whole is often what the individual responds to in perception.

Behaviorism

An approach of observing and controlling behavior.

Conditioned Reflex

A form of learning behavior . An animal or human produced a reflex (unconscious) response to a stimulus and, over time, was conditioned to produce the response to a different stimulus that the experimenter associated with the original stimulus.

Humanism

A perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans.

Self-actualization

A process by which we achieve our full potential.

Unconditional Positive Regard

The therapist accepts their client for who they are, no matter what he or she might say.

Cognitive Revolution

Revived interest in the mind as a focus of scientific inquiry.

Feminist Psychology

An approach to psychology that attempts to be free of the influence of male cultural biases on our knowledge of the psychology of women and, indeed, of both genders.

Multicultural Psychology

A study of the effects of culture on psychology are under-studied.

Biopsychology

Explores how our biology influences our behavior.

Evolutionary Psychology

Seeks to study the ultimate biological causes of behavior.

Sensation and Perception

Scientists interested in both physiological aspects of sensory systems as well as in the psychological experience of sensory information.

Cognitive Psychology

The area of psychology that focuses on studying cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to our experiences and our actions.

Developmental Psychology

The scientific study of development across a lifespan.

Object Permanence

The understanding that physical things continue to exist, even if they are hidden from us.

Personality Psychology

Focuses on patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make each individual unique.

Personality Traits

Relatively consistent patterns of thought and behavior.

Social Psychology

Focuses on how we interact with and relate to others.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I-O psychology)

A subfield of psychology that applies psychological theories, principles, and research findings in industrial and organizational settings.

Health Psychology

Focuses on how health is affected by the interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Biopsychosocial Model

Health is affected by the interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Study the psychological aspects of sport performance, including motivation and performance anxiety, and the effects of sport on mental and emotional wellbeing.

Clinical Psychology

The area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior.

Counseling Psychology

Focuses on emotional, social, vocational, and health-related outcomes in individuals who are considered psychologically healthy.

Forensic Psychology

A branch of psychology that deals questions of psychology as they arise in the context of the justice system.

PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

PsyD

Doctor of Psychology

Dissertation

Essentially a long research paper or bundled published articles describing research that was conducted as a part of the candidate’s doctoral training.

Postdoctoral Training Program

Allow young scientists to further develop their research programs and broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A hierarchy of needs that spans the spectrum of motives ranging from the biological to the individual to the social.

Physiological Needs

Basic needs for survival and physical health.

Security Needs

Needs for safety and security..

Social Needs

Needs for love, intimacy, and belonging..

Esteem Needs

Needs for self-worth, accomplishment, and confidence.

Self-actualization

The need to achieve one's fullest potential.