Chapter 1 – Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and figures from Chapter 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Empirical Approach

An evidence-based method that relies on systematic observation and experimentation.

Empirical Evidence

Data collected through the senses—seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, or touching.

Scientific Attitude

A mindset combining curiosity, skepticism, and humility when examining evidence.

Curiosity

Eagerness to ask questions and put ideas to the test.

Skepticism

Questioning claims without being cynical or gullible.

Humility

Willingness to accept new ideas when evidence contradicts predictions.

Critical Thinking

Reasoning that evaluates evidence and arguments rather than accepting them blindly.

Structuralism

Early school of thought (Wundt & Titchener) using introspection to reveal the mind’s structure.

Introspection

Self-reflective reporting of inner sensations, images, and feelings.

Functionalism

School (James, influenced by Darwin) exploring how mental and behavioral processes aid adaptation and survival.

Wilhelm Wundt

Founded the first psychology laboratory in 1879; studied the "atoms of the mind."

William James

Philosopher-psychologist who pioneered functionalism and studied adaptive functions of consciousness.

Mary Whiton Calkins

Memory researcher; first female APA president (1905); denied a Harvard PhD.

Margaret Floy Washburn

First woman to earn a psychology PhD; author of "The Animal Mind"; second female APA president (1921).

Behaviorism

View that psychology should be an objective science studying observable behavior without reference to mental processes.

John B. Watson

Behaviorist who redefined psychology as the scientific study of observable behavior.

B. F. Skinner

Leading behaviorist who studied conditioning and rejected introspection.

Psychoanalytic Psychology

Freudian perspective emphasizing the influence of the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalytic psychology.

Humanistic Psychology

Perspective emphasizing human growth potential, love, and acceptance (Rogers & Maslow).

Carl Rogers

Humanistic psychologist who focused on environments that nurture personal growth.

Abraham Maslow

Humanistic psychologist known for the hierarchy of needs and focus on self-actualization.

Cognitive Psychology

Scientific study of mental processes such as perception, memory, thinking, and problem solving.

Cognitive Neuroscience

Interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition.

Nature–Nurture Issue

Debate over relative contributions of genes (nature) and experience (nurture) to behavior and traits.

Evolutionary Psychology

Study of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection.

Behavior Genetics

Field investigating the influence of genes and environment on individual differences.

Positive Psychology

Scientific study of human flourishing, aiming to discover and promote strengths and virtues.

Levels of Analysis

Complementary biological, psychological, and social-cultural viewpoints for analyzing phenomena.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Integrated perspective that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors.

Neuroscience Perspective

Focuses on how the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences.

Evolutionary Perspective

Examines how natural selection of traits supports gene survival and shapes behavior.

Behavior Genetics Perspective

Explores how genes and environment create individual differences.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Investigates how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts.

Behavioral Perspective

Studies how we learn observable responses and how behavior can be modified.

Cognitive Perspective

Looks at how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information.

Social-Cultural Perspective

Studies how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures.