Gen Psych Chapter 1

Psychology

Psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Wilhelm Wundt

pioneer in psychology who established the first psychology laboratory in Germany in 1879

Wilhelm Wundt

He developed the technique of objective introspection

Structuralism

school of psychology introduced by Edward Titchener

Structuralism

analyzing the basic components of mental experiences

Functionalism

psychological perspective proposed by William James

Functionalism

Emphasizes how the mind enables individuals to adapt to their environment

Wundt, Titchener, and James

Early Pioneers in Psychology

Gestalt Psychology

a perspective that studies how people perceive and organize sensory information into meaningful wholes or patterns

Psychoanalysis

a theory developed by Sigmund Freud, focusing on the role of the unconscious mind in influencing conscious behavior

Behaviorism

psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of observable stimuli and responses, pioneered by John Watson

Psychodynamic Perspective

a modern interpretation of Freud's theory, emphasizing the role of the unconscious mind and inner conflicts

Operant Conditioning

a learning theory developed by B.F. Skinner, focusing on how voluntary behavior is shaped by consequences like reinforcement

Humanism

a psychological perspective that emphasizes human potential for growth and free will

Humanism

developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers

Cognitive Psychology

study of mental processes such as learning, memory, language, and problem-solving

Biopsychology

ield of psychology that examines the biological bases of behavior, including hormones, genetics, and nervous system functions

Evolutionary Perspective

perspective in psychology looks at how the mind functions and why it operates as it does, considering adaptation and survival value

Psychologists

professionals with academic doctoral degrees who can engage in counseling, teaching, research, and various specialized areas within psychology

Psychiatrists

medical doctors specializing in diagnosing and treating mental disorders

Psychiatric Social Workers

social workers with special training in how environmental factors influence mental health

Critical Thinking

ability to make reasoned judgments based on evaluating evidence and arguments

Scientific Approach

systematic method used in psychology to observe, form hypotheses, test hypotheses, draw conclusions, and report results

Correlation

statistical technique used to identify relationships between variables, but it does not establish causation

Independent Variable

e variable deliberately manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable

Dependent Variable

he measured behavior or response of participants in an experiment, affected by changes in the independent variable

Control Group

xperiment receives either a placebo or no treatment and is used as a comparison to the experimental group

Random Assignment

process of assigning participants to experimental or control groups randomly to minimize bias and individual differences

Single-Blind Study

experiment where participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group

Double-Blind Study

experiment where neither the experimenters nor the participants know who is in the experimental or control group to prevent bias