Key Figures and Concepts in Psychology

These flashcards cover key figures, concepts, and theories related to the history and application of psychology.

Structuralism

Approach focused on breaking the mind into basic components using introspection.

Functionalism

Focus on purpose of mental processes and adaptation.

E.B. Titchener

Founder of structuralism; used introspection to analyze conscious experience into basic elements.

Margaret Washburn

First woman to earn a PhD in psychology; studied animal behavior and cognition.

Mary Calkins

Memory researcher; first female APA president; denied a PhD due to gender.

Natural Selection

Process where beneficial traits are passed on.

Positive Transfer

Previous learning helps new learning.

Negative Transfer

Previous learning interferes with new learning.

Hawthorne Effect

People perform better when observed.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Application of psychology to workplace behavior.

Eleanor Gamble

Early experimental psychologist known for work in perception.

Intensity

Strength of a sensation (e.g., brightness of a light).

Quality

Type of sensation (e.g., color, taste).

Duration

Length of time a sensation lasts.

Extensity

Spatial size or spread of a sensation.

Stimulus Error

Describing an object instead of the experience itself.

Herbert Spencer

Applied evolution to psychology; coined 'survival of the fittest'.

Charles Spearman

Proposed general intelligence (g factor).

Frederick Taylor

Scientific management; efficiency in work.

Philippe Pinel

Advocated humane treatment of mentally ill.

Dorothea Dix

Reformed mental hospitals.

Charles Darwin

Proposed natural selection; traits aiding survival are passed on.

Jean Lamarck

Proposed inheritance of acquired characteristics (incorrect but influential).

Erasmus Darwin

Early evolution thinker; influenced Charles Darwin.

Cyril Burt

Studied intelligence and twins; findings controversial.

Thomas Bouchard

Twin studies supporting nature vs nurture research.

Walter Dill Scott

Applied psychology to advertising and business.

George Herbert Mead

Studied social behavior and development of self.

James Rowland Angell

Defined functionalism; focused on mental operations.

George Romanes

Studied animal intelligence using anecdotal evidence.

Lloyd Morgan

Morgan's Canon: simplest explanation is best.

Lightner Witmer

Founded first psychology clinic.

Clifford Beers

Started mental hygiene movement.