EXAM 1 Chapter 1

Nature-nurture issue

The debate on whether heredity and biology (nature) or upbringing and surroundings (nurture) influence a person more.

Empiricism

The theory that all knowledge comes from experience, emphasized by John Locke.

Introspection

The examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings, used by Titchener to study the structure of the mind.

Biopsychosocial approach

An approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and socio-cultural influences to understand behavior.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology focused on identifying the structure of the mind, primarily developed by Edward Titchener.

Functionalism

An early school of psychology that focused on the functions of mental processes and behaviors, influenced by William James.

Cognitive psychology

A field that studies how we store, process, and use information, likening the mind to a computer.

Behaviorism

The perspective in psychology that emphasizes observable behaviors over internal mental states, associated with Watson and Skinner.

Psychodynamic

The perspective that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior, originally proposed by Freud.

Psychology

The scientific and systematic study of behavior and mental processes.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory that childhood experiences and unconscious desires shape behavior.

Developmental psychology

The study of the psychological changes that occur throughout the lifespan.

Industrial-organizational psychologists

Professionals who apply psychological principles to workplace issues to improve productivity and employee satisfaction.

Psychiatrists

Medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating psychological disorders, capable of prescribing medication.

Gladys Wundt

Considered the father of modern psychology, he established the first psychology lab in 1879.

Mary Calkins

A pioneering woman in psychology who studied memory and became the first female president of the APA.

Gestalt psychology

The perspective that emphasizes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.