Psychology
Study of behavior and mental processes.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition.
Nature-Nurture Issue
Controversy over relative contributions of genes and experience on development of psychological traits and behaviors.
Natural Selection
Principle that traits variations that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.
Biopsychosocial Approach
An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.
Biological Psychology
Branch of psychology concerned with links between biology and behavior.
Evolutionary Psychology
The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.
Psychodynamic Psychology
Branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior.
Behavioral Psychology
The scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning.
Cognitive Psychology
The scientific study of all mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.
Social-Cultural Psychology
The study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking.
Behavior Genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
Culture
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Positive Psychology
the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
Testing Effect
enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information
SQ3R
a study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review
Psychometrics
The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.
Basic Research
Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.
Developmental Psychology
A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span
Personality Psychology
The study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.
Social Psychology
The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.
Applied Research
Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.
Counseling Psychology
A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living and in achieving greater well-being.
Clinical Psychology
Branch of psychology concerned with diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems and disorders.
Psychiatry
The branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
Educational Psychology
the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning
Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology
the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in work places.
Human Factors Psychology
an I/O psychology subfield that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use
Community Psychology
a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups