Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology

Natural Selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Structuralism

founded on studying the structure of the mind

introspection

repeated exposure to stimulus; seeing how it makes one feel

Functionalism

studies the function of the mind

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions

Freudian slip

a verbal mistake that is thought to reveal an unconscious belief, thought, or emotion

Behaviorism

study of observable learned behaviors

Humanism

States that all humans have the innate capacity for good, and that we should strive to reach that capacity. The hierarchy of needs relates to this concept.

Biopsychology

study of how biology influences behavior

Evolutionary Psychology

attempts to explain the biological origins of behaviors and examines behaviors as a result of natural selection

Cognitive Psychology

the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Developmental Psychology

Examines how our thoughts and behaviors change throughout life

Personality Psychology

the study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

Social Psychology

studies how the presence of others influences our thoughts and behaviors

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Social Psychology applied to the workplace

Health Psychology

Psychology applied to medicine and health

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Psychology applied to sports and competition

Clinical Psychology

how we diagnose and treat psychological disorders

Counseling Psychology

how we can maintain and improve the mental health of individuals with or without psychological disorders

Forensic Psychology

how we can use psychology to help solve criminal cases