Introduction to Psychology

These flashcards cover fundamental terms and theories from the Introduction to Psychology lecture, focusing on key concepts relevant to the study of psychology.

Psychology

The scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Structuralism

Understanding conscious experience through introspection, emphasized by Wilhelm Wundt.

Functionalism

Focus on how mental activities contribute to basic environmental survival, founded by William James.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind on behavior, founded by Sigmund Freud.

Introspection

The process of examining one’s own conscious experience to understand mental processes.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired, leading to a conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.

Humanism

A psychological approach that emphasizes the potential for good inherent in all humans.

Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory proposed by Abraham Maslow, which categorizes human needs from basic survival to self-actualization.

Cognitive Psychology

The study of thought processes, including perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Biopsychology

The study of how biology influences behavior, particularly the role of the nervous system.

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy

A type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing unhelpful cognitive distortions and behaviors.

Forensic Psychology

A branch of psychology that applies psychological principles to legal issues.

Developmental Psychology

The study of how and why humans change over the course of their life.

Social Psychology

The study of how individuals influence and are influenced by other people.

Personality Psychology

The study of individual differences in behavior and thought patterns.

Health Psychology

The study of how psychological factors influence health and illness.