Psychology 101

Psychology

The scientific study of behavioral and mental processes.

Empirical

Verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

Empirical Approach

An evidence-based method that draws on observation and experimentation.

Critical Thinking

Examine assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden bias, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Functionalism

A school of thought in psychology, established by William James, focusing on how mental and behavioral processes function.

Structuralism

A school of thought in psychology founded by Edward Titchener, which uses introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.

Behaviorism

A psychological approach that studies observable behavior, rather than mental processes.

Psychoanalysis

A psychological theory that focuses on unconscious mental processes and early childhood experiences.

Humanistic Psychology

An approach that emphasizes human growth potential and the need for love and acceptance.

Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrative model that incorporates biological, psychological, and socio-cultural levels of analysis.

Descriptive Statistics

Statistical methods used to provide a simple summary of data.

Mean

The average of a distribution, obtained by adding scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

Median

The middle score in a distribution where half the scores are above and half are below.

Mode

The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together and how well one factor predicts the other.

Independent Variable (IV)

The manipulated factor whose effect is being studied in an experiment.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome factor that is measured, expected to change as a result of the independent variable.

Placebo Effect

A change in a patient's condition due to their belief in the efficacy of a treatment, rather than the treatment itself.

Double-Blind Procedure

An experimental design in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the treatment or control group.

Action Potential

A brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon of a neuron.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released from the sending neuron that transmit signals across the synapse to receiving neurons.

GABA

The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and is involved in sleep.

Adaptation

A trait that improves an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a particular environment.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors can turn genes on or off without changing the DNA sequence.

Natural Selection

The principle that inherited traits that improve survival and reproduction will likely be passed on to future generations.