PSY 101 · Session 1: The Science of Psychology

Practice flashcards covering the definition, history, research methods, major fields, and modern perspectives of psychology based on Session 1 lecture notes.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

The Four Goals of Psychology

To Describe (what is happening), Explain (why it is happening), Predict (what will happen), and Influence (how to change it).

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of the first psychology lab in Leipzig in $1879$; established the school of Structuralism.

Structuralism

A historical school of psychology established by Wundt in $1879$.

Functionalism

A historical school of psychology associated with William James in the $1890s$.

Psychodynamic

A perspective associated with Sigmund Freud ($1890s-1900s$) focusing on early experiences and unresolved inner conflicts.

Behaviorism

A perspective led by John B. Watson in $1913$ focusing on observable behavior and environmental stimuli.

Cognitive Revolution

A period in the $1950s-60s$ featuring Chomsky, Miller, and Neisser that focused on internal mental processes.

Experiment

The gold standard for establishing causation by manipulating variables under controlled conditions.

Survey

A research method that gathers self-reported data efficiently from large samples to study attitudes, opinions, and behaviors.

Case Study

A research method that examines one person or group in rich, qualitative depth; reveals rare phenomena but has limited generalizability.

Naturalistic Observation

A research method with high ecological validity that observes behavior in real-world settings.

WEIRD Samples

An acronym for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic; these make up only about $12\%$ of the world population despite being the focus of $96\%$ of research.

Clinical & Counseling Psychology

Field focused on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.

Developmental Psychology

The study of change across the lifespan, from infancy through aging.

Social Psychology

The study of how people influence and relate to one another.

Cognitive Psychology

The study of internal mental processes such as memory, thinking, language, and problem-solving.

Biological / Neuroscience

The study of the brain and nervous-system basis of behavior.

Industrial–organizational (I/O) Psychology

The study of behavior in the workplace.

Educational Psychology

The study of how people learn and achieve academically.

Forensic Psychology

The application of psychology to legal and criminal contexts.

Health Psychology

The study of links between psychology and physical health.

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on observable behavior and how environmental stimuli shape responses through conditioning.

Cognitive Perspective

Examines internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, language, and perception.

Biological / Neuroscience Perspective

Explores how the brain, genes, and neurotransmitters influence behavior and mental states.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and the drive toward self-actualization.

Evolutionary Perspective

Explains how natural selection shaped psychological traits and adaptive behaviors over time.

Sociocultural Perspective

Investigates how culture, society, and social context shape individual behavior and thought.

Biopsychosocial Model

An integrative framework by Engel ($1977$) stating that biological, psychological, and social forces interact to shape human experience.

Biological Dimension (Biopsychosocial)

Includes genes, brain chemistry, neurotransmitters, and hormones.

Psychological Dimension (Biopsychosocial)

Includes thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and personality.

Social Dimension (Biopsychosocial)

Includes culture, relationships, socioeconomic status, and environment.

APA Divisions

The American Psychological Association recognizes $54$ divisions of psychology.

Myers & DeWall

Authors of 'Psychology in Modules', $11th$ Ed., $2016$, who define psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.