Unit 1 Sensation and Perception

AP

empiricism

the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation

behaviorism

A theoretical orientation based on the premise that scientific psychology should study only observable behavior

humanistic psychology

historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for personal growth

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

nature-nurture issue

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture

structuralism

an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of the human mind

functionalism

a school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable us to adapt, survive and flourish

experimental psychology

the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

biological psychology

a branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes

evolutionary psychology

the study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection

psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) psychology

a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders

behavioral psychology

the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning

cognitive psychology

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

social-cultural psychology

the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking

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

the scientific study of 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

industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces

human factors psychology

the study of how people and machines interact and the design of safe and easily used machines and environments

counseling psychology

a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being

clinical psychology

a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

psychiatry

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy

Aristotle (Psychology)

proposed that logic can be combined with empirical observations, notion of the five senses, mind as a blank slate

Charles Darwin

English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)

Sigmund Freud

Austrian neurologist who originated psychoanalysis (1856-1939); Said that human behavior is irrational

William James

Father of American psychology and founder of functionalism; studied how humans use perception to function in our environment

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936)

Wilhelm Wundt

German father of psychology who founded psychology as a formal science; opened first psychology research laboratory in 1879

G. Stanley Hall

American psychologist who established the first psychology research laboratory in the United States and founded the American Psychological Association

John B. Watson

founder of behaviorism

B. F. Skinner

American psychologist who championed behaviorism and studied operant conditioning

Carl Rogers

Humanist whose contributions included person-centered therapy 

positive psychology

the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive