Introduction to Psychology: Definition, Goals, and Scope

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, definition components, four classical goals, subfields, and foundational methodologies of psychology based on the lecture transcript.

Psyche

A Greek root word literally meaning 'soul' or 'mind'.

Logos

A Greek root word meaning 'word', 'study', or 'systematic knowledge'.

Psychology

The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.

Behaviour

Activities or responses that can be directly observed, such as speaking, walking, studying, crying, helping others, aggression, facial expressions, and performance on a task.

Mental Processes

Internal psychological activities that are not directly observable but can be studied scientifically through their effects and associated behaviour.

Observing and Measuring Mental Processes

A framework demonstrating how internal, unobservable mental processes (such as memory, learning, thinking, and problem solving) are measured through observable behaviors and responses.

Description (Goal of Psychology)

The classical goal of psychology that attempts to accurately describe behaviour or mental processes (e.g., observing that students experience increased anxiety before examinations).

Explanation (Goal of Psychology)

The classical goal of psychology that attempts to identify causes or factors associated with a behaviour (e.g., asking why examination anxiety occurs).

Prediction (Goal of Psychology)

The classical goal of psychology that involves determining when or under what circumstances a behaviour is likely to happen once relationships between variables are understood.

Control/Influence (Goal of Psychology)

The classical goal of psychology focused on applying psychological knowledge to modify behaviour or conditions in a desired direction.

Biological Psychology

A major area of psychological study that examines the relationship between biological processes (such as the brain, nervous system, hormones, and genetics) and behaviour.

Cognitive Psychology

A major area of psychological study focusing on mental processes including thinking, memory, attention, perception, problem solving, decision-making, and language.

Developmental Psychology

A major area of psychological study that investigates psychological development across the lifespan, from childhood through old age.

Social Psychology

A major area of psychological study examining how people think about, influence, and relate to others, including attitudes, group behaviour, prejudice, and interpersonal relationships.

Personality Psychology

A major area of psychological study focusing on individual differences in patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, as well as personality traits and development.

Clinical Psychology

A major area of psychological study dedicated to the assessment, understanding, and treatment of psychological disorders and psychological difficulties.

Counseling Psychology

A major area of psychological study focusing on psychological adjustment, personal development, relationships, and educational and vocational concerns.

Educational Psychology

A major area of psychological study concerning the application of psychological principles to teaching, learning, motivation, individual differences, and classroom behaviour.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

A major area of psychological study applying psychology to workplace settings, including employee behaviour, motivation, leadership, selection, performance, and job satisfaction.

Health Psychology

A major area of psychological study focusing on psychological factors related to health, illness, and health-related behaviour.

Forensic Psychology

A major area of psychological study applying psychological knowledge to the legal and criminal justice system.

Environmental Psychology

A major area of psychological study that examines the relationship between people and their physical environments.

Basic Psychology

The branch of psychology that seeks to understand fundamental psychological processes, such as how memory works or how attention operates.

Applied Psychology

The branch of psychology that uses psychological knowledge to solve practical real-world problems, such as improving classroom learning or treating psychological problems.

Research Methodology

A subject in psychology that teaches how to investigate psychological questions scientifically, covering framing questions/hypotheses, participant selection, variable measurement, data collection, and research designs.

Statistics

A subject in psychology that assists in analyzing and interpreting evidence by summarizing data, comparing groups, examining relationships, testing hypotheses, and determining finding strength.