Perspectives/Nature Terms

CE Psych Unit 2

psychology

The study of behavior and mental processes.

experimental psychology

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method.

humanistic psychology

Perspective that emphasizes the growth potential of healthy people.

cognitive psychology

Mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

evolutionary psychology

Study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

psychodynamic psychology

Studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses this to treat people with psychological disorders.

social

cultural psychology

biological psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes..

behavioral psychology

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

nature

nurture issue

natural selection

Among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to survival most likely passed on succeeding generations.

psychiatry

Physicians who sometimes provide medical treatment as well as psychological therapy.

eugenics

Controversial movement to encourage only smart and fit people to reproduce.

heredity

The extent to which variation among individuals can be attributed to their differing genes.

environment

Every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

identical twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two.

fraternal twins

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs.

mutation

A random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

environmental factors

factors that impact mental health of people

genetic predisposition

The increased chance a person has of developing a condition based on their inherited characteristics.

traits

a characteristic that is caused by genetics

interaction

interplay when on factor (like environment) depends on another factor (like heredity)

biopsychosocial approach

an approach that considers the influences of biological, psychological, and social

counseling psychology

branch of psychology that helps people with problems in day

clinical psychology

study, assess, treat people with psychological disorders

behaviorism

studies behavior without reference to mental processes

developmental psychology

studies physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the life span

educational psychology

studies how psychological processes affect and can enhance learning

personality psychology

the study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

social psychology

the study of how we think about, influence, and relate to others

industrial

organizational psychology

positive psychology

research to help individuals and communities thrive

community psychology

branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their environment and how social institutions affect individuals and groups