Introduction to Psychology: Early Perspectives, Modern Perspectives, and Key Concepts

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering the definition, goals, historical perspectives, modern perspectives, and major/rare disorders in psychology.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Behavior

External, or overt actions and reactions that are observable.

Mental Processes

Internal, covert activity of our minds that is not observable, such as thoughts and inward emotions.

Description

The first goal of psychology that asks 'what is happening?'

Explanation

The second goal of psychology that asks 'why is this happening?'

Prediction

The third goal of psychology that asks 'what's going to happen?'

Control

The fourth goal of psychology that asks 'how can it be changed?'

Structuralism

An early perspective focused on the structure or basic elements of the mind, originating in Wilhelm Wundt's psychology laboratory.

Objective Introspection

The process developed by Wilhelm Wundt of objectively examining and measuring one's thoughts and mental activities.

Functionalism

An early perspective proposed by William James and influenced by Charles Darwin, focusing on how the mind allows people to adapt, live, work, and play.

Gestalt Psychology

A perspective started by Wertheimer (who studied sensation and perception) meaning 'good figure' or 'an organized whole,' emphasizing that 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.'

Psychoanalysis

The theory and therapy based on the work of Sigmund Freud, proposing an unconscious mind into which threatening urges and desires are repressed, resulting in psychosomatic illness.

Behaviorism

The science of behavior proposed by John B. Watson, based largely on Ivan Pavlov's classical conditioning, which focuses only on directly seen and measured observable behavior.

Tabula Rasa

Meaning 'blank slate,' the belief held by John B. Watson that human beings come into the world as a blank slate.

Case of 'little Albert'

A case where John B. Watson taught a little boy to fear a rat, demonstrating that phobias are learned.

Psychodynamic Perspective

A modern version of psychoanalysis that focuses more on the development of a sense of self and discovery of motivations behind a person's behavior rather than sexual motivations.

Behavioral Perspective

A modern perspective associated with B.F. Skinner, who studied operant conditioning of voluntary behavior and introduced the concept of reinforcement.

Humanistic Perspective

A modern perspective holding the view that people have free will, the freedom to choose their own destiny, and emphasizing human potential.

Biopsychological Perspective

A perspective attributing human and animal behavior to biological events occurring in the body, such as genetic influences, hormones, and nervous system activity.

Phineas Gage

An individual in biological psychology (neuroscience) who survived a pipe being blown through his head, but lost inhibition in his frontal cortex.

Developmental Psychology

The branch of psychology focusing on how people develop, learn, and grow.

Cognitive Perspective

A modern perspective focusing on memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning.

Sociocultural Perspective

A modern perspective focusing on the relationship between social behavior and culture.

Evolutionary Perspective

A modern perspective focusing on the biological bases of universal mental characteristics that all humans share, including studying mate selection in humans.

Cotard's Syndrome

A rare clinical disorder also known as walking corpse syndrome.

Capgras Syndrome

A rare disorder listed alongside Dissociative Identity Disorder and Cotard's syndrome in clinical psychology.