Unit 1

Psychology

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Empiricism

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

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure 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

Applied research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Psychiatry

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

Natural selection

The principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Basic research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

Nature vs. Nurture issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.

Biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporated biological, psychological and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Levels of analysis

The differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.

Biological

A perspective in psychology that focuses on the biological bases of behavior to explain psychological processes.

Psychodynamic

A perspective in psychology that focuses on how people think, understand and remember information.

Behavioral

A perspective in psychology that focuses on observable behaviors and how they are influenced by stimuli and reinforcement.

Cognitive

A perspective in psychology that focuses on how people think, understand and remember information.

Humanistic

A perspective in psychology that emphasizes human potential, growth and the importance of self- actualization.

Sociocultural

A perspective in psychology that emphasizes the influence of culture and social interactions on behavior and mental processes.