Introduction to Psychology – Key Vocabulary

A set of 53 English vocabulary flashcards covering foundational terms and concepts from the introductory psychology lecture.

psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

theory

An explanation of why and how a behavior occurs.

scientific method

A systematic process used by psychologists for testing hypotheses about behavior.

confirmation bias

A tendency to interpret people’s behavior in a way that supports our expectations.

pseudopsychology

Psychological information or conclusions that sound scientific but have not been systematically tested using the scientific method.

critical thinking

Thought processes used to evaluate and analyze information and apply it to other situations.

prediction

An expected outcome of how variables will relate.

causal hypothesis

An educated guess about how one variable will influence another variable.

hypothesis

An educated guess.

meta-analyses

Research procedures that combine findings from multiple studies on the same topic to establish reliability, observe trends, and resolve discrepancies.

predictive hypothesis

An educated guess about the relationships among variables.

population of interest

The entire universe of animals or people that could be studied.

generalizability

How well a researcher’s findings apply to other individuals and situations.

sample

The portion of the population of interest that is selected for a study.

surveys

Research methods that ask a large group of people about their attitudes, beliefs, and/or behaviors.

case study

An in-depth observation of one or a few participants or settings.

naturalistic observations

Research studies conducted in an environment in which the behavior typically occurs.

correlation

The relationship between two or more variables.

positive correlation

A relationship in which increases in one variable correspond to increases in the other variable.

negative correlation

A relationship in which increases in one variable correspond to decreases in the other variable.

experiment

A research method that is used to test causal hypotheses.

independent variable

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated.

placebo effect

A measurable change in participants’ behavior due to the expectation or belief that a treatment will have certain effects.

experimental group

The group of participants who receive the manipulation that is being tested.

control group

The group of participants who do not receive the manipulation that is being tested.

dependent variable

The variable in an experiment that measures any effect of the manipulation.

double-blind studies

Experiments in which neither the experimenters nor the participants know to which group participants have been assigned.

quasi-experiment

A research study that is not a true experiment because participants are not randomly assigned to the different conditions.

random assignment

A method of assigning participants in which they have an equal chance of being placed in any group or condition of the study.

confounding variables

Factors other than the independent variable that affect the dependent measure.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A committee that reviews research proposals to ensure that ethical standards have been met.

informed consent

The ethical principle that research participants be told about various aspects of the study, including any risks, before agreeing to participate.

confidentiality

The ethical principle that researchers do not reveal which data were collected from which participant.

introspection

Observing one’s own thoughts, feelings, or sensations.

biological perspective

An approach that focuses on physical causes of behavior.

debriefing

The ethical principle that participants be fully informed of the nature of the study after participating in research involving deception.

structuralism

An early psychological perspective concerned with identifying the basic elements of experience.

neuroscience

A field of science that investigates the relationships between the nervous system and behavior/mental processes.

functionalism

An early psychological perspective concerned with how behavior helps people adapt to their environment.

behaviorism

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of observable stimuli, responses, and consequences.

evolutionary perspective

An approach that focuses on how evolution and natural selection influence behavior.

psychodynamic perspective

An approach that focuses on internal unconscious mental processes, motives, and desires that may explain behavior.

psychoanalytic theory

Sigmund Freud’s view that emphasizes the influence of unconscious desires and conflicts on behavior.

stimulus

Any object or event that is perceived by our senses.

humanism

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the personal growth and potential of humans.

sociocultural perspective

An approach that focuses on societal and cultural factors that may influence behavior.

response

An organism’s reaction to a stimulus.

behavioral perspective

An approach that focuses on external, environmental influences on behavior.

humanistic perspective

An approach that focuses on how peoples’ view of themselves and the world influence behavior.

cognition

Mental processes such as reasoning and problem solving.

eclectic approach

An approach that integrates and combines several perspectives when explaining behavior.

positive psychology

The study of factors that contribute to happiness, positive emotions, and well-being.

cognitive perspective

An approach that focuses on how mental processes influence behavior.