The Science of Psychology

Vocabulary flashcards defining key terms, branches of psychology, research methods, and scientific objectives covered in the lecture transcript.

General Psychology

Explains the underlying principles of human behaviour and studies the structural and functional mechanisms of the human body.

Comparative Psychology

The branch of psychology treating the behaviour and mental processes of different species, comparing man and animals in relation to generic and evolutionary theory; also known as animal psychology.

Developmental and Genetic Psychology

The study of human behaviour in all aspects of growth and development across life stages: prenatal, neonatal, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and senescence.

Child Psychology

The scientific study of human behaviour from its prenatal beginnings up to early adolescence.

Adolescence Psychology

The study of behaviour from puberty to later life, involving physical and mental maturation as well as emotional and social maturity.

Senescent Psychology

The scientific study of human behaviour in old age.

Abnormal Psychology

The study of the etiology or cause of personality defects, or behaviour that deviates from the average reaction.

Experimental Psychology

Deals with observations and experiments in a psychological laboratory to investigate different types of behaviour and understand their fundamental causes.

Differential Psychology

A branch of study that investigates differences and similarities existing between individuals, social groups, and races.

Dynamic Psychology

A scientific interpretation of mental phenomena emphasizing internal drives and motives as the cause of behaviour; also referred to as personality psychology.

Physiological Psychology

The branch that investigates the functions of different organs of the body, especially the nervous system, and their bearing on behaviour and mental processes.

Applied Psychology

Psychology applied in medicine, education, law, business, industries, and many other fields in society.

Educational Psychology

A field of specialization concerned with psychological aspects of teaching and formal learning processes in schools.

Psychiatry

Psychology as applied in medicine, concerned with the treatment of mental diseases.

Legal Psychology

The application of principles of human behaviour in law or legal proceedings, including examination of witnesses and the study of delinquents and criminals.

Clinical Psychology

Pertains to the diagnosis and evaluation of symptoms and records of events relevant to the condition of a person who has a problem.

Business Psychology

Deals particularly with consumer behaviour, using psychological methods to gain customers and impress prospective buyers.

Industrial and Engineering Psychology

A branch of applied psychology investigating problems in firms and industries, such as personnel management, employee efficiency, and management welfare.

Introspection

A subjective method of observation introduced by St. Augustin where a psychologist studies, records, analyzes, and interprets their own feelings and experiences.

Observation

The most widely used method in the study of behaviour, which includes uncontrolled/informal, naturalistic, and controlled/formal observation.

Life-History Methods

Research methods involving extensive studies of individuals to trace behaviour development, taking three forms: day book method, clinical method, or biographical method.

Survey Method

Also known as the group method; obtains data from a representative sample through written questionnaires or interviews to establish norms or opinion polls.

Experimental Method

Used to study behaviour in a laboratory under controlled conditions involving variables that can be measured and varied quantitatively.

Statistical Methods

The science dealing with collecting and handling numerical data and making inferences, necessary for interpreting appraisal tests like intelligence and personality tests.

Objectives of Psychology as a Science

To understand, predict, and control behaviour.

Qualitative Classification

Classification where items are grouped into categories on the basis of some particular quality or characteristic they have in common.

Quantitative Classification

Classification where categories are determined on the basis of a characteristic present in different degrees and measurable on a mathematical scale.