Psych Day 1

Psychology

The discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism's external and internal environment.

Scientific Psychology

Psychology that is based on research and empirical evidence.

Pseudopsychology

Unscientific psychology, including practices such as astrology and psychic readings.

Uncritical Acceptance

Tendency to accept information without critical analysis or skepticism.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs.

Common Sense Problem

The issue where widely held beliefs about human behavior may not align with scientific findings.

Experimental Psychologists

Psychologists who conduct research to understand behavior through controlled experiments.

Applied Psychology

The use of psychological principles and theories to overcome problems in various fields.

Psychotherapists

An unregulated term that can refer to anyone who practices psychotherapy, regardless of training.

Licensed Therapists

Professionals with specific training and credentials required to provide psychotherapy.

Critical Thinking

The ability to evaluate competing findings and arguments on important psychological issues.

Empiricism

The theory that knowledge is derived from sensory experience.

Wilhelm Wundt

The founder of scientific psychology, known for establishing the first psychological laboratory.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that aimed to break the mind into its simplest components.

Functionalism

Psychological approach that focuses on the purpose of consciousness and behavior.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of psychological traits, such as need for belonging and attraction, through the lens of evolution.

Behaviorism

The psychological perspective that focuses on observable behavior and the idea that people seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Socio-Cultural Theory

The theory that suggests groups define what is considered normal, influencing thoughts and behaviors.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

A viewpoint that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior.

Cognitive Perspective

The perspective in psychology that focuses on how people think, problem-solve, and form beliefs.

Personality Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies the influence of personality traits on behavior.

Feminist Psychology

The analysis of the influence of social inequalities on gender relations and behaviors.