Unit 1 Into to Psychology

Psychology

the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes

Structuralism

Consiousness was made up of several elements that are combined in different ways to produce perceptions (structure/character of the mind)

Introspection

Is the method of looking inwards to examine one's own thoughts and feelings as an object in nature (Wundt’s used this)

Functionalism

led by William James, focuses on what mental processes do and how they help us adapt to our environment.

scientific theory

broad or group explanations for some aspect of the natural world that is consistently supported by evidence overtime.

empirical method

accuring knowledge is one based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities.

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

German scientist, first to ever be declared as a psychologist, view it as a scientific study of consciousness componets

William James

first American psychologist, who used Darwin’s theory to support his of functionalism, as it is the behavior of the world that causes us to adapt

Functionalism

How mental activities helped an organism fit into its enviornment, focusing on the operation of the whole mind over parts.(James)

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Austrian neurologist, fascinated by patients who suffered “hysteria” and neurosis. Focused on the unconscious mind through dream analysis using Psychoanalytic theory.

Psychoanalytic Theory

focuses on the role of one’s unconscious mind, as well as early childhood experiences, and this particular perspective dominated clinical psychology for decades.

Max Wertheimer - Kurt Koffa - Wolfgang Kohler

Three German psychologists that immigrated to the US to escape Nazi Germany brought Gestalt principles (focus on sensory and perception)

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936

Russian physiologist who studied learning behaviors with a dog’s salvation in response to stimuli, developing “Classical Conditioning” which is only one form of learning behaviors

Classical Conditioning

a learning process where a biologically potent stimulis is paired with a previously neutral stimulus until the neutral stimulus alone produces a response (Pavlov)

John B Watson (1878-1958)

American psychologist belived throguh consiousness that objective analysis of the mind was impossible. Leaning towards observable behaviors known as behaviorism

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)

American psychologist, behaviorist, concentrating on how behavior was affected by its consequences.

Humanism

perspective in psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans. (Abraham Maslow + Carl Rogers)

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

American psychologist, best known for proposing a hieracy of human needs in motivating behavior, as we obtain essential needs we will be motivated to accuire more needs to self-actualization or full potential.

Carl Rogers

American psychologist, emphasized that good exists in all people using unconditional regard, genuineness, and empathy in therapy.

Noam Chomsky

American linguist, Very influential in the early days of the cognitive revolution

Cecil Summer

First African American to obtain a PhD in Psychology in the US

Case Studies

(Individual observation and experimentation on a case) * Freud uses a method to develop psychoanalytic theory

Naturalistic Observation

Observe the behavior of our subject in a natural habitat (classroom or a monkey in a jungle)

Clinical Interviews

Inter-rater reliability/one-on-one conversation about the patient’s experiences and abilities/ 2 physicians may get different information from one patient

Random Assignment

We don’t know who has the treatment/ helps avoid biases and collect an average mean on a subject

Blind and Double Blind Study

The patient and physician both are blind folded to prevent face reading as to what the pill they are giving might be

Placebo and Placebo Effect

A placebo is a sugar pill that does not affect the patient, showing if the change in mindset has any effect on the state.

Positivei Correlation

 Two variables might be related together and move in the same direction (pressing your foot on the gas pedal, increase psi=increase speed)

Negative Correlation

As one variable increases, the other decreases (more exercise=lower weight)

American Psychological Association (APA)

A professional organization representing psychologists in the US, the largest organization, with 56 different divisions. The purpose is to advance and disseminate psychological knowledge for the betterment of the people.

biopsychology

how our biology influences our behavior.

Cognitive Psychology

focuses on studying cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to our experiences and our actions.

Developmental Psychology

The scientific study of development across a lifespan, how a child’s moral,social, and cognitive skills develop overtime.

Personality Psychology

Gordan Allport developed patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make people unique.

Forensic Psychology

deals with questions of psychology as they arise in context of the justice system (assess a person’s ability to stand in trial of a case)

Counseling Psychology

focuses on emotional, social, and vocational outcomes among individuals considered psychologically healthy. (MOST POPULAR TO PEOPLE)

Dissertation

a long research paper or bundled published articles describing research that was conducted as a part of the candidate’s doctoral training. 

Behaviorism

focus on observing and controlling behaviorbiopsychosocial model

biopsychosocial model

perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual’s health

clinical psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological

disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior

personality psychology

study of patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make each individual unique

psychoanalytic theory

focus on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior

sport and exercise psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the interactions between mental and

emotional factors and physical performance in sports, exercise, and other activities