Psych 101

Anthropology

Study of human culture and origins.

Sociology

Study of human social relationships.

History

Understanding people through past events and artifacts.

Psychology

Science of understanding individuals; derived from Greek words Psyche (mind) and Logos (study).

American Psychological Association (APA)

Defines psychology as the scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Sub-disciplines

More than 25 distinct areas within psychology, including cognitive, developmental, and clinical psychology.

Cognitive psychology

Study of perception, memory, thinking, speaking, and problem-solving.

Developmental psychology

Study of changes and stability in thought and behavior across the lifespan.

Biological psychology

Study of the relationship between bodily systems and behavior.

Personality psychology

Study of uniqueness and consistency in behavior across time and situations.

Social psychology

Study of how social environments influence thought, feeling, and behavior.

Cross-cultural psychology

Study of variations and similarities in thought and behavior across cultures.

Clinical psychology

Diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Health psychology

Study of psychological factors in health and illness.

Educational psychology

Study of learning, teaching techniques, and the psychology of schools.

Industrial/Organizational psychology

Application of psychological concepts in work settings.

Sports psychology

Study of psychological factors in sports and exercise.

Forensic psychology

Blends psychology with law and criminal justice; develops criminal profiles.

Trephination

Prehistoric practice of drilling holes in the skull to heal or release spirits.

Hippocrates

Ancient physician who moved away from supernatural explanations of psychological disorders.

Moral treatment

Approach to treat patients with dignity and care in asylums.

Medical model

Perspective that psychological disorders are forms of illness requiring medical treatment.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's clinical approach focusing on the unconscious and childhood's impact on personality.

Empiricism

Philosophy that knowledge comes from experience; psychology uses scientific methods.

Psychophysics

Study of how people experience physical stimuli; relates to understanding the mind.

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of experimental psychology; established the first psychology laboratory.

Psychoanalytic perspective

Emphasizes the unconscious and early life experiences in shaping personality.

Behavioral perspective

Focuses on observable behavior and learning through association and consequences.

Cognitive perspective

Highlights the role of thoughts and assumptions in behavior.

Humanistic perspective

Centers on personal growth and the pursuit of meaningful lives.

Sociocultural perspective

Considers social and cultural conditions as determinants of behavior and personality.

Neuropsychology perspective

Links biological and genetic forces to thought and behavior.

Evolutionary perspective

Examines how evolutionary forces shape human thought and behavior.

Nature-only view

Belief that innate qualities are the strongest determinants of behavior.

Nurture-only view

Belief that experiences shape behavior from a uniform starting point.

Modern perspective

"Nature through Nurture" emphasizes the interaction of genetics and environment in shaping behavior.