Introduction to Psychology Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards covers vocabulary and key concepts from Figure 1.1 to Table 1.1 of Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology, including historical perspectives, major research areas, and career paths.

Psychology

The scientific study of mind and behavior.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation proposed by a researcher to explain a phenomenon, which should fit into the context of a scientific theory.

Scientific theory

A broad explanation or group of explanations for some aspect of the natural world that is consistently supported by evidence over time.

Empirical method

A method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities.

Critical thinking

The active application of a set of skills to information for the understanding and evaluation of that information, involving skepticism, recognition of internal biases, and logical thinking.

Wilhelm Wundt

A German scientist (1832–1920) credited as one of the founders of psychology who viewed the field as the scientific study of conscious experience.

Introspection

A process called ‘internal perception’ by Wilhelm Wundt where someone examines their own conscious experience as objectively as possible.

Structuralism

A perspective developed by Edward Titchener that focused on the contents of mental processes rather than their function.

William James

The first American psychologist (1842–1910) who proposed functionalism and was influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.

Functionalism

A perspective in psychology that focuses on how mental activities help an organism fit into its environment and emphasizes the operation of the whole mind.

Psychoanalytic theory

A perspective popularized by Sigmund Freud that focuses on the role of a person’s unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.

Gestalt psychology

A psychological perspective, introduced by Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Khler, which emphasizes that a sensory experience is perceived as a whole rather than a sum of individual parts.

Ivan Pavlov

A Russian physiologist who studied a form of learning behavior called a conditioned reflex, such as salivation in response to food or associated sounds.

Conditioned reflex

A form of learning behavior in which an animal or human produced a reflex (unconscious) response to a stimulus and, over time, was conditioned to produce the response to a different stimulus.

Behaviorism

An approach in psychology proposed by John B. Watson that focused on observing and controlling behavior rather than studying consciousness.

Operant conditioning chamber

Also known as a Skinner box, this device isolates a subject from the external environment to study behavior modification through reinforcement and punishment.

Humanism

A perspective within psychology that emphasizes personal control, intentionality, and the innate potential for good in all humans.

Self-actualization

The highest-level need in Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy, referring to a process by which humans achieve their full potential.

Client-centered therapy

A therapeutic technique developed by Carl Rogers where the patient takes the lead role and the therapist displays unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.

Unconditional positive regard

A therapist’s acceptance of their client for who they are, no matter what they might say, used in client-centered therapy.

Cognitive revolution

A movement starting in the 1950s that shifted focus back to the mind as a focus of scientific inquiry, influenced by linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science.

Noam Chomsky

An American linguist who was influential in starting the cognitive revolution by arguing that psychology must re-incorporate mental functioning to understand behavior.

Biopsychology

A field of psychology that explores how the structure and function of the nervous system is related to behavior.

Evolutionary psychology

The study of the ultimate biological causes of behavior, looking at how behaviors have adapted over time under natural selection.

Object permanence

The understanding that physical things continue to exist even if they are hidden from us, a concept famously studied by Jean Piaget in children.

Five Factor model

A quantitative approach to personality traits including dimensions of conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, and extraversion (the ‘Big Five’).

Research confederates

Individuals who pretend to be participants in a research study but are actually working for the researcher and following specific directions on how to behave.

Biopsychosocial model

A model in health psychology suggesting that health and illness are determined by an interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Industrial-Organizational psychology

A subfield of psychology that applies psychological theories and research findings in industrial and organizational settings, such as personnel management.

Forensic psychology

A branch of psychology dealing with questions that arise in the context of the justice system, including competency to stand trial and expert testimony.

Dissertation

A long research paper or bundled articles describing research conducted as a part of a candidate’s doctoral training.

PsyD

A doctor of psychology degree that focuses more on the application of psychological principles in clinical contexts than on research-oriented skills.

Postdoctoral training program

A program for those who have recently earned a PhD to further develop their research programs and skills under the supervision of other professionals.