principals of psych 1

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Behavior

Observable actions that individuals perform.

Mind

The unobservable internal processes, encompassing thoughts and feelings.

Structuralism

A psychological perspective that analyzes the basic elements of the mind.

Functionalism

A psychological approach that focuses on how mental processes enable adaptation and functioning.

Introspection

The self-examination of one's own conscious experience.

Behaviorism

A psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors and the role of the environment as a determinant of behavior. It posits that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning.

Freudian Psychology

A psychological theory that focuses on the impact of the unconscious mind on thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Humanism

A psychological perspective emphasizing personal growth and the influence of the environment on human development.

Cognitive Revolution

A shift in psychology that brought back the study of the mind and mental processes.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate regarding the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to human behavior and development.

Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrative model that combines biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors in understanding psychological phenomena.

Basic Research

Research aimed at increasing the scientific understanding of fundamental principles.

Applied Research

Research undertaken to solve practical problems.

Hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction derived from a theory.

Descriptive Studies

Research methods that aim to describe behavior, thoughts, or feelings without manipulating variables.

Correlational Studies

Research that examines the relationship between two continuous variables to see if they are predictive of one another.

Operationalization

The process of defining and measuring variables in a way that allows them to be tested and observed in research.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated by researchers to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that researchers measure to see if it has been affected by changes in the independent variable.

Placebo Effect

The phenomenon in which participants experience changes due to their expectations rather than the actual treatment.

Double Blind Procedure

A study design in which neither the participants nor the researchers know which participants belong to the control or experimental groups.

Neurons

The building blocks of the nervous system, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron, signaling a transmission.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse from one neuron to another.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord, which coordinate behavior and information processing.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain that plays a crucial role in complex functions like thought and action.

Lateralization

The tendency for certain brain functions or cognitive processes to be more developed on one side of the brain than the other.

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Circadian Rhythm

The biological clock that regulates bodily rhythms on a roughly 24-hour cycle.

REM Sleep

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, dreams, and increased brain activity.

Piaget's Stages of Development

A theory that outlines the cognitive development stages through which children progress.

Attachment Styles

The patterns of emotional bonds formed between infants and caregivers.

Moral Development

The process by which individuals develop their sense of ethics and morality.

Self-Discipline

The ability to control impulses and delay gratification.

Egocentrism

The inability to differentiate between self and other, particularly in children's cognitive development.