Untitled Flashcard Set

Psychology

The scientific study of thought, mind, and behavior and how they are influenced by biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate regarding the relative importance of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) in determining behavior.

Null Hypothesis (H₀)

A hypothesis that assumes no effect or no difference, often used in statistical testing.

Hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Falsifiability

The capacity for a claim to be shown false by observation, a requirement for scientific hypotheses.

Theory

A broad, well-supported explanation that integrates many findings and generates new hypotheses.

Functionalism

A psychological approach that focuses on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment.

Behaviourism

A psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the effects of learning and environment.

Cognitive Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies mental processes, including perception, thinking, memory, and language.

Humanistic Psychology

An approach that emphasizes personal growth and the concept of self-actualization.

Gestalt Psychology

A school of thought that emphasizes that the whole of anything is greater than its parts.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach that focuses on the unconscious mind and its influence on human behavior.

Mary Whiton Calkins

First female president of APA who was denied a PhD by Harvard despite completing her requirements.

Margaret Floy Washburn

First woman to earn a PhD in psychology in 1901, known for her work in animal behavior.

Mamie Phipps Clark

Contributed research on race and self-esteem, influencing the Brown v. Board decision.

Sandra Bem

Known for her work on gender roles and sexism in psychology.

Shelly Taylor

Identified 'tend and befriend' as an alternative response to stress in women.

Indigenous Psychology

The study and application of psychological principles in the context of Indigenous cultures.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

The branch of psychology that compares behavior across different cultures.

Cognitive Neuroscience

A field that studies the brain structures and processes underlying cognition.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Law of Effect

Principle that responses followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated.

Wilhelm Wundt

Considered the father of modern psychology; established the first psychology laboratory in 1879.

B.F. Skinner

Psychologist known for his work in behaviorism and operant conditioning.

Edward Thorndike

Psychologist who formulated the Law of Effect, emphasizing the role of consequences in behavior.

Charles Darwin

Naturalist whose theory of natural selection influenced psychology and behaviorism.

Albert Bandura

Psychologist known for his social learning theory and the concept of self-efficacy.

Carl Rogers

Psychologist known for developing client-centered therapy and emphasizing unconditional positive regard.

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis, known for his theories on the unconscious mind and the development of personality.

John B. Watson

The founder of behaviorism, stressed the importance of observable behaviors over internal mental states.

Dorothea Dix

An advocate for the mentally ill who played a significant role in reforming treatment of the mentally ill.

Franz Mesmer

Early psychologist known for his work with hypnosis and animal magnetism.

Hermann Ebbinghaus

Pioneered the study of memory and the forgetting curve.

Gustav Fechner

Founder of psychophysics who studied the relationship between physical stimuli and sensory perception.

Ivan Pavlov

Psychologist known for his work on classical conditioning and the salivating dogs experiment.

Wilma Scott Heide

A significant figure in the development of women's contributions to psychology.

Bessel van der Kolk

Notable for his work in trauma and its effects on mental health.

APA

American Psychological Association, founded in 1892, the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology.

DSM-I

The first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published in 1952.

Cognitive Psychology

Field of psychology that examines internal mental processes and includes attention, memory, perception, and language.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts.

Neuroscience

The study of the nervous system, especially the brain, and its influence on behavior and mental processes.

Empiricism

The theory that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses.

Determinism

The philosophical view that all events, including moral choices, are determined completely by previously existing causes.

Materialism

The belief that only physical matter exists and that mental processes are a result of physical brain processes.

Emerging Themes in Psychology

Current trends in psychology that include diversity, cultural relevance, and biological bases of behavior.

Truth & Reconciliation Commission

A commission established to address and promote healing amidst the legacies of colonization in Canada.

Victorian Era

A period (1837-1901) marked by strict social codes and significant developments in psychology.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process in which an innate response to a potent stimulus becomes associated with a previously neutral stimulus.

Cognitive Development

A field of study in psychology that focuses on children's mental development and the ways it differs from adults.

Addiction Psychology

The study of psychological aspects of addiction and the treatment of addictive behaviors.

Teen Mental Health

A field addressing the psychological well-being of adolescents, considering factors like emotion and behavior.

Positive Psychology

A branch of psychology that focuses on the positive aspects of human life, such as happiness and fulfillment.

Human Factors Psychology

A field that studies how humans interact with machines and technology to improve usability and safety.

Health Psychology

A field focusing on how psychological, social, and biological factors influence health and illness.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

The study of human behavior in organizations and the workplace.

Environmental Psychology

The study of the interplay between individuals and their surroundings, including built environments and natural landscapes.

Digital Behaviour

The study of how technology, especially digital media, influences behavior, thought processes, and interpersonal interactions.

Behavioural Genetics

A field of study that examines the role of genetic and environmental influences on behaviors.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to change and adapt as a result of experience.

Cranial Nerves

Twelve pairs of nerves that originate in the brain and control various functions.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling.

Psychology

The scientific study of thought, mind, and behavior and how they are influenced by biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate regarding the relative importance of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) in determining behavior.

Null Hypothesis (H₀)

A hypothesis that assumes no effect or no difference, often used in statistical testing.

Hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Falsifiability

The capacity for a claim to be shown false by observation, a requirement for scientific hypotheses.

Theory

A broad, well-supported explanation that integrates many findings and generates new hypotheses.

Functionalism

A psychological approach that focuses on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment.

Behaviourism

A psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the effects of learning and environment.

Cognitive Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies mental processes, including perception, thinking, memory, and language.

Humanistic Psychology

An approach that emphasizes personal growth and the concept of self-actualization.

Gestalt Psychology

A school of thought that emphasizes that the whole of anything is greater than its parts.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach that focuses on the unconscious mind and its influence on human behavior.

Mary Whiton Calkins

First female president of APA who was denied a PhD by Harvard despite completing her requirements.

Margaret Floy Washburn

First woman to earn a PhD in psychology in 1901, known for her work in animal behavior.

Mamie Phipps Clark

Contributed research on race and self-esteem, influencing the Brown v. Board decision.

Sandra Bem

Known for her work on gender roles and sexism in psychology.

Shelly Taylor

Identified 'tend and befriend' as an alternative response to stress in women.

Indigenous Psychology

The study and application of psychological principles in the context of Indigenous cultures.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

The branch of psychology that compares behavior across different cultures.

Cognitive Neuroscience

A field that studies the brain structures and processes underlying cognition.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Law of Effect

Principle that responses followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated.

Wilhelm Wundt

Considered the father of modern psychology; established the first psychology laboratory in 1879.

B.F. Skinner

Psychologist known for his work in behaviorism and operant conditioning.

Edward Thorndike

Psychologist who formulated the Law of Effect, emphasizing the role of consequences in behavior.

Charles Darwin

Naturalist whose theory of natural selection influenced psychology and behaviorism.

Albert Bandura

Psychologist known for his social learning theory and the concept of self-efficacy.

Carl Rogers

Psychologist known for developing client-centered therapy and emphasizing unconditional positive regard.

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis, known for his theories on the unconscious mind and the development of personality.

John B. Watson

The founder of behaviorism, stressed the importance of observable behaviors over internal mental states.

Dorothea Dix

An advocate for the mentally ill who played a significant role in reforming treatment of the mentally ill.

Franz Mesmer

Early psychologist known for his work with hypnosis and animal magnetism.

Hermann Ebbinghaus

Pioneered the study of memory and the forgetting curve.

Gustav Fechner

Founder of psychophysics who studied the relationship between physical stimuli and sensory perception.

Ivan Pavlov

Psychologist known for his work on classical conditioning and the salivating dogs experiment.

Wilma Scott Heide

A significant figure in the development of women's contributions to psychology.

Bessel van der Kolk

Notable for his work in trauma and its effects on mental health.

APA

American Psychological Association, founded in 1892, the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology.