Module 1.1 – Introduction to Psychology

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, theories, schools, perspectives, subfields, and careers introduced in the Module 1.1 lecture on Introduction to Psychology.

Psychology

The scientific study of mind and behaviour.

Mind

The totality of mental activity such as perceptions, thoughts, and feelings produced by the brain.

Behaviour

Any observable action of an organism.

Cognitive Processes

Internal mental events involved in thinking, knowing, remembering, and problem-solving.

Overt Behaviour

Visible actions others can directly observe, e.g., walking or speaking.

Covert Behaviour

Internal, hidden actions such as feelings or thoughts that can be inferred from overt acts.

Description (Goal of Psychology)

Identifying and cataloguing what is happening in behaviour.

Explanation (Goal of Psychology)

Determining why a behaviour occurs by forming and testing theories.

Prediction (Goal of Psychology)

Forecasting when a behaviour is likely to recur.

Control (Goal of Psychology)

Using research findings to change or influence behaviour in desired ways.

Nature vs. Nurture

Debate over whether heredity (nature) or experience (nurture) shapes behaviour.

Dualism

Descartes’ idea that mind and body are separate but interact.

Structuralism

Wundt’s school focused on identifying the basic elements of conscious experience through introspection.

Introspection

Self-observation technique where participants describe their conscious experiences.

Functionalism

James’s approach studying the purpose of mental processes in adapting to the environment.

Psychoanalysis

Freud’s theory and therapy emphasising unconscious motives and early childhood experiences.

Id

Unconscious part of personality driven by basic impulses and immediate gratification.

Ego

Rational mediator between id and superego, operating mainly at the conscious level.

Superego

Moral component of personality representing internalised ideals and conscience.

Behaviorism

Watson’s view that psychology should study only observable behaviour.

Classical Conditioning

Pavlov’s form of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an automatic response.

Operant Conditioning

Skinner’s learning process where behaviour is shaped by consequences such as rewards or punishments.

Observational Learning

Bandura’s concept that people learn by watching and imitating others without direct reinforcement.

Humanistic Psychology

Rogers and Maslow’s perspective emphasising free will, personal growth, and self-actualisation.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Motivational theory arranging human needs from physiological basics up to self-actualisation.

Gestalt Psychology

Wertheimer, Koffka & Köhler’s school asserting that the whole of perception is greater than its parts.

Gestalt Principle – Figure-Ground (Good Figure)

Tendency to simplify scenes into a main object (figure) and background (ground).

Gestalt Principle – Similarity

Objects that look alike are perceived as belonging together.

Gestalt Principle – Proximity

Elements close to each other are perceived as a group.

Gestalt Principle – Closure

Mind’s tendency to fill in gaps to see complete figures.

Gestalt Principle – Continuation

Perceiving intersecting lines as continuous paths.

Gestalt Principle – Symmetry

Viewing objects as balanced, mirror-image shapes around a centre.

Cognitive Psychology

Neisser’s field studying how information is processed, stored, and used.

Neuroscience Perspective

Approach focusing on brain processes, genetics, and physiology underlying behaviour.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Modern view derived from Freud, highlighting unconscious motives and early experience.

Behavioural Perspective

Approach explaining behaviour through learning principles such as conditioning.

Cognitive Perspective

Perspective emphasising mental processes in perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Humanistic Perspective

Viewpoint stressing personal choice, self-concept, and growth potential.

Evolutionary Perspective

Approach examining how natural selection has shaped adaptive behaviour.

Learning Perspective

Emphasis on the effects of experience and environment on behaviour.

Socio-Cultural Perspective

Focus on how ethnicity, culture, gender, and socioeconomic status influence behaviour.

Biopsychology

Subfield studying how brain, neurotransmitters, and hormones affect behaviour.

Clinical Psychology

Field focused on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders.

Cognitive Psychology (Subfield)

Research area examining memory, language, and thinking processes.

Developmental Psychology

Study of physical, cognitive, and social changes across the lifespan.

Forensic Psychology

Application of psychology to legal and criminal justice issues.

Health Psychology

Investigation of how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and illness.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Application of psychological principles to workplace productivity and well-being.

Personality Psychology

Study of individual differences and patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

School & Educational Psychology

Discipline concerned with learning processes and improving educational outcomes.

Social Psychology

Examination of how individuals think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Sports Psychology

Study of psychological factors that affect athletic performance and exercise.

Counselling Psychology

Field helping individuals cope with life challenges through therapeutic interventions.

Psychiatrist

Medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental disorders and can prescribe medication.

Clinical Psychologist (Sri Lanka)

Practitioner licensed by SLMC after an MPhil, providing assessment and therapy without prescribing drugs.

Counsellor

Professional with at least an undergraduate psychology degree or diploma providing counselling services.

Psychosocial Practitioner

Individual with psychology training applying psychological and social knowledge in various settings.

Intelligence (Psychology definition)

Capacity to learn, solve problems, and adapt to new situations.