(PSYC 2301) Chapter 1 - What Is Psychology?

Philosophy

the rational explanation of the underlying principles of being and knowledge.

Functionalism

approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individuals’ adaptation to the environment.

Neuroscience

the scientific study of the structure, function, development, genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system, emphasizing that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion.

Psychiatrist

medical degree, but specializes in abnormal behavior and psychotherapy; can prescribe drugs.

Critical thinking

the process of reflecting deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating the evidence.

Information Processing

the ways that the human mind interprets incoming ________, weighs it, stores it, and applies it to decision making.

Objective

being open to evidence.

Practitioners

individuals primarily engaged in helping others (spending most of their time in clinical practice, seeing clients, and offering them guidance as they work through problems)

Introspection

a process of looking inside our own minds by focusing on our own thoughts.

Behavior

everything we do that can be directly observed (surface- level; actions; words used; etc .)

Empirical method

gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the collection of data, and logical reasoning.

Psychodynamic Approach

an approach to psychology focusing on unconscious thought, the conflict between biological drives (such as drive for sex) and society’s demands, and early childhood family experiences.

Behavioral Neuroscience

focuses on biological processes, especially the brain’s role in behavior.

Cognitive Approach

an approach to psychology focusing on the mental processes involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems.

Natural Selection

Darwin’s principle of an evolutionary process in which organisms that are better adapted to their environment will survive and produce more offspring.

Sociocultural Approach

an approach to psychology focusing on the ways in which social and cultural environments influence behavior.

Positive Psychology

a branch of psychology that emphasizes human strengths.

Biological Approach

an approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system.

Forensic Psychology

the field of psychology that applies psychological concepts to the legal system.

Freudian Slip

when someone makes an error in speech that seems to be full of unintentional meaning.

Mental Processes

the thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experiences privately but that cannot be observed directly (memory also)

Critical Thinking

the process of reflecting deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating the evidence

Skepticism

characterizes scientists; challenge facts.

Objective

being open to evidence.

Curious

to notice things in the world and want to ask questions.

Philosophy

the rational explanation of the underlying principles of being and knowledge.

Behavioral Approach

an approach to psychology focusing on the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants.

Humanistic Approach

an approach to psychology focusing on a persons positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose ones destiny.

Evolutionary Approach

an approach to psychology focusing on ____________ ideas such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behaviors

Evidence-Based Practice

psychologists who use therapeutic tools whose effectiveness is supported by empirical research.

Physiological Psychology

interested in the physical processes that underlie mental operations such as thinking and memory.

Sensation and Perception

focuses on the physical systems and psychological processes that allow us to experience the world.

Learning

the intricate process by which behavior changes in response to changing circumstances.

Cognitive Psychology

the broad name given to the field of psychology that examines attention, consciousness, information processing, and memory.

Developmental Psychology

concerned with how people become who they are, from conception to death.

Psychology of Women

considering the psychological, social, and cultural influences on women’s development and behavior.

Gender

the way our biological sex influences our ideas about ourselves as men and women.

Personality Psychology

considers ___________, consisting of the relatively enduring characteristics of individuals.

Social Psychology

people’s interactions with one another, relationships, social perceptions, social cognition, and attitudes.

Industrial Psychology (Personnel Psychology)

main concerns are personnel matters and human resource management.

Organizational Psychology

examines the social influences in organizations, as well as organizational leadership.

Clinical and Counseling Psychology

the most widely practiced specialization in psychology; diagnosing and treating people with psychological problems.

Health Psychology

a multidimensional approach to human ______ that emphasizes psychological factors, lifestyle, and the nature of the healthcare delivery system.

Community Psychology

concentrating on improvement of the quality of relationships among individuals, their _________, and society at large.

School and Educational Psychology

focuses children’s learning and adjustment in school.

Environmental Psychology

the study of the interactions between people and their physical environment.

Sport Psychology

applies psychology’s principles to improving sport performance and enjoying sport participation.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

the study of cultural influences on behavior, thought, and emotion.