General Psychology Study Guide: Learning Outcomes & Key Concepts

A comprehensive vocabulary set covering psychological research methods, theoretical perspectives, major empirical findings, historical trends, and everyday applications.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Population

Everyone the researchers are interested in.

Sample

The subset of people actually studied.

Case Study

Intense study of a single person or animal.

Correlational Study

Measures relationships between variables but cannot prove causation.

Experimental Research

Best method for establishing cause and effect.

Random Assignment

Ensures differences between groups are equalized.

Independent Variable

The factor manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent Variable

The measured outcome of a study.

Extraneous/Control Variables

Factors held constant during research.

Biological Perspective

Key idea focusing on the brain, neurotransmitters, and hormones.

Behavioral Perspective

Key idea focusing on learning via reinforcement & punishment.

Cognitive Perspective

Key idea focusing on how we process, store, and retrieve info.

Humanistic Perspective

Key idea focusing on personal growth & free will.

Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Perspective

Key idea focusing on unconscious drives & childhood experiences.

Sociocultural Perspective

Key idea focusing on cultural norms, social context, and identity.

Evolutionary Perspective

Key idea focusing on traits & natural selection across generations.

Watson ("Little Albert")

Empirical finding that emotional responses can be classically conditioned in humans.

Pavlov

Researcher associated with the discovery of classical conditioning.

Milgram (Shock Experiment)

Study demonstrating that people obey authority even if it conflicts with personal morals.

Stanford Prison Experiment

Study showing that people may fully embrace their social roles.

Bobo Doll

Experiment showing that children act more aggressively after observing aggression.

Asch (Conformity)

Study demonstrating that people often conform even when they know the group is wrong.

Functionalism

Historical trend focusing on how mental activities help adaptation.

Structuralism

Historical belief that the mind could not be scientifically studied.

Cognitive Revolution (1950s)

A period of renewed interest in studying the mind.

Schema / Piaget

Assimilating new info into existing mental frameworks.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overestimating personality and underestimating the situation.

Confirmation Bias

Seeking info that confirms preexisting beliefs.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association (e.g., skunk smell leading to childhood home memories).

Operant Conditioning

Learning where positive/negative reinforcement or punishment shapes behavior.

Systematic desensitization

A form of therapy used specifically for phobias.

Echoic memory

Type of memory that allows "replay" of what was just said.

Sleep Stages (Deep Sleep)

The stage where children can experience sleep terrors and are hard to wake.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A psychological disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry.