Introduction to Psychology: Key Concepts, History, and Careers

Functionalism

Focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment.

Conditioned Reflexes

An animal produces a reflex response to a stimulus, conditioned over time.

Psychology

The scientific study of how people think, believe, and feel.

Psyche

Derived from mythology of Psyche, translating to 'soul' in Greek.

Ology

Meaning the scientific study of.

Structuralism

Understanding the conscious experience through introspection.

Wilhelm Wundt

A scientist who emphasized structuralism.

William James

Drew from the functionality of cognitive processes, establishing functionalism.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Focuses on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior.

Sigmund Freud

Founded Psychoanalytic theory, which dominated clinical psychology for many decades.

Dream Analysis

One way the unconscious mind could be accessed according to Freud.

Kohler, Koffka and Wertheimer

German psychologists who contributed to Gestalt Psychology.

Behaviorism

Focuses on observing and controlling behavior.

John B. Watson

Known as the father of behaviorism within psychology.

Sensation and Perception

Research influenced by Gestalt ideas on how parts relate to each other as a whole.

Operant Conditioning

Principles of modifying behavior through reinforcement and punishment.

Abraham Maslow

Proposed a hierarchy of human needs in motivating behavior.

Hierarchy of Human Needs

Maslow's theory that higher-level needs motivate behavior once basic survival needs are met.

Biopsychology

Focuses on bodily functions regarding the nervous, sensory, and motor systems and related psychological disorders.

Cognitive Psychology

Branch of psychology that focuses on cognition and thoughts.

Developmental Psychology

Studies the physical and mental attributes of aging and maturation.

Sports and Exercise Psychology

Focuses on psychological aspects regarding sports and physical performance.

Graduate Degree in Psychology

Pursued for potentially greater salary and advanced knowledge in the field.

Pavlov

Studied conditioned reflexes in which an animal produced a reflex response to a stimulus.

Gestalt Psychology

Focuses on humans as a whole rather than individual parts.

Hysteria

A condition studied by Freud, theorized to arise from the unconscious mind.

Neurosis

A condition studied by Freud, theorized to arise from the unconscious mind.

Unconscious Mind

A key concept in psychoanalytic theory affecting conscious behavior.

Early Childhood Experiences

Focus of psychoanalytic theory in understanding a person's unconscious.

Whole

The concept in Gestalt psychology that emphasizes the importance of the entirety of experience.

Cognitive Revolution

A shift in focus to the mind and mental functioning in scientific inquiry.

Noam Chomsky

An influential figure in the cognitive revolution who emphasized the need to incorporate mental functioning into psychology.

Humanism

Emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans.

Personality Psychology

Focuses on behaviors and thought patterns unique to each individual.

Social Psychology

Studies how individuals interact and relate with others and how these interactions affect behavior.

Health Psychology

Focuses on how individual health is affected by biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences.

Clinical Psychology

Focuses on diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and problematic behavior patterns.

Forensic Psychology

Deals with the justice system, including mental competency assessments and treatment suggestions.

APA

American Psychological Association, formed to further psychological research.

Research in Psychology

Can range from clinical therapy to corporate and marketing applications.

Undergraduate Education in Psychology

Helpful in various lines of work due to foundational knowledge of psychological principles.

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