Psych Vocab

Critical Thinking

Does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Examines assumptions, appraises sources, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Socrates and Plato

Concluded that knowledge is innate or with us since birth.

Aristotle

Derived his principles from observation, stating that knowledge is not innate and grows from experiences stored in our memories.

Rene Descartes

Agreed with Socrates and Plato about knowledge being innate. He hypothesized the presence of spirits in our brains that flow to the physical body and provoke movement.

Empiricism

The idea that knowledge comes from experience and that science should rely on observation and experimentation; is associated with Francis Bacon and John Locke.

Wilhelm Wundt

Established the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879; utilized introspection as a research method to study the minds of people through their observations.

Introspection

The act of looking inward to directly observe one's own thoughts through observation.

Structuralism

A school of thought that used introspection to explore the structural elemetns of the mind. Introduced by Edward Titchener

William James

Introduced the idea of functionalism and was influenced by Charles Darwin; wrote the first psychological textbook in 1890.

Functionalism

A school of thought that focuses on how our mind functions to enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish. Introduced by William James

Mary Calkins

A student of William James who became the first president of the American Psychology Association.

Margaret Washburn

The first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology; studied animal behavior.

Behaviorism

Studies how we learn observable responses and responses to stimuli; founded by John Watson.

Psychoanalytic Theory

States that our unconscious mind and childhood experiences influence our behavior.

Humanistic Psychology

Focuses on and emphasizes our potential for personal growth.

Cognitive Psychologist

Study human thinking, focusing on perception, language, attention, memory, judgment, and intelligence.

Developmental Psychologist

Research age-related behavioral changes, focusing on biological, psychological, cognitive, and social aspects of development.

Educational Psychologist

Study the psychological processes involved in learning to enhance the learning process.

Experimental Psychology

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method (independent, dependent, controlled variables, setting up studies)

Psychometric and Quantitative Psychologists

Study math-related methods to gain psychological knowledge; design, analyze, and interpret research results.

Social Psychologists

Study how beliefs, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by interactions with other people.

Forensic Psychologists

Apply psychological principles to legal issues, research the intersection of law and psychology, and make public policies related to mental health or assist in criminal investigations.

Environmental Psychologists

Study the interactions of humans with their natural and urban environments.

Health Psychologists

Researchers and practitioners who use psychology to promote health and prevent disease.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Study the relationship between people and their working environment to increase productivity and create a more welcoming workplace.

Neuropsychologists

Investigate the relationships between neurological processes and behavior, focusing on the nervous system and related disorders.

Rehabilitation Psychologists

Help individuals who have lost function after an accident or life-changing event.

School Psychologists

Aid in the assessment and intervention for children in educational settings to improve student learning.

Sports Psychologists

Study psychological factors influenced by participation in sports and physical activities.

Clinical Psychologists

Promote psychological health and treat a range of disorders through therapy or research.

Community Psychologists

Deal with mental health issues in community settings, studying interactions between people and their environments.

Counseling Psycologists

Help people adjust to life transitions or help them with problems in living (school, work, or marriage) to achieve a greater well-being

Biological Psychology

Studys how our genes and our environment influence our psychology and our differneces.

Cognitive Psychology

Study how the mind processes information and how we understand things

Evolutionary psychology

How natural selection of traits and survival of the fittest has promoted our survival.

Social-cultural psychology

Studies how the dynamics within a culture impact your psychology and your way of thinking

Gestalt Psychologists

Study how we perceive things in the world around us through our sensory organs

Classical Conditioning

Used by John Watson (Little Albert Experiment) and Ivan Pavlov (Dog and Bell Experiment); trains a person/animal by associating an involuntary response with a positive or negative reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

Used by Thorndike and Skinner; trains a person/animal by associating a voluntary response with positive or negative reinforcements.

John Watson

dismissed introspection because you could not accurately measure it so you cannot study it; founded behaviorism

ID

The irrational part of you that wants instant gratification

Superego

The rational part that wants to follow rules and laws and go about everything in the most logical way possible

Ego

The bridge or mediator between your ID and Superego which has the best of both worlds and helps you make daily decisions

Nature-nurture issue

A debate over whether your genes or experiences play a larger role in the development of your psychology

Cognitive neuroscience

Study of how the brain activity is linked with our cognition (how we think, our perception, memory, and language)

Psychometrics

The study of the measurement of human abilites, attitudes, and traits

Applied Research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Basic Research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Psychiatry

A branch of medicine that deals with psychological disorders, Done by physicians who can prescribe medicine and conduct psychological therapy

Biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis;

provides a holistic view of human behavior and can identify problems at the biological, psychological, and social levels to allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the problem.

Why is the biopsychosocial approach important?