Perspectives of Psychology Flashcards

Flashcards covering the main psychological perspectives and key terms from the lecture notes.

Psychodynamic Perspective

A psychological perspective stating that the unconscious mind controls the way people think and act without them knowing; associated with Sigmund Freud.

Sigmund Freud

The figure associated with the psychodynamic perspective who emphasized that the unconscious mind controls human behavior.

Behaviorism

A perspective focused on observing the way people and animals act, asserting that behavior is controlled by environment and learning, and that individuals repeat actions that yield positive outcomes.

Humanistic Perspective

A perspective emphasizing that humans can grow and have choices, that people are motivated to reach their unique potential, and focusing on the future instead of the past.

Cognitive Perspective

A perspective focusing on perception and how individuals solve problems, stating that the way a person behaves is based on the way they think.

Biological Perspective

A perspective that explains behavior based on genes, hormones, or how the nervous system controls behaviors, asserting that behaviors have specific locations in the brain.

Neurobiology

The branch of study focused on learning how to study the nervous system and the brain.

Evolutionary Perspective

A perspective explaining that mental processes exist to help humans survive, and that the way a person acts is to give them the best chance of survival.

Sociocultural Perspective

A perspective stating that the groups individuals associate with (such as race or religion) influence behavior, and that behaviors are associated with certain subcultures or groups.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

An approach that combines biological, psychological, and social factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of human behavior.