Unit 1 Psychology's History and Approaches

empiricism

the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should rely on observation and experimentation

structuralism

early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

functionalism

early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function--- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

experimental psychology

study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

behaviorism

view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental process; most research psychologists agree w/ 1

humanistic psychology

historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people

cognitive neuroscience

interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition--- perception, thinking, memory, language

psychology

science of behavior and mental processes

nature-nurture issue

longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

natural selection

principle that among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

levels of analysis

differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

biopsychosocial approach

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

behavioral psychology

scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning

biological psychology

scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

cognitive psychology

scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

evolutionary psychology

study of the evolution of behavior and mind, using principles of natural selection

psychodynamic psychology

branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders

social-cultural psychology

study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking

psychometrics

scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

developmental psychology

branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

educational psychology

study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning

personality psychology

study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

social psychology

scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

industrial-organization (I/O) psychology

application of psychology concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces

human factors psychology

an I/O psychology subfield that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use

counseling psychology

branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living and in achieving greater well-being

clinical psychology

a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

psychiatry

branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy

positive psychology

scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

community psychology

branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups

testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information (retrieval practice/test-enhanced learning)

SQ3R

study method incorporating five steps: survey, question, read, retrieve, review

Wilhelm Wundt

established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig; all psychological principles built off of his laboratory

G. Stanley Hall

student of Wundt; established the first formal U.S. psychological laboratory at John Hopkins

William James

philospher-psychologist; believed our functions were adaptive because they promoted the survival of our ancestors; was a well-known functionalist for his Harvard teaching

Mary Whiton Calkins

distinguished memory researcher and APA's first female president

Margaret Floy Washburn

first woman to receive a psychology Ph.D; synthesized animal behavior

Sigmund Freud

personality theorist who pioneered psychodynamic studies; believed that our childhood experiences in the unconscious shape our behaviors

John B. Watson

famous for the " little Al" experiment; behaviorist; emotions are conditioned responses

B.F. Skinner

redefined psychology as the "scientific study of observable behavior"; was a behaviorist and believed in conditioning

Carl Rogers

one of the first humanistic psychologists along with Abraham Maslow; believed that behaviorism was too limiting

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist who pioneered the study of learning

Jean Piaget

Swiss biologist who was an influential observer of children (developmental psychology)

Charles Darwin

theory of evolution; pioneered early evolutionary psychology; proposed the idea of natural selection

Dorothea Dix

improved living conditions for those in asylum and pioneered therapy methods for those with psychological disorders