Introduction to Psychology

These flashcards cover fundamental concepts, key figures, and important terms in psychology as outlined in the lecture notes.

Psychology

The study of the mind and behavior.

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of structuralism and author of the first psychology book in 1873 who used introspection as a research method.

Functionalism

A psychological perspective founded by William James that focuses on the functions of thoughts and behaviors and how they help individuals adapt to their environment.

Psychoanalytic approach

Founded by Sigmund Freud, this approach studies the unconscious mind using indirect observation methods.

Behaviorism

Founded by John Watson, this approach studies observable learned behavior, focusing on what can be seen rather than what’s occurring in the head.

Hierarchy of Needs

Developed by Abraham Maslow, this theory explains human motivation based on a pyramid of needs.

Cognitive Psychology

A branch of psychology that examines internal mental processes such as memory and perception.

Developmental Psychology

The study of how thoughts and behaviors change throughout the lifespan.

Hypothesis

A testable, falsifiable prediction about how the world works, often framed as an if-then statement.

Falsifiability

The principle that hypotheses must be able to be proven incorrect.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms that are well-suited to their environment survive and reproduce.

Neuron

A cell that transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body.

Synapse

The space between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another where neurotransmitters are released.

Placebo Effect

When individuals experience improvements in their condition due to their expectations of treatment, even without actual treatment.

Endocrine System

The system in the body that uses hormones to communicate and regulate bodily functions.

Sensation

The activation of sensory organs by external stimuli.

Perception

The interpretation and analysis of sensory stimuli.

Selective Attention

The process of focusing on a specific stimulus while ignoring others.

Subliminal Perception

The detection of information below the level of conscious awareness.

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to notice unexpected stimuli when attention is focused elsewhere.

Psychology

The study of the mind and behavior.

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of structuralism and author of the first psychology book in 1873 who used introspection as a research method.

Functionalism

A psychological perspective founded by William James that focuses on the functions of thoughts and behaviors and how they help individuals adapt to their environment.

Psychoanalytic approach

Founded by Sigmund Freud, this approach studies the unconscious mind using indirect observation methods.

Behaviorism

Founded by John Watson, this approach studies observable learned behavior, focusing on what can be seen rather than what’s occurring in the head.

Hierarchy of Needs

Developed by Abraham Maslow, this theory explains human motivation based on a pyramid of needs.

Cognitive Psychology

A branch of psychology that examines internal mental processes such as memory and perception.

Developmental Psychology

The study of how thoughts and behaviors change throughout the lifespan.

Hypothesis

A testable, falsifiable prediction about how the world works, often framed as an if-then statement.

Falsifiability

The principle that hypotheses must be able to be proven incorrect.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms that are well-suited to their environment survive and reproduce.

Neuron

A cell that transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body.

Synapse

The space between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another where neurotransmitters are released.

Placebo Effect

When individuals experience improvements in their condition due to their expectations of treatment, even without actual treatment.

Endocrine System

The system in the body that uses hormones to communicate and regulate bodily functions.

Sensation

The activation of sensory organs by external stimuli.

Perception

The interpretation and analysis of sensory stimuli.

Selective Attention

The process of focusing on a specific stimulus while ignoring others.

Subliminal Perception

The detection of information below the level of conscious awareness.

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to notice unexpected stimuli when attention is focused elsewhere.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind.

Case Study

An observational research method in which one individual or group is studied in depth.

Independent Variable

The factor in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effects.

Dependent Variable

The outcome factor in an experiment that is measured to see how it changes in response to manipulations.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons to transmit signals.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Absolute Threshold

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50\% of the time.

Bottom-Up Processing

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information.

Top-Down Processing

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, such as experience and expectations.

Double-Blind Study

An experimental procedure where both the participants and the research staff are ignorant about who received the treatment or the placebo.