Psychology History (Pages 1–3) — Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Psychology History (Pages 1–3).

Wundt

German psychologist who founded experimental psychology and established the first psychology laboratory (Leipzig, 1879).

Stimulus error

The tendency to name a stimulus you see rather than describing its properties.

Creative Synthesis

A holistic view that opposed mental chemistry and emphasized synthesis of mental processes.

DSM

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Galileo

Italian astronomer who observed lunar craters and challenged Aristotle; later pressured to recant by the Church.

Hedonistic

Relating to the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain.

Hedonism

The doctrine that pleasure is the highest good; modern usage often linked to excess.

Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis and a central figure in psychology.

Skinner

prominent behaviorist; considered a leading figure in psychology.

Socrates

Ancient philosopher known for know thyself and the belief that the unexamined life is not worth living.

Golden mean

Aristotle's principle that virtue lies in moderation and nothing in excess.

Thales

An early philosopher often regarded as the first philosopher; knowledge from sensory experience and observation.

Conflict theory

A perspective that sees society as organized around conflict over resources and power.

Philosophy

The discipline of asking fundamental questions and forming ideas, sometimes with limited empirical evidence.

Voluntarism/Volunteerism

Wundt's school of thought that the mind actively organizes experiences; emphasizes the will.

Titchener

Wilhelm Wundt's student; founder of structuralism.

Structuralism

School focusing on the structure of conscious experience through introspection.

Volkerpsychologie

Wundt's ten-volume work, translated as Culture/Folk Psychology.

Prolific

Producing a large amount of writing or work.

Tabula rasa

Blank slate; the mind is thought to be a blank state at birth (associated with Locke).

Nature vs. nurture

Debate about whether genes (nature) or environment (nurture) shape behavior and mental traits.

Locke

English philosopher and empiricist who argued that knowledge comes from experience and observation.

Empiricist

Advocate of empiricism; belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience.

Syllogism

A form of deductive reasoning with two premises leading to a conclusion; associated with Aristotle.

Lyceum

Aristotle's school in ancient Athens.

Dogma

A belief established by authority as incontrovertibly true; not open to argument.

Recant

To withdraw or renounce a statement or belief; Galileo did so under Church pressure.