Psychology's Perspectives

Vocabulary flashcards defining the major perspectives in psychology and related concepts from the lecture notes.

Neuroscience / Biological Perspective

How the body and brain influence mental processes and behavior.

Evolutionary Perspective

How natural selection influences behavior and mental processes.

Cognitive Perspective

How we process, store and use information and how this influences mental processes and behavior.

Behavioral Perspective

How organisms learn or modify their mental processes and behaviors depending on rewards or punishments (Watson, Thorndike, Skinner).

Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Perspective

How unconscious fears, desires and motivation influence mental processes and behavior.

Socio-Cultural Perspective

How cultural and ethnic similarities and differences influence mental processes and behavior.

Humanistic Perspective

How the positive nature of people is influenced by the outside world (Maslow, Rogers).

Eclectic Approach

A mixture of different psychological perspectives.