Science of Psychology and Human Development Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering the foundational concepts of psychology, physiological bases of behavior, developmental stages, and major psychological theories.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes, derived from the Greek words "Psyche" (Love and soul) and "Logos" (study).

Behavior

Outward or overt actions and reactions of an individual.

Mental Processes

Internal, covert activity of our minds, including thinking, learning, perception, attention, and the ability to remember.

Pseudopsychology

Any founded system that resembles psychology but is not based on scientific testing or proven evidence.

Phrenology

A pseudopsychology founded by Franz Joseph Gall claiming that personality traits are revealed by the shape of the skull.

Barnum Effect

The tendency to believe that general and vague personality descriptions are highly accurate and specific to oneself.

Ebers Papyrus

The first documented medical document from ancient Egypt, traced to about 1550 BCE, which documented dementia and depression.

Aristocles

The real name of the philosopher Plato, who believed knowledge is inborn and the soul is immortal.

Dualism

The idea proposed by Rene Descartes that the mind (spiritual entity) and body (physical entity) are two distinct entities that interact.

Introspection

The process of studying oneself or objectively examining and measuring one's own thoughts and mental activities; introduced by St. Augustine.

Tabula Rasa

A concept by John Locke meaning "Blank Slate," suggesting humans are born without innate knowledge and that experience writes knowledge.

Structuralism

A school of thought focused on the structure or basic elements of the mind through sensory experience, founded by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener.

Functionalism

A perspective focused on how the mind allows people to adapt, live, work, and play, influenced by William James.

Gestalt Psychology

A field based on the idea that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts," focusing on how the mind forms or configures patterns.

Id

The unconscious part of the mind present from birth that contains instinctual wishes and operates on the Pleasure Principle, seeking immediate gratification.

Ego

The part of the mind that operates on the Reality Principle, balancing the demands of the id and superego with social norms.

Superego

The moral part of the mind representing internalized parental and societal values that attempts to control the id.

Libido

The sex drive or life energy that Freud believed drives human behavior and psychosexual development.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process discovered by Ivan Pavlov where a neutral stimulus gains the ability to elicit a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning through consequences (reinforcements and punishments) popularized by B.F. Skinner.

Zygote

The single cell created by the union of an egg cell and a sperm cell during fertilization.

Teratogens

Substances or environmental factors, such as drugs, radiation, or viruses, that can cause birth defects during prenatal development.

Cephalucaudal Sequence

The pattern of physical growth and development that proceeds from the head-to-toe direction.

Proximodistal Sequence

The pattern of development where growth proceeds from the center of the body outward toward the extremities.

Partunate

The first 15 to 20 minutes after birth before the umbilical cord is cut.

Neonate

The period of infancy covering from the cutting of the umbilical cord until the cord falls off, about two weeks later.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The space between what a learner can do without assistance and what they can do with guidance from a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO).

Scaffolding

The temporary support provided to a learner by a More Knowledgeable Other to help them perform a task until they can do it independently.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

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

Amygdala

An almond-shaped structure in the limbic system that serves as the central processing station for emotions, especially fear and rage.

Hippocampus

A brain structure within the limbic system essential for the formation of long-term memories and learning.

Action Potential

The electrical signal created by stimuli that travels down the axon of a neuron to transmit a message.

Synapse

The juncture or gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released to transmit nerve impulses.

Transduction

The sensory process of converting receptor energy into neural or electrochemical impulses sent to the brain.

Absolute Threshold

The minimal amount of a stimulus that can be detected by our senses at least 50% of the time.

Prosopagnosia

A condition resulting from brain damage, particularly to the temporal lobe, characterized by the inability to recognize familiar faces.

Habituation

The simplest kind of learning where an individual gets used to a stimulus after repeated exposure.

Flashbulb Memories

Highly vivid and detailed memories formed during extreme, dramatic, or emotional events.

Crystallized Intelligence

The ability to use an accumulated body of general information and past experiences to solve problems, which tends to increase with age.

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to think and reason abstractly and solve new problems independent of previous learning or culture; peaks in adolescence.

Homeostasis

The tendency of the body to return to and maintain a balanced internal state.

Archetypes

Universal, archaic images and experiences contained in the collective unconscious as proposed by Carl Jung.

Big Five Model (OCEAN)

A personality trait theory consisting of five dimensions: Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Forensic Psychology

The application of psychological principles and research to legal issues, jury behavior, and eyewitness testimony.

Reliability

The extent to which a research method or test produces consistent results under identical conditions.

Validity

The extent to which a research method or test accurately measures what it is intended to measure.