Psych chapter one

Applied Research

Designed to solve specific real world problems

Biopsychology/neuroscience

studies how the brain and nervous system develop, work, and affect behavior, thinking, and emotions.

Developmental psychology

studys how individuals change and grow over the course of their lifespan. (examining, physical, cognitive, social, emotional development)

Personality Psychology

studies unique variations among individuals in cognitions, emotions, actions

Industrial Organizational Psychology

uses psychological insights on how organizations can enhance workplace productivity, employee well being

Social Psychology

study of the impact that the existence of others can have on an individuals cognition, emotions, actions

Clinical Psychology

studies the intricacies of mental health, assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders

Basic research

The quest for knowledge purley for its own sake

Four main goals of psychology.

Describe, Explain, Predict, Influence

Nurture

refers to the environmental influences that impact human behavior and development. students anxiety levels can be influenced by their environment

Nature

refers to genetic and biological factors that influence behavior. genetic predisposition to anxiety

Structuralism

aimed to analyze the structure of the mind by breaking down mental processes into their most basic components, similarly to taking apart a bicycle to understand how it works

Functionalism

aimed at understanding why rather than what a sensation felt like. goal is to investigate what purpose our feelings, sensations, perceptions are

Psychodynamic

the study of how mental and emotional processes affect behavior and mental states, especially during early childhood

Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis published many papers on psychoanalysis and got the whole “psychology thing” going

Behaviorism

Focuses on the role of the external environment in governing behavior.

Law of Effect

psychological principle that states that behaviors that produce a positive outcome are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors that produce a negative outcome are less likely to be repeated. 

Humanistic Psychology

idea that people are not solely influenced by external forces. emphasized free will and personal growth

Cognitive Psychology

examine problem solving, memory, learning, and perception to understand how the mind works and how that influences behavior

Sociocultural Psychology

Examines how social and cultural factors influence behavior, thoughts, and feelings.

Biological Psychology

Examines how neurons, genetics, and the body regulate the brain and behavior, focusing on the biological basis of behavior.

what inspired the behaviorism perspective?

John Locke’s Tabula Rasa blank slate inspired the movement suggesting that human behavior is entirely derived from learned behavior

Behavior and its causes can be exaimed at three different levels

biological level, psychological level, social/cultural level Biopyschosocial approach

Confirmation bias

when you focus on information that supports what you already believe and ignore anything that goes against it

barnum effect

when people believe vague, general statements about personality or traits are specifically about them, even though the statements could apply to almost anyone.

Basic research example

studying how the memory works in the brain

Applied research example

use knowledge about memory to create tools or stratigies for peope to recall memories better