Introduction to Psychology: History, Perspectives, and Methods

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the definition, history, scientific criteria, schools of thought, modern perspectives, research methods, and primary goals of psychology.

Psyche and Logos

The Greek root words from which 'psychology' is derived: 'psyche' meaning soul or mind, and 'logos' meaning the study or knowledge of something.

Psychology (Baron & Misra 2016)

The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.

Scientific Psychology

An approach that uses careful observation, measurement, and experiments to reach conclusions about behaviour and mental processes.

Behaviour

Anything an organism does that can be observed directly or indirectly, such as speaking, studying, or motor actions.

Mental Processes

Inner or private experiences that cannot be directly seen—such as thoughts, feelings, memories, and dreams—which psychologists study through careful, indirect scientific methods.

Nature of Psychology

The foundational attributes of the discipline: 1) psychology is a science, 2) psychologists study both humans and animals, and 3) psychologists study individuals within context.

Criteria of Psychology as a Science

Key scientific components including empirical evidence, systematic methodology, hypothetical testing, replicability, and objectivity (using open- and close-ended measures to reduce personal and confirmation bias).

Mind-Body Problem

A philosophical puzzle debated by ancient Greek thinkers (such as Plato and Aristotle) and later explored by René Descartes concerning whether the mind and body are separate and how they interact.

Wilhelm Wundt (1879)

German physiologist who established the first laboratory dedicated purely to psychological research at the University of Leipzig, Germany in 1879, marking the official birth of psychology as an independent, experimental science separate from philosophy.

Schools of Thought

Different historical groups or viewpoints in psychology that emerged after it became an independent science, each defined by its own founders, research methods, and core beliefs regarding what should be studied.

Structuralism

An early school of thought primarily developed by Wilhelm Wundt and expanded by Edward Titchener that sought to understand the structure of consciousness by breaking down the mind into basic building blocks (sensations, images, and basic feelings).

Introspection

The primary research method of structuralism, in which carefully trained observers examined and reported their own inner feelings and experiences in great detail.

Functionalism

A school of thought associated with William James and influenced by Charles Darwin that shifted focus from the parts of the mind to what the mind does, studying how mental processes help a person adapt and survive in their environment.

Psychoanalysis

A school of thought founded by Sigmund Freud proposing that human behaviour is driven by unconscious thoughts, beliefs, and unresolved conflicts rooted in early childhood experiences.

Behaviourism

A school of thought associated with John B. Watson and later B.F. Skinner that rejected the study of the unobservable mind, insisting psychology should study only observable behaviour that can be objectively measured and verified.

Gestalt Psychology

A school of thought led by Max Wertheimer and colleagues arguing that the mind naturally organizes individual bits of information into a meaningful whole, studying perception of patterns, shapes, and structures.

Humanistics

A psychological movement associated with Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow that emerged partly as a reaction against behaviourism and psychoanalysis, emphasizing free will, personal growth, and self-actualization.

Self-Actualization

An inbuilt drive emphasized in humanistic psychology directing each individual toward reaching their fullest potential.

Biological Perspective

A modern perspective that examines behaviour and mental processes in terms of the brain, nervous system, hormones, and genetics.

Cognitive Perspective

A modern perspective focused on internal mental processes, including thinking, memory, perception, language, and problem-solving.

Behavioural Perspective

A modern perspective that explains behaviour through learning principles built up via experiences, specifically through rewards, punishment, and associations.

Psychodynamic Perspective

A modern perspective emphasizing the continuous influence of unconscious processes and early childhood dependencies on behaviour.

Humanistic Perspective

A modern perspective emphasizing personal growth, free will, and each individual's unique subjective experience and interpretation of the world.

Observation Method

A primary psychological research method that involves systematically watching and recording behaviour.

Experimental Method

A scientific method in psychology involving the manipulation and measurement of independent and dependent variables to identify causal relationships.

Correlation Method

A research method used to examine relationships and patterns between two variables without direct manipulation (e.g., student sleeping patterns in hours versus academic marks).

Description (Goal of Psychology)

The goal of carefully observing behaviour and mental processes and describing them accurately without explaining why they are occurring.

Explanation (Goal of Psychology)

The goal of identifying the underlying causes behind behaviour to answer why a particular action, thought, or emotion occurs.

Prediction (Goal of Psychology)

The goal of using existing psychological knowledge to anticipate how someone is likely to think, feel, or behave in a given situation or in the future.

Control (Goal of Psychology)

The goal of applying psychological findings and strategies (such as relaxation techniques or study strategies) to accurately change, manage, or improve behaviour.