Unit #1 Psych Vocabulary

Psychology

The study of behavior and the mind.

Behavior

A natural process subject to natural laws, referring to the observable actions of a person.

Mind

Refers to the sensations, memories, motives, emotions, thoughts, and other subjective phenomena particular to an individual or animal that are not readily observed.

Dualism

Divides the world and all things into two parts: body and spirit.

Pineal gland

Where Descartes believed the mind controlled the body while the body provides the mind with sensory input to decipher.

Empiricism

The acquisition of truth through observations and experiences.

Tabula rasa

Latin for "blank slate."

Natural selection

Over time, this process selects physical and behavioral characteristics that promote survival.

Evolutionary theory

All creatures have evolved into their present state over long periods of time.

Structuralism

Understanding all of the parts of the mind would lead to the understanding of the greater structure of the mind.

Functionalism

Understanding how the mind fulfills its purpose; the function of the mind.

Behaviorism

The study of observable behavior; the mind and mental events are not important because they can't be observed.

Behavior modification

A set of techniques in which psychological problems are considered to be the product of learned habits, which can be unlearned by the application of behavioral methods.

Self-actualization

The need for individuals to reach their full potential in a creative way.

Unconditional positive regard

The need for positive self-concept as critical factors in attaining self-actualization.

Conscious mind

A mental state of awareness that we have ready access to.

Unconscious mind

Those mental processes that we do not normally have access to but are yet influenced by in some way.

Repressed

Buried in the unconscious.