Psych: Ch 1 History and Approaches

Structuralism

School of thought based on notion that the task of psychology is to analyze consciousness into its basic elements.

Introspection

Observation of one's own conscious experience. Technique used by structuralists.

Functionalism

School of thought asserting that psychology's major purpose was to investigate the purpose of consciousness.

Behaviorism

The theoretical orientation asserting that scientific psychology should study only observable behavior.

Evolutionary Psychology

Examines behavioral processes in terms of their adaptive or survival value for a species.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Freudian theory that explains personality and abnormal behavior in terms of unconscious processes.

Unconscious

According to psychoanalytic theory, that portion of the mind containing thoughts, memories, and wishes not in awareness but nonetheless exerting a influence

Humanism

The psychological theory asserting that human beings are unique and fundamentally different from other animals.

Ethnocentrism

The tendency to view one's own group as superior to other groups.

Wilhelm Wundt

Founded experimental psychology and the first experimental psychology laboratory. "Father of scientific psychology."

William James

Chief architect of functionalism; described a "stream of consciousness"; first major text in psych

John B. Watson

Founded behaviorism. Asserted he could turn a baby into any type of person.

Sigmund Freud

Devised the theory and technique known as psychoanalysis.

B.F. Skinner

Identified operant conditioning. Claimed free will was an illusion. Behaviorist.

Psychology

systematic scientific study of behaviors and mental processes

Psychometrics

focuses on measurement of abilities, skills, intelligence, personality, abnormal behaviors

Biological/Psychobiological

examines how genes, hormones, and nervous system. interact with environments

Psychologists

has completed 4-5 years of postgraduate education; has obtained Ph.D. in psychology

Psychiatrist

medical doctor (MD) with additional years of training in diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders

Clinical Psychologist

has Ph.D. plus specialization in clinical psychology and supervised work in therapy

developmental psychology

examines moral, social, emotional, cognitive development throughout a person's entire life

social psychology

focuses on interpersonal behavior and the role of social factors in influencing behavior and mental processes

Mary Whiton Calkins

Was denied a PhD by Harvard because of her sex. First female president of the APA.

Edward Tichener

Structuralist psychologist (Cornell) who used introspection to study consciousness.

Humanism

Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers were major proponents of this approach. Stressed self-concept and growth toward reaching one's unique potential.

Leta Stetter Hollingworth

influential in work on adolescent development and intellectual abilities; did work to disprove the idea of female inferiority

Margaret Floy Washburn

first women to receive PhD in psychology; did pioneering work in studying animal behavior

pillars of positive psychology

1. positive experiences

2. positive individual traits

3. positive communities and institutions