Exploring Psychology Chapter 1 study guide. (12th edition)

Empirical Approach

Based on observation, investigation, or experiment rather than on abstract reasoning, theoretical analysis, or speculation. (It gathers data).

Critical thinking

Think that doesn't automatically accept arguments and conclusions.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structure of the human mind

Functionalism

An early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin that explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

The father of psychology

Wilhelm Wundt

Introspection

An examination of one's own thoughts and feelings

Mary Whiton Calkins

First female president of the American Psychological Association

Margaret Floy Washburn

First female to be awarded a PhD in psychology; 2nd president of the APA (1921)

Behaviorism

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

humanistic psychology

a historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential

Cognitive Psychology

the study of the mental process involved in perceiving, learning, remembering, thinking, communicating, and solving problems.

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

Nature- nurture issue

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture

natural selection

the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

positive psychology

the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

levels of analysis

the differing complementary, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.