Psych 111

Empirical

Based on real-world observations.

Theoretically Diverse

Refers to the existence of multiple theories for a single behavior.

Multiple Causality

The concept that a single behavior can have multiple causes.

Cultural Heritage Matters

Culture influences psychological processes and behavior.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate regarding whether behavior is determined by genetics (nature) or environment (nurture).

Psychology

The study of the human mind and behavior.

Clinical Psychology

The assessment and treatment of psychological disorders.

Experimental Psychology

The scientific investigation of basic psychological processes.

G. Stanley Hall

First American to receive a PhD in psychology, opened the first American psychology lab at John Hopkins, and founded the American Psychological Association.

Margaret Floy Washburn

First woman granted a PhD in psychology.

Frances Cecil Sumner

First African-American granted a PhD in psychology.

Nativism

The theory that people are born with knowledge (Plato).

Philosophical Empiricism

The theory that all knowledge is gained through learning (Aristotle).

Trephination

Drilling holes in the skull to allow demons to escape.

Philosophical Dualism

The view that the mind and body are fundamentally different things.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that sought to understand the structure of the mind.

Functionalism

A psychological approach that focuses on the function of mental processes.

Behaviorism

A viewpoint that only observable behaviors should be studied, not internal mental states.

Humanism

The perspective that all humans possess the capacity for good (Carl Young).

Cognitive Psychology

The study of how internal processes affect thoughts and behaviors.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of how evolution influences psychological phenomena.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure across different instances.

Hypothesis

A testable statement about the relationship between variables.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured in response to changes in the independent variable.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

Survey

A method of gathering information by asking questions to a group of people.

Correlational Study

A research method that examines the relationship between two or more variables.

Informed Consent

A process ensuring that participants are fully aware of study requirements and risks.

Debriefing

A session at the end of a study where participants are informed about the study’s purpose.

Confidentiality

The obligation to keep participant information private and secure.

Attachment

Types of emotional bonds between infants and their caregivers, such as secure or avoidant.

Temperament

The innate personality characteristics of a child that influence their behavior.

Cognitive Development

The process of growth and change in intellectual capabilities.

Social Development

The way individuals develop social skills and relationships throughout their lives.

Moral Development

The process by which individuals develop their understanding of morality and ethics.

Reciprocal Determinism

The concept that personal, behavioral, and environmental factors interact to shape behavior.

Post Hoc Thinking

The idea that because one event follows another, the first must be the cause of the second.

Peer Review

A review process where other experts evaluate research studies for quality and credibility.

Experimental Psychology

The branch of psychology that utilizes experimental methods to research behavior and the mind.

Quasi-Experiment

A study that does not have random assignment and cannot establish causality.

Longitudinal Study

A research design that follows the same subjects over a period of time.

Cross-Sectional Study

A study that compares different groups at a single point in time.

Case Study

An in-depth analysis of a single individual or group.

Self-Selection Bias

A bias that occurs when individuals select themselves into a group, causing non-random samples.

Social Desirability Bias

When participants respond to questions in a manner they believe will be viewed favorably.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs.