Introduction to Psychology, Paradigms, Western and Eastern Perspectives

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions of psychological schools, key philosophical figures, paradigm elements, and core concepts from Western and Eastern perspectives as detailed in the lecture.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes, derived from the Greek words Psyche (Soul/Mind) and Logos (Study).

Wilhelm Wundt

Commonly known as the Father of Psychology and the Father of Experimental Psychology; he established the first psychological laboratory in 1879 at Leipzig, Germany.

Humoral Theory

A theory by Hippocrates proposing that diseases are caused by natural bodily factors involving four humours: Blood (Sanguine), Yellow Bile (Choleric), Black Bile (Melancholic), and Phlegm (Phlegmatic).

Rationalism

The philosophical belief supported by Socrates and Plato that knowledge originates from reason and is innate.

Chariot Allegory

Plato's model of human personality consisting of the Rational Self (Charioteer), the White Horse (Moral/Noble/Immortal), and the Black Horse (Immoral/Desires/Mortal).

Empiricism

The view supported by Aristotle and Francis Bacon that knowledge is acquired through sensory experiences and observation rather than being innate.

Deductive Reasoning

A logical process described by Aristotle that moves from a general principle to a specific conclusion.

Voluntarism

A concept in Wilhelm Wundt's experimental psychology where mental elements are organized through the Will.

Völkerpsychologie

The study of collective mental phenomena such as language, culture, myths, and customs.

Structuralism

A school founded by Edward B. Titchener that used introspection to identify the structure of consciousness and attempted to create a Periodic Table of Mind.

Functionalism

A school founded by William James that focused on the functions of consciousness, such as adaptation, learning, and emotion, rather than its structure.

Stream of Consciousness

A concept by William James describing consciousness as continuous and flowing.

Psychoanalysis

A school founded by Sigmund Freud assuming behavior is determined by unconscious motives and past experiences.

Gestalt Psychology

A psychological school founded in 1912 by Wertheimer, Köhler, and Koffka based on the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Phi Phenomenon

An illusion of movement created by rapidly alternating lights, studied in Gestalt psychology.

Behaviorism

A school focused on observable, measurable behavior that rejects introspection, with key contributors including Watson, Pavlov, and Skinner.

Dasein

Martin Heidegger's concept of existence involving four dimensions: Umwelt (physical), Mitwelt (social), Eigenwelt (psychological self), and Überwelt (spiritual).

Humanistic Psychology

The 'Third Force' in psychology founded by Abraham Maslow, focusing on human potential, growth, and the Hierarchy of Needs.

Cognitive Psychology

A school founded by Ulric Neisser that focuses on mental processes like thinking, memory, attention, and problem-solving.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Lev Vygotsky's concept of the difference between what a learner can do alone and what they can do with help.

Ethology

The study of animal behavior in natural settings, featuring concepts like imprinting (Konrad Lorenz) and fixed action patterns (Niko Tinbergen).

Paradigm

A framework of beliefs, assumptions, and methods used to understand reality, following a cycle described by Thomas Kuhn.

Ontology

The branch of a paradigm concerned with the nature of reality, such as Realism (objective) or Relativism (subjective).

Epistemology

The branch of a paradigm concerned with the nature of knowledge, categorized as either objective or subjective.

Falsification Principle

Karl Popper's principle stating that for a theory to be scientific, it must be capable of being proven false.

Tabula Rasa

John Locke's concept that the mind is a blank slate at birth and knowledge is formed through experience.

A priori and A posteriori

Immanuel Kant's two sources of knowledge; the former is based on reason and the latter on experience.

Three Gunas

Qualities in Hindu psychology: Sattva (balance), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (inertia).

Three Doshas

Biological energies in Indian thought: Vata (Air + Space), Pitta (Fire + Water), and Kapha (Earth + Water).

Three Marks of Existence (Buddhism)

Anicca (Impermanence), Dukkha (Suffering), and Anatta (No-self).

Ashtanga Yoga

Patanjali's eight-limbed path consisting of Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.