Introduction to Psychology and Early Perspectives

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key historical figures, schools of thought, and foundational definitions from Chapter 1 of the introductory psychology lecture.

Psychology

The scientific study of mental processes (internal states such as thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and feelings) and behavior in both humans and animals.

Willem Wundt

A German researcher who established the first known psychological laboratory, trained the first psychology graduate students, and conducted the first known psychological experiment measuring reaction time lag.

Structuralism

An early school of psychological thought pioneered by Edward Titchener that aimed to classify the structures of the mind through self-reflection and introspection.

Edward Titchener

A student of Willem Wundt who pioneered structuralism and trained participants to use introspection to report their thoughts and feelings while interacting with objects.

Introspection

A method of self-reflection used in structuralism where individuals report their immediate sensations, feelings, and perceptions while interacting with specific objects.

Functionalism

A school of psychological thought pioneered by William James that focused on the adaptive function of mental processes and how human thinking evolved to help individuals survive.

William James

An American psychologist who pioneered functionalism, drawing influence from Charles Darwin's evolutionary theories to examine why mental processes are adaptive.

Behaviorism

A major perspective in psychology emerging from experimental psychology that insisted psychology must strictly be the scientific study of observable and measurable behavior.

John Watson and B.F. Skinner

The two primary pioneers of behaviorism who argued against studying unobservable internal thoughts and focused instead on observable behavior and learning.

Cognitive Revolution

A shift in psychology during the 1960s that recognized the limitations of strict behaviorism and emphasized the scientific study of thinking alongside behavior.

Sigmund Freud

A psychiatrist who created psychoanalysis, proposing that human emotional responses and mental health origins stem from childhood experiences and unconscious processes.

Psychoanalysis

A psychological framework developed by Sigmund Freud that attempted to explain mental health conditions like depression and anxiety by exploring unconscious thoughts, desires, and childhood experiences.

Humanists

Early psychological thinkers whose perspective centered around human growth, love, acceptance, and individual potential.