Foundations of Psychology - Chapter 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Foundations of Psychology (Chapter 1) notes.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Introspection

A method of self-observation of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings, used by Wilhelm Wundt.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology focused on the structure of the mind and its elements.

Margaret Washburn

The first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology.

Functionalism

A school emphasizing how mental processes enable people to adapt to their environment.

Gestalt psychology

A perspective that argues the whole of perception is more than the sum of its parts.

Unconscious mind

A part of the mind containing thoughts and desires outside conscious awareness.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory of personality and therapy emphasizing unconscious motives and early childhood experiences.

Observable behavior

Behavior that can be seen and measured; a focus of behaviorism.

Phobia

A learned fear that can be acquired through conditioning (as shown in Little Albert).

Counterconditioning

A technique that replaces learned fear with a new, nonfear response.

Behavioral perspective

An approach that emphasizes observable behavior and learning through conditioning.

Reinforcement

A consequence that strengthens a behavior in operant conditioning.

Humanistic perspective

An approach focusing on subjective feelings, free will, and personal growth.

Cognitive perspective

An approach focusing on memory, perception, thought processes, and problem solving.

Biopsychological perspective

An approach that explains behavior through genetics, hormones, and the nervous system.

Sociocultural perspective

An approach examining how social and cultural contexts influence thinking and behavior.

Evolutionary perspective

An approach that explains behavior through natural selection and adaptation.

Theory

A general explanation of a set of observations.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation or educated guess that can be tested.

Replication

Repeating a study or experiment to determine if results can be reproduced.

Naturalistic observation

Observing behavior in a natural setting without interference.

Observer effect

Behavior changes when subjects know they are being watched.

Case study

An in-depth study of one individual or a small group.

Correlation

A measure of the relationship between two variables.

Correlation coefficient

A numerical value indicating the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Experiment

A research method that can establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Independent variable

The variable deliberately manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent variable

The variable measured to assess the effect of the manipulation.

Experimental group

The group that receives the treatment or manipulation.

Single-blind study

An experiment in which participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.

Basic research

Research aimed at expanding fundamental knowledge without an immediate practical goal.

Applied research

Research aimed at solving real-world problems using existing or new knowledge.

Informed consent

Participants are informed about risks and voluntarily agree to participate.

Confidentiality

Keeping participants' data private and secure.

Protection from harm

Ethical guideline to minimize physical and psychological risk to participants.

Debriefing

Providing participants with a full explanation of the study after participation.

Observer bias

The researcher's expectations or beliefs influence observations or interpretations.

Correlation does not imply causation

A relationship between two variables does not prove that one causes the other.

Placebo

An inert substance used as a control condition in experiments.