Psych chapter 1

psychology

scientific study of mind and behavior

scientific method

1. identifying a problem

2. research

3. gathering data

4. forming hypothesis

5. testing hypothesis

6. drawing a conclusion

empirical method

acquiring knowledge based on observation including experimentation rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or pervious authority

Wilhelm Wundt

1st psychologist, most famous for his book Principles of Psychology

introspection. (Internal Perception)

process by which someone examines their own conscious experience as objectively as possible

voluntarism

people have free will and should know the intentions of a psychological experiment

volkerpshyologie

suggested that psych should include the study of culture

structuralism

Titchener one of Wundt’s students came up with the idea structuralism which focuses on contents of mental processes rather than the function

adaptation

trait organisms have that function for the survival/reproduction — natural selection

created the 1st lab for psych research

Wundt

functionalism

focuses on how mental activities help an organism fit into an environment

Freud

Austrian neurologist fascinated by patients suffering from “hysteria”

hysteria

was ancient diagnosis primarily for women including physical symptoms and emotional disturbances which had no apparent cause

psychoanalytic theory

focuses on the role of a persons unconscious as well as early childhood experiences

credited for introducing the Gestalt Principles

Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffa, Wolfgnag Kohler

Gestalt Principles

sensory experiences can be broken down into smaller parts and they all connect together as a whole

conditioned reflex

animals/humans produced a reflex (unconscious) response to stimuli and over time becomes a conditioned response to different stimulus that is associated with original stimuli

ex: food

behaviorism

observing and controlling behavior

Skinner box

isolates the subject from an external environment when animal pushes one of the buttons gives either a positive reinforcement or punishment

humanism

perspective within psychology that emphasizes potential for good that is innate to ALL humans

created hierarchy of needs

Maslow

hierarchy of needs

if needs are met (food water etc) higher level needs (social) will motivate behavior

5 needs

1. physiological (food, water, shelter)

2. security (saftey, employment, assets)

3. social (family, friendship, belonging)

4. esteem (self worth, confidence)

5. self actualization (inner fulfillment)

Carl Rogers

believed in the potential for good that exists within ALL people

American Psychology Association (APA)

organization representing psychologists in the US and advocate for the psychological knowledge for the betterment of all people

biopsychology

explores how biology influences behavior ( typically focuses on immediate causes of behavior)

ex: sensory and motor systems, sleep etc

evolutionary psychology

seeks to study the ultimate biological causes of behavior (the extent that a behavior is impacted by genetics)

draw backs of evolutionary psychology

1. traits we possess now evolved under environmental and social conditions far back in human history

2. we have a poor understanding of what happened back then

cognitive psychology

focuses on studying conditions or thoughts and their relationships to our experiences and actions

developmental psychology

scientific study of development across a lifespan

object permanence

understanding an object exists even if you cannot see it

personality psychology

focuses on patterns thoughts and behaviors that make individuals unique

“Big 5” traits

1. openness

2. conscientiousness

3. extroversion

4. agreeable

5. neuroticism

counseling psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the improving emotional social vocational and other aspects of life of a psychological healthy individuals

clinical psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior

forensic psychology

area of psychology that applies to the science and practice of psychology to issues related within the justice system

personality trait

consistent pattern of thoughts and behaviors

sport and exercise psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical performance in sports exercise and other activities