Psychology 2e – Chapters 1–4 Vocabulary Review

50 vocabulary flashcards covering foundational concepts, pioneers, research methods, brain structures, and consciousness topics from Psychology 2e Chapters 1–4.

Psychology

The scientific study of mind (mental processes) and behavior.

Wilhelm Wundt

Father of psychology; opened first psych lab (1879) and used introspection to study the mind.

Structuralism

Early school that analyzed mental processes by breaking them into basic components.

Introspection

Self-examination of one’s conscious experience, used by Wundt’s participants.

William James

First American psychologist; promoted functionalism and adaptation.

Functionalism

School focusing on how mental processes and behavior aid adaptation to the environment.

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis; emphasized unconscious motives and childhood experiences.

Psychoanalysis

Therapeutic approach and theory focusing on unconscious drives and conflicts.

Id

Freud’s primitive, instinctual part of personality seeking immediate gratification.

Ego

Freud’s rational part of personality that mediates between id, superego, and reality.

Superego

Freud’s moral conscience, representing internalized societal rules.

Defense Mechanism

Unconscious strategy the ego uses to reduce anxiety, e.g., repression or denial.

Gestalt Psychology

Early perspective stating "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts," focused on perception.

Behaviorism

School that studies observable behavior and dismisses mental processes as subject matter.

Classical Conditioning

Learning by association in which a neutral stimulus gains the power to elicit a response.

Ivan Pavlov

Physiologist who discovered classical conditioning with dogs salivating to a bell.

John B. Watson

Behaviorist who conducted the "Little Albert" fear-conditioning experiment.

B.F. Skinner

Behaviorist who developed operant conditioning through reinforcement and punishment.

Operant Conditioning

Learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences.

Humanism

Perspective emphasizing free will, personal growth, and human potential.

Abraham Maslow

Humanist who created the hierarchy of needs culminating in self-actualization.

Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s pyramid of human motives, from physiological needs to self-actualization.

Carl Rogers

Humanist who developed client-centered therapy and unconditional positive regard.

Client-Centered Therapy

Rogers’s therapy focusing on empathy, genuineness, and acceptance to foster growth.

Cognitive Psychology

Field studying mental processes such as memory, language, and problem-solving.

Biopsychology

Domain examining brain structures, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics in behavior.

Developmental Psychology

Study of physical, cognitive, and social change across the lifespan.

Social Psychology

Branch exploring how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts.

Mental and Physical Health Psychology

Domain covering clinical, counseling, and health psychology to understand well-being.

Scientific Method

Systematic process of hypothesis formation, data collection, analysis, and conclusion.

Informed Consent

Ethical principle requiring participants to know study details before agreeing.

Double-Blind Study

Experiment where neither participants nor researchers know group assignments, reducing bias.

Reliability

The consistency of a measurement tool across time or trials.

Validity

The extent to which a tool measures what it purports to measure.

Neuron

Nerve cell composed of dendrites, soma, axon, and terminal buttons; transmits signals.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger released at synapses to communicate between neurons.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord; primary processing center for nervous system.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Autonomic division triggering fight-or-flight responses (e.g., increased heart rate).

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Autonomic division promoting rest-and-digest functions (e.g., slowed heartbeat).

Endocrine System

Glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to regulate bodily functions.

Frontal Lobe

Cerebral cortex region responsible for planning, reasoning, and voluntary movement.

Limbic System

Brain network (hippocampus, amygdala, etc.) involved in emotion and memory.

Circadian Rhythm

Natural 24-hour biological cycle regulating sleep-wake and other bodily functions.

REM Sleep

Stage of sleep with rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and brain activity like wakefulness.

Insomnia

Sleep disorder involving difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Stimulant

Psychoactive drug that increases neural activity and body functions (e.g., caffeine).

Depressant

Drug that slows neural activity and bodily functions (e.g., alcohol).

Hallucinogen

Substance that distorts perception and evokes sensory images without sensory input (e.g., LSD).

Epigenetics

Study of how environment influences gene expression without changing DNA sequence.

Placebo Effect

Improvement due to expectations of treatment rather than the treatment itself.