Introduction to Psychology Chapter 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definition of psychology, critical thinking principles, major behavioral perspectives, key historical figures, brain anatomy, and professional roles of psychologists.

Psychology

A scientific discipline defined as the study of behavior and its influential factors.

Behavior

Observable actions, mental states such as thoughts and feelings, and the study of the mind.

Skepticism

A critical thinking attitude of demanding evidence while maintaining a balance between not being cynical and not being gullible.

Cognitive Perspective

A psychological perspective examining how information is combined and organized in the mind, and how mental processes such as memory, problem solving, perception, intelligence, opinion, and planning influence emotion and behavior.

Wilhelm Wundt

The 'Father of Psychology' (1832-1920) who founded the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1879 and aimed to assemble the mind from simple elements.

Structuralism

An early psychological school focused on the structure of the mind by assembling the mind from simple elements.

Introspection

A method used by Edward Titchener, a student of Wilhelm Wundt, to study the structure of the mind by having individuals describe inner experiences.

Functionalism

A psychological perspective focused on the evolved function of thought and behavior, specifically examining how mental processes help us survive.

William James

The 'Father of American Psychology' (1842-1910) who championed functionalism and wrote Principles of Psychology.

Biological Perspective

A perspective proposing that behavior stems from physiology, studying the roles of brain structures and function, biochemical processes, and genetics.

Evolutionary Psychology

A subfield within the biological perspective that studies the role of evolution and natural selection in shaping behavior.

Neuroscience

A branch within the biological perspective investigating how the body and brain influence our behaviors.

Behavior Genetics

A branch within the biological perspective focusing on how genes influence our behaviors.

Psychodynamic Perspective

A perspective originating with Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) that explores unconscious processes, inner conflicts, dream analysis, hypnosis, Freudian slips, sex, aggression, repression, and hysteria.

Humanistic Perspective

A perspective emphasizing conscious motives, freedom, choice, self-growth, and reaching one's potential within a supportive and positive environment.

positive psychology

A concept promoted by Carl Rogers within the humanistic perspective as part of providing a supportive and positive environment for self-growth.

Self-Actualization

The peak of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, characterized by creativity, problem solving, authenticity, and spontaneity.

Behaviorism

A perspective emphasizing that the external environment affects behavior and focusing strictly on observable behaviors, involuntary learning, operant conditioning, and reinforcement and punishment.

Individualism

A cultural orientation prominent in North America and Northern Europe that emphasizes personal goals and bases self-identity on one's own attributes and achievements.

Collectivism

A cultural orientation prominent in Asia, Africa, and South America where individual goals are subordinate to the group and personal identity is defined by ties to family.

Research Psychologist

A psychologist who aims to further knowledge and understanding and apply principles of basic research to solve problems.

Counseling Psychologist

A psychologist who helps people cope with challenges and crises in academic, vocational, and interpersonal areas.

Clinical Psychologist

A psychologist who assesses and treats individuals suffering from mental, emotional, and behavioral issues.

Psychologist Educational Path

The formal academic preparation required to become a psychologist, consisting of 4 years of undergraduate work, 2 years of Master's-level graduate work, and 3 years of Ph.D.-level graduate work at an accredited university.

Sigman Freud

The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud developed theories on the unconscious mind, the structure of personality, and the significance of early childhood experiences.

Maslow

A psychologist best known for his hierarchy of needs theory, which proposes that human motivations are arranged in a pyramid, starting from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

Titchener

An early psychologist who contributed to the development of structuralism, Edward Titchener focused on breaking down mental processes into their most basic components through introspection.

Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers was a prominent psychologist known for developing client-centered therapy, emphasizing the importance of a supportive therapeutic environment and the individual's capacity for self-directed growth.

Hierarchy of needs

A motivational theory proposed by Abraham Maslow that suggests individuals progress through a series of levels, from basic needs like food and safety to higher-level needs such as esteem and self-actualization.

Behavioural Perspective

A psychological approach that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they are learned and influenced by the environment, emphasizing the role of conditioning in behavior.

Conditioning

The process through which behavioral responses are learned through reinforcement and punishment, forming the basis of the behavioral perspective in psychology.

John B. Watson

is known for founding behaviorism and emphasizing the study of observable behaviors over internal mental states.

B.F. Skinner

is known for his work on operant conditioning and reinforcement, highlighting how consequences shape behavior.

Ivan Pavlov

discovered classical conditioning, a learning process where a natural reflex responds to a previously neutral cue.

Sociocultural Perspective

explains human behavior, cognition, and personality development as a direct product of social, cultural, and environmental influences rather than isolated biological processes