Introduction to Psychology

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from the introductory psychology lecture.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior, mental processes, and brain functions.

Psych

Refers to the soul or mind.

Ology

Denotes the scientific study of a subject.

Cognition

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

Structuralism

An approach in psychology that breaks down mental processes into their fundamental components.

Functionalism

An approach that focuses on the purpose of consciousness and behavior.

Behaviorism

A theory that human behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner regardless of internal mental states.

Humanistic Psychology

Focuses on individual potential and stresses the importance of growth and self-actualization.

Biological Approach

Explains behavior in terms of biological factors, including genetics and brain structures.

Socio-Cultural Approach

Examines how social and cultural factors influence individual behavior.

External Behaviors

Observable actions and reactions of an individual.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome or response that is measured in an experiment.

Hypothesis

An educated guess or prediction about the relationship between variables.

Statistical Reasoning

The process of using data and statistical methods to make inferences about populations.

Longitudinal Study

A research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables over a long period of time.

Case Study

An in-depth analysis of a person, group, event, or situation.