Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology

Flashcards covering key concepts and terminology related to the introduction of psychology.

Psychology

The scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing various subfields such as cognitive, developmental, and social psychology.

Structuralism

A psychological approach that emphasizes understanding conscious experience through introspection.

Functionalism

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the importance of mental processes in adapting to the environment.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A theory founded by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind on behavior.

Gestalt Psychology

A school of thought that focuses on perceiving the whole rather than the sum of parts. Made by Kohler, Koffka, & Wertheimer

Behaviorism

A psychological approach that focuses on observable behavior and the ways to control it.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired, leading to a learned response.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.

Humanism

A psychological perspective emphasizing the potential for good that is innate to all humans.

Cognitive Psychology

The study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Developmental Psychology

The study of how people grow and change from infancy through old age.

Personality Psychology

The study of individual differences in personality traits and patterns.

Social Psychology

The study of how individuals interact and relate to one another.

Health Psychology

The study of how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and illness.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

The application of psychological principles to workplace issues.

Forensic Psychology

A branch of psychology that applies psychological principles to legal issues.

Client-Centered Therapy

A therapeutic approach developed by Carl Rogers that emphasizes clients taking the lead in therapy.

Biopsychology

The branch of psychology that studies the relationship between biological processes and behavior, exploring how the brain and nervous system influence thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Sensation

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment, leading to the initial detection of physical energy.

Perception

The process by which our brains organize and interpret sensory information, transforming it into meaningful experiences of the world.

Hierarchy of Human Needs

Maslow's theory proposing that individuals are motivated by a series of needs, starting from basic survival to self-actualization.

Cognition

The mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension.

Introspection

The examination of one's own conscious experience.

Wilhelm Wundt

Considered one of the founders of modern psychology, he established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. He emphasized structuralism

William James

A prominent American psychologist and philosopher, known for his work on functionalism and 'The Principles of Psychology'.

Sigmund Freud

An Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalytical theory, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst.

Ivan Pavlov

A Russian physiologist known primarily for his work in classical conditioning, which heavily influenced behaviorism.

B.F. Skinner

An American psychologist, behaviorist, author, inventor, and social philosopher, most known for developing the theory of operant conditioning.

Carl Rogers

An American psychologist and one of the founders of the humanistic approach (humanism), known for developing client-centered therapy.

Abraham Maslow

An American psychologist best known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority (humanism)

John B. Watson

An American psychologist who established the psychological school of behaviorism, emphasized observable behavior, and conducted the 'Little Albert' experiment.

Max Wertheimer

An Austro-Hungarian-born psychologist who was one of the three founders of Gestalt psychology, focusing on how humans perceive things as unified wholes.

Edward Titchener

A student of Wilhelm Wundt, he introduced structuralism to the United States and focused on identifying the basic elements of consciousness through introspection.

Albert Ellis & Aaron Beck

Interaction of cognition with emotion and behavior (Cognitive Psychology)

Noam Chomsky

Was influential in beginning the cognitive revolution. He believed psychology needed to incorporate mental functioning into its focus in order to fully understand human behavior. Paved the way for cognitive therapies.