Psychology Lecture 2: Perspectives and Scientific Thinking

What is psychology?

The study of mental processes and behavior.

Who is considered the father of psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt, known for establishing the structuralist approach.

What did William James contribute to psychology?

He introduced functionalism, focusing on the function of the mind.

What is the psychoanalytic perspective?

A viewpoint proposed by Freud that emphasizes unconscious drives and conflicts.

What is behavioral psychology?

The study of observable behavior, focusing on how behavior is learned through rewards and punishments.

Who is BF Skinner?

A prominent figure in behavioral psychology known for his work on operant conditioning.

What does evolutionary psychology study?

It examines how evolutionary principles influence human behavior and mental processes.

What is Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

A theory that categorizes human needs into a hierarchy, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

What is cognitive psychology?

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

What is sociocultural psychology?

The study of how social and cultural factors influence behavior and mental processes.

What is groupthink?

A phenomenon where the desire for harmony in a group leads to poor decision-making.

What is the Big Five personality test?

A model that describes five key dimensions of personality: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

What is state-dependent memory?

The phenomenon where recall is improved when in the same state of consciousness as when the memory was formed.

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs.

What is pseudo-psychology?

The practice of using unscientific methods to claim psychological insights.

What is the importance of scientific thinking in psychology?

It involves critical analysis and evaluation of information to avoid biases and erroneous conclusions.

What is the focus of industrial/organizational psychology?

The study of human behavior in workplace settings and the application of psychological principles to improve productivity.

What is abnormal psychology?

The branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought.

What role does personality play in behavior according to situationalist psychology?

Behavior is seen as a product of both situational factors and personality traits.

What is the significance of attention control in cognitive psychology?

It refers to the ability to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring distractions.