Introduction to Psychology

Flashcards for Psychology 2e Chapter 1

What is Psychology?

The scientific study of mind and behavior.

Structuralism

Understanding the conscious experience through introspection, associated with Wilhelm Wundt.

Functionalism

Focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment, associated with William James.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Focuses on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior, associated with Sigmund Freud.

Gestalt Psychology

Focuses on humans as a whole rather than individual parts, associated with Wertheimer, Koffka, and Kohler.

Behaviorism

Focuses on observing and controlling behavior, associated with Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner.

Humanism

Emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans, associated with Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.

Wilhelm Wundt

Credited as one of the founders of psychology; emphasized structuralism and introspection.

William James

The first American psychologist; established functionalism.

Sigmund Freud

Founded Psychoanalytic theory, focusing on the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.

Gestalt Psychology's main idea

Although a sensory experience can be broken down into individual parts, how those parts relate to each other as a whole is often what the individual responds to in perception.

Ivan Pavlov

Discovered classical conditioning through his studies of conditioned reflexes.

John B. Watson

Known as the father of behaviorism; focused on observable behavior.

B.F. Skinner

Studied operant conditioning and how behavior is affected by its consequences through reinforcement and punishment.

Abraham Maslow

Proposed a hierarchy of human needs to explain motivating behavior.

Carl Rogers

Developed client-centered therapy, emphasizing unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.

Cognitive Revolution

The mind became the new focus of scientific inquiry, with new disciplinary perspectives in linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science emerging.

Noam Chomsky

Believed psychology needed to incorporate mental functioning into its focus in order to fully understand human behavior, which started the cognitive revolution.

Margaret Floy Washburn

First woman to earn a doctorate in Psychology; researched animal behavior.

Biopsychology

Studies how the structure and function of the nervous system generate behavior.

Sensation

Sensory information (sights, sounds, touch, smell).

Perception

Experience of the world which is influenced by where we focus our attention, our previous experiences, and our cultural backgrounds.

Developmental Psychology

Studies the physical and mental attributes of aging and maturation.

Personality Psychology

Focuses on behaviors and thought patterns that are unique to each individual.

Social Psychology

Studies how individuals interact and relate with others and how such interactions can affect behavior.

Health Psychology

Focuses on how individual health is directly related or affected by biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences.

Clinical Psychology

Focuses on diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and problematic patterns of behavior.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Applies psychological theories, principles, and research to industrial and organizational settings.

Sports & Exercise Psychology

Focuses on psychological aspects regarding sports and physical performance.

Forensic Psychology

Branch of psychology dealing with justice system.