Lecture Notes Review - Introduction to Psychology

This flashcard set is designed to help you review key concepts, terms, and definitions from your Introduction to Psychology lecture notes.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach used in psychology to study phenomena, involving observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and conclusion.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation or prediction that can be tested through study and experimentation.

Theory

A broad explanation that is supported by evidence; it integrates and interprets numerous observations.

Critical Thinking

The ability to evaluate information and arguments effectively, questioning assumptions and identifying biases.

Wilhelm Wundt

Often considered the father of psychology, he established the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1879.

Introspection

A method used by Wundt to explore the content of consciousness by having subjects reflect on their thoughts and feelings.

Structuralism

An early psychological perspective that emphasized the components of consciousness and the mind, primarily promoted by Edward Titchener.

Functionalism

A psychological approach that focuses on the purpose of psychological processes and how they help individuals adapt to their environment.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud's theory suggesting that unconscious motives and conflicts influence thoughts and behaviors.

Id, Ego, Superego

Freud's three parts of the mind; Id is the primal instinct, Ego is the realistic part that mediates, and Superego is the moral conscience.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus, famously demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that employs rewards and punishments for behavior, associated with B.F. Skinner.

Humanistic Psychology

A perspective that emphasizes the inherent goodness of people and their potential for personal growth.

Cognitive Revolution

A shift in psychology that began in the 1950s emphasizing the study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Multicultural Psychology

A field of psychology that studies the influence of cultural differences on behavior and mental processes.

WEIRD

An acronym for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic; refers to the demographic bias in psychological research.

Placebo Effect

A phenomenon in which a patient experiences a perceived improvement in condition due to their expectations rather than the actual treatment.

Barnum Effect

The tendency for people to accept vague or general personality descriptions as uniquely applicable to themselves.

Archival Research

A method involving the use of existing records to investigate research questions.

Correlational Research

A type of research that examines the relationship between two or more variables, without implying causation.

Experimental Research

A research method that involves manipulating one variable to determine if it causes a change in another variable.

Operational Definition

A clear, precise definition of a variable used in research, which specifies how it will be measured.

Informed Consent

A process in research where participants are fully briefed on what to expect and must agree to participate.