Introduction to Psychology

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts in psychology as discussed in the lecture.

Structuralism

A school of thought that studies the structure of the mind and consciousness using introspection. (Wilhelm Wundt)

Functionalism

A psychological approach that studies the purpose of behaviour and mental processes, focusing on how people adapt to their environment. (William James) - Believes in Theory of Evolution

Psychoanalysis

A theory and therapy that studies unconscious thoughts and early childhood experiences, focusing on inner conflicts. (Freud) - A lot about sex

Gestalt Psychology

A theory that emphasizes understanding things as whole patterns, stating that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. (Wertheimer, Kohler, Koffka)

Behaviorism

A psychological approach that studies observable behavior only, focusing on learning and conditioning. (Watson started, Skinner expanded)

Humanistic Psychology

A field that emphasizes free will, personal growth, and self-actualization, highlighting positive human potential. (Maslow started, Rogers started person centred therapy)

Cognitive Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies mental processes such as thinking, memory, perception, and problem-solving. (Chomsky)

Empiricism

The concept that knowledge comes from observation and experience.

Falsifiability

The ability of a claim to be tested and potentially proven wrong, which is crucial for scientific validity.

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical measure that expresses the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Inductive Reasoning

A reasoning process that starts with specific observations to form a broad generalization or theory.

Deductive Reasoning

A reasoning process that starts with a general statement or theory and examines the possibilities to reach a specific conclusion.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, which can influence its phenotype.

Phenotype

The observable traits of an organism, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Gene-Environment Correlation

A concept that suggests our genes influence the environments we gravitate towards or foster.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence itself.