Psychology History, Approaches, and Scientific Method

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on the history of psychology, major schools, pioneers, and scientific methods.

Wundt

Founder of experimental psychology; established the first psychology laboratory and journal (1879) at the University of Leipzig; helped make psychology an independent discipline.

seven unifying themes

empirical (if music improves concentration), theoretically diverse (why 

Someone has anxiety about an exam), sociohistorical (impact of feminist movement 

On gender psych), multiple causes (anxiety of social setting caused by multiple aspects), 

Cultural heritage (storytelling can provide comfort), 

experience is subjective (one person's perception of a movie can influence emotions), 

nature vs nurture (potential for musical talent)

operant conditioning

what molds our behaviors is what produces rewards

Freud

Psychoanalytic theory; emphasized the unconscious mind; introduced free association and talk therapy.

Functionalism (William James)

Approach that studies mental processes by their function and purpose; emphasized the stream of consciousness and adaptive behavior.

Watson

Founder of behaviorism; argued psychology should study only observable behavior; emphasized environment over heredity; used animal research.

Skinner

Behaviorist who revived emphasis on environmental factors; argued free will is an illusion; developed operant conditioning.

Mary Whiton Calkins

Pioneer woman in psychology; first female APA president; established lab; memory research; denied PhD due to sexism.

Margaret Floy Washburn

First American woman to earn a PhD in psychology; wrote The Animal Mind; advanced motor theory of consciousness.

Leta Stetter Hollingworth

Pioneer in gifted education; challenged gender biases; contributed to curricula and gender equality.

Structuralism

Early school led by Edward Titchener using introspection to analyze conscious experience into basic elements.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory of personality and therapy focusing on unconscious conflicts.

Humanism

Approach emphasizing human freedom, growth, and unique personhood; influenced by both behavioral and psychoanalytic ideas.

Clinical psychology

Branch focused on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness.

Cognitive psychology

Study of mental processes such as decision making, reasoning, problem solving, and language.

Biological psychology

Explores brain, nervous system, and genetics as bases of behavior and mental processes.

Evolutionary psychology

School from the 1980s that explains psychological traits as adaptations shaped by evolution.

Cultural psychology

Examines how culture and mind influence each other; behavior is shaped by cultural context.

Positive psychology

Movement founded by Seligman focusing on strengths, well-being, and positive aspects of human experience.

Psychology (definition)

Science of behavior and mental processes; includes subfields like clinical, counseling, IO, forensic, health, and school.

Empirical

Knowledge derived from observation or experience rather than theory alone.

Theoretically diverse

Psychology draws on many theories and perspectives, not just one.

Sociohistorical

Impact of social history and culture on psychology (e.g., feminism and gender studies).

Multiple causes

Complex behaviors often have more than one contributing factor.

Cultural heritage

Cultural background influences how people think, feel, and behave.

Experience is subjective

Individuals’ experiences and interpretations vary; perception is personal.

Nature vs. Nurture

Debate over the relative roles of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) in behavior.

Hypothesis

Testable educated guess about a relationship between variables.

Independent variable

The factor manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect.

Dependent variable

The outcome measured in the experiment.

Extraneous variables

Unwanted factors that could influence the dependent variable if not controlled.

Control group

Group that does not receive the experimental treatment; used for baseline comparison.

Experimental group

Group that receives the treatment or manipulation.

Correlational research

Research exploring whether and how variables are related, without inferring causation.

Correlation coefficient (r)

A number between -1.00 and +1.00 that indicates the strength and direction of a linear relationship.

Positive correlation

As one variable increases, the other tends to increase as well.

Negative correlation

As one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.

Observation

Systematic watching of behavior without interference.

Surveys

Questionnaires or interviews used to collect data about people’s characteristics or opinions.

Tests

Standardized measures of abilities, aptitudes, or other attributes.

Case studies

In-depth analysis of a single individual or a small group.

Sample

A subset of a population selected for study.

Population

The entire group from which a sample is drawn.

Bias

Systematic error that affects the validity of conclusions.

Artificial environment

Laboratory or controlled setting that may not reflect real-world conditions.

Deception

Misleading participants in research; used to reduce bias but raises ethical concerns.

Animal research

Use of nonhuman animals in studies; governed by ethical guidelines about harm and welfare.

APA ethical principles

Standards for voluntary participation, informed consent, confidentiality, debriefing, minimal harm; includes IRB and animal care.

IRB

Institutional Review Board; reviews research to ensure ethics and participant protection.

Anecdotal evidence

Personal stories or isolated examples; often biased and not reliable evidence.

Scientific journal

Peer-reviewed publication that reports reliable, high-quality research findings.