Introduction to Psychology: Exam 1 Study Flashcards
Psychology Definition: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Basic vs. Applied Psychology: Basic psychology focuses on research to increase the knowledge base, whereas applied psychology aims to solve practical problems.
The Nature vs. Nurture Debate: Concerns whether behaviors arise from genetics (nature) or environment (nurture); contemporary psychology understands behavior through the biopsychosocial levels of analysis, integrating biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors.
Historical Figures and Schools: - Wilhelm Wundt: Known as the "father of modern psychology," he established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig.
Edward Titchener: A former student of Wundt associated with structuralism.
Margaret Floy Washburn: The first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology.
William James: Author of influential psychological texts, influenced by functionalist perspectives.
Sigmund Freud: Focused on psychoanalysis, emphasizing personality structures and psychosexual stages of development.
Psychosexual Stages:
Oral Stage (0-1 years): Focus on oral pleasures (sucking, biting). Fixation can lead to issues related to dependency or aggression in adulthood.
Anal Stage (1-3 years): Focus on controlling bladder and bowel movements. Fixation may result in an anal-retentive (obsessive) or anal-expulsive (messy) personality.
Phallic Stage (3-6 years): Focus on the genitals; Oedipus complex occurs, where boys develop an attraction to their mothers and rivalry with their fathers. Girls experience a similar complex, called the Electra complex. Fixation can result in sexual identity issues.
Latency Stage (6-puberty): Sexual feelings are suppressed as children focus on social interactions and skills. This is crucial for developing communication and relationships.
Genital Stage (puberty onwards): Maturity of sexual interests and establishment of balance in love and work. Successful completion leads to well-adjusted adults.
Abraham Maslow: Developed Humanistic Psychology and the hierarchy of human needs as a reaction to earlier schools of thought.
Jean Piaget: Proposed stages of cognitive development.
Cognitive Development Stages:
Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years): Knowledge is acquired through sensory experiences and manipulating objects. Object permanence develops, indicating understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen.
Preoperational Stage (2-7 years): Children begin using language and symbols to represent objects, but thinking is intuitive and egocentric. They struggle with understanding the viewpoints of others and are prone to magical thinking.
Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years): Logical thinking develops, and children can perform operations on concrete objects. They understand the concept of conservation (the amount stays the same despite changes in shape) and can categorize objects.
Formal Operational Stage (12 years and up): Abstract and critical thinking emerge. Individuals can use deductive reasoning, formulate hypotheses, and think about hypothetical scenarios. This stage allows for more advanced problem-solving and future planning.