Psychology Theories

Key Concepts/Theories

• Serotonin hypothesis

• Neurogenesis theory of depression 

• Validity and reliability

• Confirmation bias

• Stigmatization 

• Treatment aetiology fallacy 

• Beck's cognitive triad

• Becks example of faulty thinking

• Social identity theory

• Asch paradigm

• Hofstede cultural dimensions

• Social cognitive theory

• Grain of truth

• Illusory correlation

• Stereotype threat

• Berry's acculturation model

Serotonin Hypothesis: Imbalances in serotonin levels contribute to mood disorders.

Neurogenesis Theory of Depression: Links depression to reduced neurogenesis.

Validity and Reliability: Ensuring consistency and accuracy in assessment tools.

Confirmation Bias: Tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms existing beliefs.

Stigmatization: Negative societal perceptions and discrimination towards individuals with mental health issues.

Treatment Aetiology Fallacy: Assuming the success of a treatment validates a particular theory of the disorder.

Beck’s Cognitive Triad: Negative thought patterns about oneself, the world, and the future.

Beck’s Examples of Faulty Thinking: Cognitive distortions, such as overgeneralization or catastrophizing.

Social Identity Theory: Individuals categorize themselves and others into social groups, affecting behavior.

Asch Paradigm: Conformity experiment where participants were influenced by group opinion.

Hofstede Cultural Dimensions: Framework for understanding cultural differences (e.g., power distance, individualism collectivism).

Social Cognitive Theory: Observational learning and modeling influence behavior.

Grain of Truth: Stereotypes may have a small basis in reality.

Illusory Correlation: Perceiving a relationship between variables that doesn't exist.

Stereotype Threat: Fear of confirming a negative stereotype affects performance.

Berry’s Acculturation Model: Describes the process of cultural change when individuals from different cultures come into contact.

Piaget: Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget's theory focuses on cognitive development in children.

Example Piaget: A child understanding that an object remains the same even if its shape changes (conservation).

Vygotsky: Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes the role of social interactions in cognitive development.

Example Vygotsky: Learning a new skill through collaboration with a more knowledgeable peer or adult.

Theory-Theory: The idea that children construct theories to explain and understand the world around them.

Theory - theory Example: A child forming a theory about why the sun rises and sets based on their observations.

Simulation Theory: Proposes that humans understand others' minds by mentally simulating their experiences.

Simulation Theory Example: Empathizing with a friend's happiness by imagining how you would feel in a similar situation.

Theory of Mind: The ability to understand that others have thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives different from one's own.

Theory of mind Example: Recognizing that a friend may not know a secret that you do.

Gender Identity: A person's internal sense of their own gender.

Gender Identity Example: A person assigned male at birth identifying as a woman.

Gender Constancy: The understanding that one's gender remains the same despite changes in appearance or activities.

Gender Constancy Example: A child realizing that being a boy or girl is not altered by wearing different clothes.

Gender Congruent: Behaviors and preferences that align with societal expectations for one's gender.

Gender Congruent Example: A girl playing with dolls and a boy playing with toy trucks, in accordance with traditional gender stereotypes.

Theory of Psychosexual Differentiation: Sigmund Freud's theory on how biological and psychological factors influence gender development.

Theory of Psychosexual Differentiation Example: Freud's stages, such as the phallic stage, where a child becomes aware of their gender.

Gender Schema Theory: A cognitive theory suggesting that children categorize and internalize gender-related information.

Gender Schema Theory Example: A child associating certain activities or traits as "for boys" or "for girls" based on societal norms.

Attachment Theory: Describes the emotional bond between a child and their caregiver as crucial for development.

Attachment Theory Example: A baby seeking comfort from their caregiver when distressed.

Internal Working Model:Mental representations influencing expectations and perceptions in relationships.

Internal Working Model Example: A child who learns to trust others based on positive early caregiving experiences.

Symbolic Play Stages:Piaget's stages where children engage in pretend or symbolic play.

Symbolic Play Stages Example: Pretending a block is a phone and engaging in a conversation during imaginative play.

Risk Factors:Conditions or situations that increase the likelihood of negative outcomes.

risk factors Example: Growing up in a high-crime neighborhood as a risk factor for antisocial behavior.

Protective Factors: Conditions or attributes that reduce the impact of risk factors.

Protective factors Example: Strong family support acting as a protective factor against the negative effects of stress.

Cognitive Load: The amount of mental effort needed to perform a task.

Cognitive load Example: Trying to remember a long list of instructions while solving a complex math problem.

Hospitalism: Emotional and developmental problems in children resulting from extended hospital stays.

Hospitalism Example: A child experiencing emotional withdrawal and developmental delays after a prolonged hospitalization.