quick reference

Key Terms/Concepts

  • Psychology: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

  • Structuralism: An early school of thought that aimed to identify the basic structures of conscious experience through introspection.

  • Functionalism: A school of thought focused on how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments.

  • Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses between neurons, influencing behavior and mental processes.

  • Cognition: The mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Key People

  • Wilhelm Wundt: Established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, considered the father of psychology and associated with structuralism.

  • William James: A leading figure in functionalism, known for his work 'Principles of Psychology'.

  • Sigmund Freud: Developed the psychodynamic perspective, emphasizing the role of unconscious processes in behavior.

  • B.F. Skinner: Known for his work in operant conditioning and behaviorism.

  • Jean Piaget: Developed the theory of cognitive development in children.

Fundamental Theories

  • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: A motivational theory comprising a five-tier model of human needs, from physiological needs to self-actualization.

  • Cognitive Development Theory (Piaget): Proposes that children progress through four stages of cognitive development, each characterized by different abilities.

  • Social Learning Theory (Bandura): Emphasizes learning through observation and imitation of others.

Seminal Studies

  • Stanford Prison Experiment (1971): Conducted by Philip Zimbardo, this study explored the psychological effects of perceived power in a simulated prison environment.

  • Little Albert Experiment (1920): Conducted by John Watson and Rosalie Rayner, demonstrated classical conditioning in humans by conditioning a child to fear a white rat.

Key Disorders

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life.

  • Major Depressive Disorder: Involves persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities.

  • Schizophrenia: A severe mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, and sense of self.

Facts to Memorize

  • Definition of Psychology: The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

  • Key Figures: Wilhelm Wundt (father of psychology), William James (functionalism).

  • Major Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, Serotonin, Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, GABA, Glutamate, Endorphins.

  • Stages of Piaget's Cognitive Development: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational.

  • Erikson's Psychosocial Stages: Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Integrity vs. Despair.

  • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Physiological, Safety, Belongingness and Love, Esteem, Self-Actualization, Self-Transcendence.

Reference Information

  • DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, used for classifying psychological disorders.

  • Types of Research: Descriptive, Correlational, Experimental.

  • Research Methods: Surveys, Case Studies, Naturalistic Observation, Experiments.

Concept Comparisons

Concept

Description

Key Differences

Structuralism

Focus on identifying the basic structures of conscious experience.

Relies on introspection, limited by subjectivity and inability to study non-verbal subjects.

Functionalism

Concerned with how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment.

Emphasizes practical applications and broader scope than structuralism.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Focus on unconscious drives and childhood experiences.

Emphasizes internal conflicts and the influence of early experiences on behavior.

Behavioral Perspective

Studies observable behavior and learning through conditioning.

Rejects the study of mental processes as unobservable.

Cognitive Perspective

Examines mental processes like memory and problem-solving.

Focuses on how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes human potential and self-actualization.

Focuses on subjective experience and personal growth.

Biological Perspective

Studies physiological bases of behavior and mental processes.

Emphasizes the role of genetics, brain structures, and neurotransmitters.

Evolutionary Perspective

Explains psychological traits as adaptations for survival.

Focuses on the functional products of natural selection.

Sociocultural Perspective

Examines how social and cultural factors influence behavior.

Considers the impact of ethnicity, gender, culture, and social norms.