Psych Vocab

Critical Thinking - Does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Examines assumptions, appraises sources, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Socrates and Plato - Concluded that knowledge is innate or with us since birth

Aristotle - Dervied his principles from observation, saying that knowledge is innate. It grows from the experiences stored in our memories

Rene Descartes - Agreed with Socrates and Plato about knowledge being innate. He hypothesized that we have spirits in our brains that flow to the physical body and provoke movement.

Empiricism - The idea that knowledge comes from experience; Francis Bacon and John Locke

Wilhelm Wundt - Began the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879; used introspection as a research method to study the minds of people through their observations

Introspection - Looking inward to try and directly observe your own thoughts through observation

Structuralism - A school of thought that aims to understand the mind through introspection

William James - Introduced the idea of functionalism; influenced by Charles Darwin

Functionalism - The school of thought that says our mind develops traits to help humans adapt to their environment in the best way possible

Mary Calkins - Student of William James who became the first president of the American Psychology Association

Margaret Washburn - First woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology. Studied animal behavior

Behaviorism - Studies how we learn observable responses and experiences

John Watson - Founder of Behaviorism

Psychoanalytic Theory - Our unconscious mind and childhood experiences affect our behavior

Humanistic Psychology - Focused on and emphasized our potential for personal growth

Cognitive Psychologist - Study human thinking, focusing on perception, language, attention, memory, judgment, and intelligence

Developmental Psychologist - Research age-related behavioral changes; focus on the biological, psychological, cognitive, and social aspects of development

Educational Psychologist - Study the psychological processes involved in learning so they can enhance the learning process

Experimental Psychologist - Investigate basic behavioral processes in humans and other animals through experiments and studies

Psychometric and Quantitative Psychologists - Study math-related methods to gain psychological knowledge; design, analyze, and interpret results of research programs

Social Psychologists - Study how our beliefs, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by other people; interactions with other people

Forensic Psychologists - Apply psychological principles to legal issues; research the intersection of law and psychology; make public policies related to mental health or help law enforcement in criminal investigations

Environmental Psychologists - Study the interactions of humans with their natural and urban environments

Health Psychologists - researchers and practitioners who use psychology to promote health and prevent disease

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists - Study the relationship between people and their working environment; apply their knowledge to increase productivity in the workplace and make it more welcoming

Neuropsychologists - investigate the relationships between neurological processes and behavior; look at the nervous system and treat related disorders

Rehabilitation psychologists - Researchers and practitioners who help people who have lost function after an accident or some life-changing event

School Psychologists - Aid in the assessment of and intervention for children in educational places; collaborate with parents and teachers to improve student learning

Sports Psychologists - Study psychological factors that influence and are influenced by participation in sports and other physical activities

Clinical psychologists - promote psychological health in people and treat a range of disorders; can provide therapy or conduct research

Community Psychologists - Deal with broad problems of mental health in community settings; study the interactions between people and their physical, social, political, and socioeconomic environments

Counseling Psychologists -