Chapter One Flashcards
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Evolutionary Psychology
Considers how behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors
Behavioral Genetics
Focuses on the biological mechanisms such as genes and chromosomes that enable inherited behavior to unfold
Clinical Neuropsychology
Focuses on the origin of psychological disorders in biological factors.
Structuralism
Uncovering the fundamental mental components of perception, consciousness, thinking, emotions, & other kinds of mental states and activities
Functionalism
Concentrates on what the mind does and how behavior functions
Gestalt Psychology
Emphasizes how perception is organized
Neuroscience Perspective
Considers how people and nonhumans function biologically how individual nerve cells are joined together etc.
Psychodynamic Perspective
Argue that behavior is motivated by inner forces and conflicts about which we have little awareness or control
Behavioral perspective
The approach that suggests that observable, measurable behavior should be the focus of study
Cognitive Perspective
The approach that focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world
Humanistic Perspective
The approach that suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior
Free will
The idea that behavior is caused primarily by choices that are made freely by the individual
Determinism
The idea that people’s behavior is produced primarily by factors outside of their willful control
Scientific Method
The approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest
Theories
Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest
Hypothesis
A prediction, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested
Operational Definition
The translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed
Archival Research
Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, online databases, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis
Naturalistic Observation
Research in which an investigator observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation
Survey Research
Research in which people chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes
Case Study
An in-depth, intensive investigation of an individual or small group of people
Variables
Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way
Correlational Research
Research in which the relationship between two sets of variables is examined to determine whether they are associated, or “correlated”
