Intro Flashcards
What is behaviourism?
Says that we don’t freely choose our behaviours.
Goal: influence and predict behaviour.
Focus: independently observable behaviour.
Major psychological force between 1920s-1960s
Explain humanistic psychology’s principles, and founders.
Created by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rodgers (1950s).
Emphasizes current environmental influences our growth potential. Humans are innately good, and are driven towards personal growth. It is only when needs are not met that maladaptive behaviour arises.
Which theory of behaviour rejected psychoanalysis?
Behaviourism. (John Watson & b.f skinner).
What is psychoanalysis?
Theory of personality and treatment of psychological disorders. Developed by Sigmund Freud. Unconscious mind consists of; “it”, “super ego”, “ego”.
What is functionalism? Who developed it?
Focuses on the functions of our thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and ideas. Inspired by natural selection. Created by William James.
What is psychology?
The scientific study of behaviour and mental process. Utilizes the scientific method of systematic observations.
What question does psychology seek to find the answer to?
Why do people think and act the way that they do?
Who invented the first psychology lab? When? Where?
William Wundt. Germany. 1879.
What is sensory perception?
Visual, auditory, tactile. Interested in the composition of conscious, mental experiences and processes. (Ex: reaction time experiments)
What is introspection?
Observation and recording of one’s mental experiences, sensations, thoughts, and feelings.
What is structuralism?
- Focuses on the basic structural elements of conscious mental experiences.
- Uses introspection to define the mind’s makeup.
- Termed by Edward Bradford Tichner.
- Brought psychological science to North America
What is the phi phenomenon?
-A series of still pictures are perceived as showing genuine motion.
What does Gestalt psychology (Max Wertheimer) say about people’s experiences?
- They are holistic or unified
- Gestalt= whole, form, or pattern
- The whole is more than just a sum of its parts
- Perceptions do not arise just by adding the independent sensations. So, structuralism cannot provide the whole answer
What is the focus of (1960s) cognitive psychology?
- How the mind processes and receives information
- Humans are logical and rational
- REJECTS notions of humans NOT having free will
What does cognitive neuroscience state about our feelings and thoughts?
We think about what we are feeling. For example, if you’re feeling depressed, you are thinking depressed
What is the focus of neuroscience?
- The functioning of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord, neurons, neurotransmitters, hormones)
- Humans act the way they do because of their biological makeup
What is the focus of evolutionary psychology?
- The evolution of both behaviour and thought.
- How do our behaviours and thoughts benefit our survival?
What is behaviour genetics?
-The relative influence of genes and environment on individual differences and behaviours
What does is the focus of socio-cultural psychology?
- Looking at social and cultural influences on behaviour
- Looks at how we behave amongst other people
What is the nature- nurture issue?
- Controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviours
- Today’s science sees traits and behaviours arising from the interaction of nature and nurture
What are psychology’s 3 main levels of analysis?
- Biological influences
- Psychological influences (learned behaviours, emotional responses, etc)
- Socio- cultural influences
What is positive psychology?
- Scientific study of human functioning
- Goals: Discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
What is basic research?
- Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
What is applied research?
• Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
