Key Terms Flashcards
(32 cards)
Empiricism
The view that knowledge comes from experience so science should rely on observation and experimentation
Who introduced structuralism
Edward Bradford titcheners
Structuralism
An early school of psych that uses introspection to examine structural elements of the human mind
Who introduced functionalism
William James
Functionalism
An early school of psych that emphasized how behavior and mental processes enable us to adapt, survive and flourish
Experimental psychology
Study of thinking and behavior using experiments
Behaviorism
View that psychology should focus on observable behaviors without referencing mental processes
Humanistic psychology
The historic perspective emphasizing the growth potential of healthy people
Cognitive neuroscience
Study of how brain activity is linked with thought processes such as memory and perception
Psychology
Study of mental and behavioral processes
Nature nurture
Controversy over relative contribution that genes (nature) and experience (nurture) make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors
Natural selection
Principal that traits of species that contribute to reproduction and survival will be passed on
Levels of analysis
Analyzing behavior and mental processes from differing complementary views
Biopsychosocial approach
Integrated perspective that focuses on biological, psychological, and social cultural levels of analysis
Biological psychology
Studies the links between biological and psychological processes
Evolutionary psychology
Used principals of natural selection to study thinking and behavior
Psychodynamic psychology
Studies how unconvinced drives and conflicts influence behavior and thinking
Behavioral psychology
Focuses on principals of learning in the study of observable behavior
Cognitive psychology
The study of thinking, knowing, remembering and communicating
Social cultural psychology
Study of how situations and culture influence thinking and behavior
Psychometrics
Study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes and traits
Basic research
Science that aims to increase psychologys scientific knowledge base
Developmental psychology
Studies physical, cognitive and social change over a life time
Educational psychology
Studies how psychological processes affect teaching and learning