Prologue Flashcards
(17 cards)
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Empiricism
The view that knowledge comes from experience via the senses and science flourishes through observation and experiment
Willhelm Wundt
Established the first psychological laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany
Structuralism
Introduced by Titchener
Method was to engage people in self-respect introspection (looking inward)
Reports elements of their experience to explore the structure of the human mind
Functionalism
Introduced by William James
Utilizes emotions, memories, will power, habits, and streams of consciousness to find one’s mind function
How function enables one to adapt, survive, and flourish
Sigmund Freud
Emphasized how emotional responses to childhood experiences and unconscious thought processes affect our behavior
B.F Skinner
Behaviorist who studied how consequences shape behavior and redefined psychology as “the scientific study of observable behavior”
Humanistic Psychology
Introduced by Rogers and Maslow
Emphasized current environmental influences on our growth potential
Importance of meeting our needs of love and acceptance; maslow’s hierarchy
Nature-Nurture
Controversial
Nature: how one was born into having certain psychological traits and behavior
Nurture: experience and environment shaped one into having those traits and behaviors
Natural Selection
Introduced by Darwin
Nature selects those that best enable an organism to survive and reproduce in an environment
Levels of Analysis
Different complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon
Bio-Psychosocial Approach
Integrated perspective that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis
Basic Research
Explores questions that one is curious about, but not intended to be immediately used
Builds psychology’s science and knowledge base
Applied Research
Study intended to solve practical problems
Counseling Psychology
Assists people in problems of living in order to cope challenges of academic, vocational, and martial issues by recognizing strengths and resources
Clinical Psychology
Studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders by administering and interpreting tests, provide therapy, and sometimes conduct basic and applied research
Psychiatry
Medicine dealing with psychological disorders
Practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (drugs) treatments and psychological therapy
