Prologue Flashcards
(26 cards)
Psychology
“The scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state and external environment.”
Biopsychosocial
To understand someone, you need to understand them from a biological point of view (eg, neurologically), their mental state (eg. psychologically) and their social situations (eg, relationships).
Structuralism
Introspection reveals structure of the human mind. Promoted by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener
Functionalism
Promoted by William James and influenced by Darwin. How do mental and behavioral processes enable the organism to adapt, survive and flourish.
Mary Whiton Calkins
Mentored by William James. The first female president of the American Psychological Association (APA). Trailblazer in the field of memory research.
Margaret Floy Washburn
The first female to get a psychology Ph.D. and the second female APA president. Known for her influential book The Animal Mind detailing animal behavior research.
Behaviorism
A view that says that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.
Humanistic psychology
Historically emphasized human growth potential. Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, self-actualisation.
Cognitive neuroscience
The study of the brain activity related to cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).
Sigmund Freud
Founded Freudian psychology. Early childhood memories and everything ends up being about sex. Very controversial
The ways unconscious thought processes and our emotional responses to our childhood experiences affect our behavior.
B.F. Skinner
Rejected introspection and spearheaded the behaviorist movement along with John B. Watson, redefining psychology as the “scientific study of observable behavior”
Nature vs Nurture
Controversial topic over whether genes or environment has more contributions to a person’s personality and behaviors
Natural Selection
Traits that are most helpful to reproduction and survival are more likely to be passed on.
Charles Darwin
Argues that natural selection shapes behaviors and bodies.
-Darwin’s theory of evolution
Evolutionary Psychology
The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind using principles of natural selection
Behavior genetics
The study of the limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
Culture
The behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people carried through generations.
Positive Psychology
Scientific study of human functioning with the goals of discovering and promoting the strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.
Levels of analysis
Complementary views the help analyze any give phenomenon from multiple levels
The 7 perspectives
Neuroscience Evolutionary Behavior Genetics Psychodynamic Behavioral Cognitive Social-Culture
Basic Research
Science that aims to increase scientific knowledge base
Applied Research
scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
Counseling psychology
Title is not regulated. Assists people with problems in living (school, work or marriage) and achieving greater well being.
Clinical psychology
Studies assesses and treats people with psychological disorders.
