Psychology Midterm
Psychology
the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes
Individual Differences
an approach to psychology that investigates variations in behavior from one person to the next
Behavioural Neuroscience
this disciplinary area focuses on the relationships between mind and behaviour and their underlying biological processes, including genetics, biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology.
Philosophy
the discipline that systematically examines basic concepts, including the source of knowledge
Introspection
personal observation of your own thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Culture
the practices, values, and goals shared by groups of people
Gestalt Psychology
a school of psychology emphasizing the study of thinking, learning, and perception in whole units, not by analysis into parts
Natural Sciences
any sciences that study nonliving matter, including physics, chemistry, astronomy, and geology
Voluntarism
an approach that emphasizes the role of will and choice in determining thoughts, perceptions, and behaviours
Structuralism
Edward Tichener
→ the school of thought concerned with analyzing sensations and personal experience into basic elements
Mind
the brain and its activities, including thought, emotion, and behavior
Functionalism
→ William James
→ the school of psychology that focuses on the adaptive functions of behavior
Behaviourism
→ John Watson; B.F. Skinner
→ a school of thought in psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviour over the study of the mind
Humanism
→ Carl Rogers; Abraham Maslow
→ An approach that saw people as inherently good and motivated to learn and improve.
Biological Psychology
-The psychological perspective that focuses on the relationships between mind and behaviour, as well as their underlying biological processes, including genetics, biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology; also known as behavioural neuroscience.
Evolutionary Psychology
approach that emphasizes inherited, adaptive aspects of behavior and mental processes
Cognitive Psychology
focuses on the process of thinking, or the processing of information.
Developmental Psychology
explores the normal changes in behaviour that occur across the life span.
Social Psychology/Personality Psychology
describes the effects of the social environment, including social and cultural diversity, and individual differences on the behaviour of individuals
Clinical Psychology
perspective seeks to explain, define, and treat psychological disorders
Max Wertheimer
Gestalt psychology founder who focused on the “whole” of behavior
Sigmund Freud
→ developed psychodynamic theory and its applications to treat psychological disorders
→ nearly singlehandedly founded the study of personality in psychology
Hermann von Helmholtz
his work on the speed of nerve signalling supported that the mind had a physical basis
William James
→ coined the term “stream of consciousness”
→ chief proponent of functionalism
→ his textbook Principles of Psychology dominated the field for 50 years
Carl Rogers
developed client-centered therapy
John Locke
empiricist philosopher who believed that the mind was a “blank slate” at birth
William Wundt
→ his theories provided a foundation for structuralism
→ given credit for conducting the first experiments in psychology
Urlic Neisser
coined the term cognition in 1967
B.F. Skinner
believed that behavior could be understood and controlled through the manipulation of environmental stimuli.
Humanists
A humanist is someone who believes in the importance of people and their ability to think, feel, and make decisions.
Functionalists
Functionalists analyze how each part of society or the mind contributes to the overall functioning and stability of the system.
Structuralists
a structuralist looks at the underlying patterns or systems that shape human experiences, behaviors, language, and culture. They believe that these structures are fundamental to understanding how individuals and societies function.
Behaviorists
A behaviorist is someone who studies behavior, typically focusing on observable actions rather than internal mental processes.