Ch. 1 & Ch. 2 Flashcards
Keywords from Chapter 1 & Chapter 2
Applied Psychology
Application of psychological principles to solve real-world problems.
Behaviour
Observable actions of humans or animals.
Behaviourism
School of thought focusing on observable behaviours, excluding mental processes
Biological Psychology
Studies the biological basis of behaviour, focusing on the brain and nervous system.
One of the nine research areas of modern psychology.
Clinical Psychology
It is concerned with diagnosing and treating psychological disorders.
Cognition
Mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving.
Counselling Psychology
Helps people with personal, social, or emotional challenges.
Critical Thinking
Objective analysis of information to form a reasoned judgement.
Culture
Shared customs and values that shape behaviour in a society.
Developmental Psychologist
Studies how people grow and change throughout their lives.
One of the nine research areas of modern psychology.
Empiricism
The idea is that knowledge should be acquired through observation.
Ethnocentrism
Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture.
Evolutionary Psychology
Studies behaviour in terms of its adaptive evolutionary functions.
Experimental Psychology
It uses experimental methods to study basic psychological processes—one of the nine research areas of modern psychology.
Functionalism
Focuses on the function or purpose of consciousness in adaptation.
Humanism
Emphasizes human growth, free will, and personal potential.
Industrial / Organization Psychology
Applies psychological principles to workspace issues - business and industry.
Introspection
Method of examining consciousness experience through self-observation.
Natural Selection
The process through which traits that aid survival are passed on.
Personality Psychology
Seeks to describe and understand the consistency in behaviour that represents one’s personality.
Positive Psychology
Launched by Martin Seligman in the 1990’s - arguing that psychology focuses too much on pathology and suffering.
It uses theory and research to understand the adaptive, creative, and fulfilling aspects of the human experience.
Psychiatry
A branch of medicine deals with diagnosing and treating mental health conditions/illnesses.
Psychoanalytic Theory
Attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behaviour.
Psychometrics
Fo uses measurements of behaviour and capacities, usually through psychological tests. It involves designing tests to assess personality, intelligence, and other abilities.
It is also involved with the development of new techniques for statistical analysis.