Chapter 1 Flashcards
Nativism
Knowledge is inborn
Empiricism
Knowledge is gained through experience
Structuralism
The task of psychology is to analyze consciousness into its basic elements and then investigate how the elements are related.
Functionalism
Psychology should investigate the function or purpose of consciousness.
Behaviourism
Psychology should only study observable behaviour
Skinner’s theory
All behaviour is caused by external stimulation
Psychoanalysis
People’s behaviour is caused by subconscious factors
Humanism
Emphasis of unique human qualities.
-Freedom, potential for personal growth
-Optimistic view on human behaviour
Cognition
The mental process of getting information.
Evolutionary psychology
The idea that behaviour patterns are passed down through generations
Clinical Psychology
Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.
- Interviews clients, tests them, and provides psychotherapy
Counselling psychology
Helps people who are struggling with everyday problems.
Educational and school psychology
- Helps improve the design of the curriculum
- Trains teachers
- Counsels students who are struggling
- Helps parents solve school related problems
Industrial and organizational psychology
- Workplace psychologists
- Human resources
Psychiatry
A medical branch that focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological disorders.
- Psychology takes a non medical approach
Developmental psychology
Focuses on human development throughout their life
Social psychology
Focuses on social aspects that can influence behaviour
Educational Psychology
Focuses on how people learn and how to teach people
Health Psychology
Focuses on how your physical health can influence your mental well-being
Behavioural neuroscience
Focuses on how genetic factors can influence your behaviour
Experimental psychology
The early days of psychology (sensation, perception, learning etc.)
Cognitive psychology
Focuses on the higher mental processes (memory, reasoning, etc.)
Psychometrics
Focuses on measuring behaviour through psychological tests
Personality
Determining patterns in people’s behaviour
Psychology is empirical
Psychology’s conclusions are based on direct observations and studies rather than just guessing
Psychology is theoretically diverse
Psychology has many different theories about behaviour
Psychology evolves in a socio-historical context
Trends and issues in society’s past influences psychology
Behaviour is determined by multiple causes
You cannot blame one single cause for behaviour
AKA multifactorial causation of behaviour
Behaviour is shaped by cultural heritage
Your culture can influence your behaviour
Hereditary and environment jointly influence behaviour
Your genetic DNA and your physical environment are both factors that can affect your behaviour
People’s experience of the world is highly subjective
Everyone’s perception of stimuli is personalized and subjective to them
