Chapter 1 Flashcards
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Science
The use of systematic methods to observe the natural world and to draw conclusions
Behavior
Everything we do that can be directly observed
Mental processes
The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experiences privately but that cannot be observed directly
Critical thinking
The process of reflecting deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating the evidence
Empirical method
Gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the collection of data, and logical reasoning
Positive psychology
A branch of human psychology that emphasizes human strength
Four attitudes of the scientific approach
Critical thinking
Skepticism
Objectivity
Curiosity
Structuralism
Wundt’s approach to discovering the basic elements, or structures, of mental processes; so called because of its focus on identifying the structures of the human mind
Functionalism
James’ approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individual’s adaptation to the environment
Natural selection
Darwin’s principle of an evolutionary process in which organisms that are better adapted to their environment will survive and produce more offspring
Biological approach
An approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system
Neuroscience
The scientific study of the structure, function, development, genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system, emphasizing that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion
Behavioral approach
An approach to psychology focusing on the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants
Psychodynamic approach
An approach to psychology focusing on unconscious thought, the conflict between biological drives and society’s demands, and early childhood family experiences
Humanistic approach
An approach to psychology focusing on a person’s positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose one’s destiny
Cognitive approach
An approach to psychology focusing on the mental processes involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems
Consciousness
An individual’s awareness of external events and internal sensations under a condition of arousal, including awareness of the self and thoughts about one’s experience
Evolutionary approach
An approach to psychology focusing on evolutionary ideas such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behaviors
Sociocultural approach
An approach to psychology focusing on the ways in which social and cultural environments influence behavior
Psychopathology
The scientific study of psychological disorders and the development of diagnostic categories and treatments for those disorders
What are the seven approaches to psychology?
Biological
Behavioral
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Evolutionary
Sociocultural
