Exam 1 Flashcards
Cognitive Psychology
Focuses on higher mental processes (thinking, memory, reasoning, problem solving, judging, decision making, and language)
Developmental Psychology
Studies how people grow and change from the moment of conception through death
Personality psychology
Focuses on consistency in people’s behavior across their lives as well as traits that differentiate one person from another
Counseling Psychology
Focuses primarily on educational, social, and career adjustment problems
Clinical neuropsychology
Focuses on the orgin of psychological disorders in biological factors
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Functionalism
How mental processes help people adapt to their environment; William James
Gestalt Psychology
A series of principles to describe how we organize bits and pieces of information into meaningful wholes
Neuroscience Perspective
The approach that views behavior from the perspective of the brain, nervous system, and other biological functions
Behavioral perspective
Observable behaviors and the ways they are learned through interactions with the enviornment
Humanistic Perspective
Individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behaviors; free will
Scientific method
A systematic approach to researching and observing behavior and other phenomena of interest
Scientific method model
- Identify problem
- Formulate an explanation
- Carry out research
- Communicate the findings
Theories
Broad explanations and predictions concerning observations of interest
Hypothesis
A predictions, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested
Research
A systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new knowledge and is a central ingredient of the scientific method
Archival research
EXISTING data are examined to test a hypothesis
Naturalistic Observation
An investigator observed some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation.
Survey Research
People chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes
Case study
An in-depth, intensive investigation of an individual or a small group of people