Exam block 1 Flashcards
psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Nativism
the idea that our thoughts, ideas, and characteristics are inborn. We learn about ourselves by examining thoughts and feelings. (nature)
Introspection
term meaning “looking within”
Empiricism
the idea that knowledge is gained by experience (senses)
Psychology started as a combination of ideas from ________.
Philosophy and physiology
Structuralism
the study of the most basic elements, primarily sensations and perceptions, that make up our coincious mental experiences; involves introspection.
Functionalism
the study of the function rather than the structure of conciousness. aka how our minds adapt to changing environments.
Behaviorism
Emphasizes the objective, scientific analysis of observable behaviors.
Mental events are triggered by external stimuli which leads to behaviors.
Gestalt approach
emphasized that perception is more than the sum of its parts. It studied how sensations are assembled into meaningful perceptual experiences. The belief that the mind must be studied in large meaningful units instead of small units of structuralism
What are the goals of psychology?
description, prediction, application, explanation
What are the steps of the scientific process?
- perceive
- hypothesize
- test
- draw conclusions
- report, revise, replicate
what are the three types of research?
- descriptive research (describe what is going on)
- correlation research (predict)
- experimental research
naturalistic observation
where you can observe natural habitats but are not able to control the environment
laboratory observation
gives you the ability to control the environment, but may impact behavior as people know they are being watched
