Introduction To Psychology (MSA) Flashcards
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.
What are the two key components of psychology?
Behavior – Observable actions and reactions.
Mental Processes – Thoughts, feelings, memories, and internal experiences.
What are the four goals of psychology?
Describe, Explain, Predict, and Change behavior.
What are the two foundations of psychology?
Biology – Links between brain structures and behaviors.
Philosophy – Understanding thoughts and experiences.
Who founded the Psychodynamic Perspective?
Sigmund Freud.
What does the Behavioral Perspective focus on?
Observable behaviors shaped by rewards and punishments.
Who is the key theorist of Behaviorism?
B.F. Skinner.
What does the Cognitive Perspective study?
Mental processes like memory, perception, and problem-solving.
What is the Humanistic Perspective, and who are its key theorists?
Focuses on individual growth and self-actualization.
Key theorists: Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.
What does the Evolutionary Perspective focus on?
Behaviors as adaptations for survival and reproduction.
What is Structuralism, and who founded it?
Focuses on the structure of consciousness.
Founder: Wilhelm Wundt.
What is Functionalism, and who inspired it?
Focuses on the purpose of behavior.
Inspired by William James and Charles Darwin.
What are the steps of the Scientific Method in psychology?
Observation
Research Question
Hypothesis
Study Design
Data Collection
Analysis
Interpretation
What are the two types of psychological research?
Qualitative – Non-numerical data (e.g., interviews).
Quantitative – Numerical data (e.g., experiments).
What are three types of human behavior?
Caused Behavior – Influenced by external/internal factors.
Motivated Behavior – Driven by needs or desires.
Goal-Oriented Behavior – Focused on achieving objectives.
What is the Biopsychosocial Approach?
A holistic perspective that considers:
Biological – Genes, brain function, hormones.
Psychological – Emotions, cognition.
Social – Culture, relationships, environment.
What are the two main divisions of the Nervous System?
Central Nervous System (CNS) – Brain & spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) – Connects CNS to the rest of the body.
What are the main functions of the Prefrontal Cortex and Amygdala?
Prefrontal Cortex – Decision-making.
Amygdala – Emotional processing.
What are two key hormones in psychology?
Cortisol – Stress response.
Oxytocin – Social bonding and attachment.
What is Classical Conditioning, and who discovered it?
Learning through association.
Discovered by Ivan Pavlov.
What is Operant Conditioning, and who developed it?
Learning through rewards and punishments.
Developed by B.F. Skinner.
What are the two types of reinforcement in Operant Conditioning?
Positive Reinforcement – Adding something pleasant (e.g., praise).
Negative Reinforcement – Removing something unpleasant (e.g., less homework).
What are the three main types of memory?
Sensory Memory – Brief storage of sensory information.
Short-Term Memory (STM) – Temporary storage (20-30 sec).
Long-Term Memory (LTM) – Permanent storage.
What are the two types of Long-Term Memory?
Explicit (Declarative) Memory – Conscious recall.
Episodic Memory: Personal experiences.
Semantic Memory: Facts and knowledge.
Implicit (Non-Declarative) Memory – Unconscious recall.
Procedural Memory: Skills and habits.
Emotional Memory: Learned emotions.
