Mod 1: History and Scope of Psychology Flashcards
Structuralism
Relied on introspection. Unreliable because it required smart, articulate subjects. Wundt & Titchener.
Functionalism
Aims to identify the functions of the brain’s thoughts and feelings. William James (influenced by Darwin)
Psychology
In early years (before 1920) psych was described as the “science of mental life” until John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner started defining it as the “study of observable behavior” Today we define it as the “science of behavior and mental process”
Behavior
Anything an organism does
Behaviorism
The idea that psychology should be focused on people’s behavior as you cannot record a sensation or feeling
Freudian Psychology:
Our thoughts and emotions relate directly to our childhood experiences
Humanistic Psychology
Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow the leaders of this movement saw how the environment/situation we place ourselves in has a direct relationship to our happiness and growth potential.
Cognitive Neuroscience
The scientific exploration of how the brain processes, remembers, and processes information. It also deals with why we can experience emotions like anxiety or depression.
Nature vs. Nurture Debate
Whether a person’s development is predisposed in his DNA, or a majority of it is influenced by this life experiences and his environment
Charles Darwin’s principle of natural selection
The strongest survive the weakest die out. This is not only true for animal’s themselves, but for traits, and behaviors as well
Levels of analysis
The different complementary views. Because things are different they need to be analyzed differently.
Biopsychosocial approach
The integration of biological, psychological and sociological factors.
Applied Research
Aims to solve practical problems
Counseling Psychologists
Help people cope with a crisis or challenge in their life. Also help by being academic, vocational, or marriage counselors.
Clinical Psychologists
Diagnose and treat mental, behavioral or emotional problems
