Prologue Flashcards
Behavior
Any observable/recordable action done by an organism
ex: yelling, smiling, blinking, sweating
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Mental Processes
Internal, subjective experiences inferred from behavior
ex: sensations, perceptions, dreams, beliefs
Empiricism
The view hat knowledge originates in experience and that science should rely on observation/experimentation
Structuralism
Early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind
Functionalism
School of psychology that focuses on how mental and behavioral processes function; how they enable adaptation, survival, and flourishing
William James
Functionalist influenced by Darwin
Wrote “Principles of Psychology” after 12 years
Taught Mary Calkins at Harvard
John Locke
Believed that the mind at birth was a tabula rasa (blank slate) that experiences will fill. Formed modern empiricism
Wilhelm Wundt
First to experiment in psychology at the University of Leipzig with a reaction time test. He sought to measure the “atoms of the mind” and launched the first psychology lab.
Edward Bradford Titchener
Wundt’s student. First to bring structuralism to the USA at Cornell University.
Mary Calkins
Taught at Harvard by William James; was the only student in the class due to men dropping out. Was denied a PhD despite outscoring all men; became a memory researcher and the first female president of the American Psychological Association.
Margaret Floy Washburn
Became the first female to get a PhD in psychology and the second female president of the APA. Wrote “The Animal Mind”.
Plato
Socrates’ student, agreed with the dualist idea proposed by Socrates.
Socrates
Concluded that the mind is separable from the body, continuing after death, making knowledge innate. He derived his principles by logic.
Aristotle
Believed the soul isn’t separable from the body, that knowledge isn’t preexisting but grows from experiences; rejected dualism. Derived his principles from careful observations.
René Descartes
Agreed with Socrates and Plato. He dissected animals, saying the fluid in their brains contained “animal spirits” which flowed through hollow nerves throughout the body. Believed memories and experiences formed holes in the brain for the spirits.
Francis Bacon
One of the founders of modern science; said human understanding easily supposed a greater degree of order/equality than it finds. He introduced the scientific method, disliking superstition.
Humanistic Psychology
A 1960s response to Freudian psychology/behaviorism by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. Emphasized the importance of current environmental influences on growth potential and the important of meeting needs for love and acceptance.
Natural Selection
Darwin’s theory that only traits best suited for survival are passed onto offspring, that those with undesirable traits would not survive
Nature-Nurture Issue
Do traits develop through experience or are they innate?
People : Nature over Nuture
Plato, Descartes, Darwin
People : Nurture over Nature
Locke, Aristotle
Levels of Analysis
Differing complementary views for analyzing any given phenomenon
Biopsychosocial Approach
Integrated perspective that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis
Introspection
Looking in on experienced feelings while doing certain activities
Neuroscience Perspective
How the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences
Evolutionary Perspective
How the natural selection of traits promotes perpetuation of one’s genes
Behavior Genetics Perspective
How much our genes and environment influences our individual differences
Psychodynamic Perspective
How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts
Behavioral Perspective
How we learn observable responses
Cognitive Perspective
How we encode, process, store, and retrieve information
Social-Cultural Perspective
How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures
Basic research
Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
Applied research
Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
Counseling psychology
Branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living and in achieving greater well being
Clinical psychology
Branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders
Psychiatry
Branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy
Industrial/Organization Psychology
Study of behavior in the workplace
Biological psychologist
Explores the links between the brain and mind
Developmental psychologists
Study changing abilities from womb to tomb
Cognitive psychologist
Experiments with how we perceive, think, and solve problems
Personality psychologists
Explore how we view and affect one another
SQ3R Study Technique (+1)
Survey. Question. Read. Review. Reflect. Summarize.
5 Study Techniques
- Distribute study time
- Listen actively in class
- Overlearn
- Focus on big ideas
- Be a smart test-taker
