Prologue Terms Flashcards
Plato
Student of Socrates; the mind is separate from the body; knowledge is innate
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Socrates
The mind and body are separate; knowledge is innate
Aristotle
The soul is not separate from the body; knowledge is not preexisting (it grows from our experiences and memories)
Descartes
“Father of Modern Philosophy”; abnormal behavior caused by abnormalities in the brain; mind and body are separate; knowledge is innate; dissected animals and found “animal spirits”
Francis Bacon
Introduced the scientific method (drawing knowledge from experimentation and observation); common sense judgement
John Locke
Theory of Tabula Rasa; humans are born a blank slate; formed modern empiricism
Empiricism
The view that knowledge originates in experiences and that science should rely on observation and experiments
Wilhelm Wundt
Opened the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany; experiment about the lag between sound and action
Structuralism
An early school of psychology that used introspection (self reflection) to explore the structural elements of the human mind
Edward Titchener
Brought structuralism to the US and opened first US psychology laboratory at Cornell University
Introspection
Looking inward (report experiences when using senses)
Functionalism
A school of psychology that focuses on how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable organisms to adapt, survive, and flourish
William James
One of the first US psychologists; developed functionalism; ideas from Charles Darwin about natural selection; wrote “Principles of Psychology”
Mary Calkins
Student of James; pioneer in memory research; first female president of the APA
Margaret Floy Washburn
First female to receive a PhD in psychology; synthesized animal behavior in “The Animal Mind”
Humanistic Psychology/ Perspective
Historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people; self actualization; how to reach full potential of self
Nature- Nurture Issue
Nature- Plato and Descartes
Nurture- Aristotle and Locke
Continuing issue today
Natural Selection
Charles Darwin- nature selects those most able to survive and reproduce
Levels of Analysis
Different outlooks (biological, psychological, and social cultural)
Evolutionary Perspective
How the natural selection of traits promotes the perpetuation of one’s genes
Behavior Genetics Perspective
How much our genes and our environment influence our individual differences
Neuroscience Perspective
How the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences
Psychodynamic Perspective (Pyschoanalytic)
How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts
Behavioral Perspective (Behaviorism)
How we learn observable responses; how organisms learn or modify their behavior
Cognitive Perspective
How we encode, process, store and retrieve information and how that influences our behavior
Social- Cultural Perspective (Sociocultural)
How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures; how culture and social groups affect behavior
Basic Research
Builds psychology’s knowledge base- pure science
Applied Research
Take on practical problems
Biological Psychologist
Explore the link between brain and mind
Developmental Psychologist
Study changing abilities from womb to tomb
Cognitive Psychologist
Experiment with how we perceive, think, and solve problems
Personality Psychologist
Investigation on our persistent traits
Social Psychologist
Explore how we view and affect each other
Counseling Psychologist
Help people cope with challenges (academic, vocational and marital) to achieve greater well being
Clinical Psychology
Assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders
Psychiatry
Medical doctors licensed to prescribe drugs, and otherwise treat physical causes of psychological disorders as well as psychological therapy
