psych ch 1 Flashcards
Pseudoscience
an idea that is presented as science but does not actually have basic principles of scientific thinking or procedure.
The Biopsychosocial Model
a way of explaining behaviour as a product of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors
The Scientific Method
a way of learning about the world through collecting observations, developing theories to explain them, and using the theories to male predictions.
Psychology
the scientific study of behaviour, thought, and experience,and how they can be affected by physical, mental, social, and environmental factors
Multiple perspectives of Psychology
biological, sociocultural, cognitive (thinking)
falsifiable
precise enough to be proven false
Empiricism
the philosophical tenet that knowledge comes through experience - knowledge about the world is based on careful observation
Determinism
the belief that all events are governed by lawful, cause and effect relationships.
Galen’s Four Temperaments
Sanguine (blood), a tendency to be impulsive, pleasure-seeking, and charismatic
Choleric (yellow bile) - a tendency to be ambitious, energetic, and aggressive
Melancholic (black bile) - a tendency to be independent, perfectionist, and introverted
Phlegmatic (phlegm) - a tendency to be quiet, relaxed, and content with life
Zeitgeist
a general set of beliefs of a particular culture at a specific time in history
Dualism
the idea that there are properties of humans that are not material (there is a mind or soul separate from the body)
Materialism
the belief that humans are composed exclusively of physical matter
Psychophysics
the field of study that explores how physical energy such as light and sound and their intensity relate to psychological experience
Clinical psychology
the field of psychology that concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders
Localization of brain function
the idea that certain parts of the brain control specific mental abilities and personality characteristics
Psychoanalysis
a psychological approach that attempts to explain how behaviour and personality are influenced by the unconscious process
Nature and nurture relationships
the inquiry into how heredity (nature) and environment (nurture) influence behaviour and mental processes.
Structuralism
an attempt to analyse conscious experience by breaking it down into basic elements, and to understand how these elements work
Functionalism
the study of the purpose and function of behaviour and conscious experience
Behaviorism
an approach that had a singular focus on studying only observable behaviour, with little to no reference to mental events or instincts as possible influences on behaviour
Social psychology
the study of the influence of other people in our behaviour
Personality psychology
the study of how different personality characteristics can influence how we think and act
Gestalt psychology
an approach emphasizing that psychologists need to focus on the whole perception and experience rather than its parts.
Cognitive psychology
a modern psychological perspective that focuses on processes such as memory, thinking and language.
Cognitive neuroscience:
understanding the neural mechanisms for cognitive behaviours such as memory, emotion, and decision making.
Humanistic psychology
focuses on the unique aspects of each individual human, each person’s freedom to act, their rational thought, and the belief that humans are fundamentally different from other animals
