Psych Final Flashcards
Sigmund Freud
Most famous psychologist Helped write 1st DSM Psychodynamic Perspective (unconscious thought) ID, ego, superego Oedipus & Electra complexes Defense mechanisms Dream Analysis Psychosexual Development
Psychodynamic Perspective
Freudian theory of personality; thoughts and actions stem from the unconscious desires & conflicts in childhood, as well as drives influenced by sex and aggression.
The unconscious mind
Thoughts wishes, an feelings of which we are unaware (Iceberg: Conscious mind is the smaller part visible above water, unconscious mind is larger part below the surface)
Id
Unconscious self that contains our most primitive drives/urges. Directs impulses for hunger, thirst, and sex.
Pleasure principle
Seeks immediate gratification
Superego
Our conscious/moral compass; tells us how we should behave, controls pride and guilt
Helps control the Id (along with the ego)
Ego
Rational part of our personality, the part seen by others
Considered by Freud to be the “self”
Balances demands of the Id and superego in the context of reality
Reality Principle
Oedipus Complex
A boy’s desire for his mother & his urge to replace his father, who is seen as a rival for the mother’s attention
Electra Complex
Proposed by Carl Jung
Parallel to Oedipus Complex, involving a girl’s desire for the attention of her father
Initially embraced by Freud but later rejected it
Source of the term “penis envy”
Repression
Ego defense mechanism in which anxiety-related thoughts and memories are kept in the unconscious
Regression
Ego defense mechanism in which a person confronted with anxiety returns to a more immature behavioral state
Displacement
Ego defense mechanism in which a person transfers inappropriate urges or behaviors toward a more acceptable or less threatening target
Projecting
Ego defense mechanism in which a person confronted with anxiety disguises their unacceptable urges or behaviors by attributing them to other people
Reaction formation
Ego defense mechanism in which a person confronted with anxiety swaps unacceptable behaviors or urges for their opposites
Defense Mechanisms
Unconscious protective behaviors designed to reduce ego anxiety
Carl Jung
Freud’s protégé, known for analytical psychology, collective unconscious, introvert/extrovert, persona
Collective unconscious
Jung’s theory of common psychological tendencies that have been passed down from one generation to the next
Carl Rogers
Founder of humanistic psychology, believed real and ideal self-concepts create a conflict which causes psychological problems, believed in unconditional positive regard in which the therapist helps reduce self-discrepancy related problems by making patient feel accepted how they are
Humanistic psychology
Theory by Rogers and Maslow against the determinism of psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Believes people have freedom to choose our destiny, the people are basically good, and self-actualization (achieving one’s full potential)
Unconditional Positive Regard
Roger’s theory of Humanistic Psychology in which the therapist makes the patient feel accepted as who they are to reduce discrepancy-related psychological problems
Trait approach
Describes personality traits, stable across time and situations. Includes personality tests.
The Big Five (OCEAN)
Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism
Rorschach Inkblot Test
Test using a series of symmetrical inkblot cards presented to patient by psychologist in effort to reveal unconscious desires, fears, struggles
Thematic apperception test
Test in which patient is presented with ambiguous images and they make up stories to go with the images in an attempt to uncover their unconscious desires, fears, and struggles
Free association
Technique in psychoanalysis in which the patient says whatever comes to mind at the moment
Implicit self-esteem
Unconscious attitudes about the self, measured using IAT test
Locus of Control (internal vs external)
Internal: You believe that your choices and actions influence your outcomes
External: You believe that fate, luck, or other external circumstances influence your outcomes.
Social Psychology
The psychology of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
The power of the social situation
Imagined or actual presence of other people changes you behavior (ie handwashing in public restroom)
Asch’s Conformity Experiment
Conformity test in which participants would change their answer as to which line was the longest, agreeing with others in the group when they were wrong.
Conformity
Changing behaviors, thoughts, and values to those of other people
Normative social influence
People conform with the group to fit in, feel good, and be accepted
Informational social influence
People conform to the group because they believe the group is competent and has the correct information, resolves uncertainty.
Prejudice
A negative attitude towards a group and its members
Implicit Attitude Test (IAT)
Harvard test measures associations with prejudice
Implicit Racism
Underlying, unconscious racist attitudes
Explicit Racism
Overt, intentional racism
Stereotype threat
When people feel they are confirming stereotypes about their group/people’s stereotypes of your group lead you to behave in ways which confirm their beliefs
Self-fulfilling prophecy/labeling effect
Your beliefs about another person lead that person to behave in ways which confirm your beliefs
Causes of prejudice
Economic/political competition, displaced aggression, maintenance of self-esteem, conformity to social norms
Reducing prejudice
Equal status contact, mutual interdependence (working together towards common goal)
Factors influencing interpersonal attraction
Proximity, similarity, physical attraction
Proximity effect
The closer we are to someone geographically, physically, or psychologically, predicts relationship maintenance and development
Similarity effect
We tend to be attracted to people who are similar to us
Limerence
They experience of being in love with someone and longing for your feelings to be reciprocated
Passionate love
Strong emotions, sexual desire, intense preoccupation with beloved
Compassionate love
Milder but more stable feelings, mutual trust, dependability, deepens over time
Consummate love
Passion, intimacy, and commitment- rarely achieved.
Dispositional Attribution
Attributing someone’s actions to who they are/they way they are instead of the situation they are in (causality located within the person)
Situational attribution
Attributing someone’s actions to the situation that they are in rather than who they are (causality located outside the person)
Fundamental attribution error (FAE)
Overestimating the influence of personality dispositions and underestimating the influence of the situation
Cognitive Dissonance theory
Festinger’s theory that a state of tension occurs when a person holds beliefs/attitudes/behaviors that are inconsistent
Medical Model
Physical/biological approach to mental disorders
Psychological Disorder
Atypical, disturbing (social norms), maladaptive (interferes with daily functioning)
