Psychology Key Terms - Paper 2 Flashcards
Behaviorist approach
A learning approach that suggests all children are born as blank slates, learning through their interactions with their environment
Biological approach
A learning approach that views human behavior as a result of genetics and proposes that individuals psychology stems form internal physiology
Classical conditioning
A form of learning which occurs by associating naturally occurring instinct with new stimuli, thus creating a “conditioned” response.
Cognitive approach
A learning approach which likens the human mind to a computer, with internal mental processes turning an input into an output. This approach suggests studying these internal processes by interference is the key ti understanding human psychology
Congruence
When a persons ideal self and actual self are aligned
Defence mechanism
strategies employed by the ego to protect the mind from feelings that may be too overwhelming.
Denial
A defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. This is the complete refusal to acknowledge the occurrence of an event, in an attempt to prevent harm.
Displacement
A defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. THis mechanism works by substituting the real target of overwhelming emotions with a (usually) defenceless target. This allows for a cathartic release of emotions that wouldn’t be possible with the original target.
Ego
One of the three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The ego develops after the Di and functions to mediate between the desires of the Id and what is attainable. The ego is the decision-making component.
Free will
The idea that we are in full control of our behavior and decisions
Genotype
The genetic profile of an individual i.e. the genes they carry.
humanistic approach
presumes all humans are fundamentally good, and encourages the holistic study of the entire individual.
Id
One of the three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The Id if the most primitive and selfish part of the personality, the only one present at birth and only concerned with desires and achieving them.
Identification
A form of learning according to the social learning theory, which suggests humans can learn by observing role model whom they perceive as similar to themselves. It suggests we internalise the beliefs of someone we “identify” with i.e. are similar to perhaps in gender, age or goals.
Imitation
A form of learning suggested by social learning theory, which proposes that people learn through copying the behavior of a role model they identify with.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
A theory that suggests humans have multiple needs that need to be achieved in a particular order to achieve a persons’ potential.
Modelling
When a role model enacts a behavior that can be imitated by an observer
Mediational Processes
Internal processes that contribute to producing certain behaviors, hence “mediators” between observation and imitation
Negative reinforcement
A behavior performed in response to a negative stimulus in the expectation that the negative stimulus will be removed.
Operant conditioning
A form of learning by direct consequences for behaviors whether that be reinforcement (consequences that increase behavior) or punishment (consequences that decrease behavior).
Phenotype
An organism’s physical manifestation of their genotype.
Positive reinforcement
Administration of a postitive stimulus that aims to increase a certain behavior. An example would be giving a child a treat (positive stimulus) if they clean their room, so they clean their room more often.
Psychodynamic approach
a learning approach that describes human behavior as a product of unconscious processes
