Unit 1 & 2

• empiricism


  Locke's belief that knowledge is gained through observation and experiences.

  
• Wilhelm Wundt


  Opened first psychology research laboratory in 1879

  
• structuralism


  Early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structure of the human mind

  
• William James


  Found functionalism; Early teacher of psychology

  
• Mary Whiton Calkins


  Student of William James whom Harvard University denied her a PhD because of her sex. 1st female president of the APA.

  
• Margaret Floy Washburn


  1st female to be awarded a Ph.D. in psychology; 2nd president of the APA

  
• functionalism


  William James' school of thought that stressed the adaptive and survival value of behaviors. The WHAT and WHY of your mind's function.
• G. Stanley Hall


  Opened 1st psych lab in U.S. Founded the American Psychological Association (APA).

  
• psychology (contemporary)


  the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
• nature-nurture issue


  Argument whether genes or experience contribute to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

  
• Biological approach to psychology

  Studies how anatomy & physiology (physical effects in the body and brain) impact our behavior.

  
• evolutionary approach to psychology

  Behavior is explained in terms of how adaptive that behavior is to our survival.

  
• psychoanalytic/psychodynamic approach to psychology

  Stresses the importance of early childhood experiences and unconscious conflicts.

  
• behavioral approach to psychology

  Study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning. The mind or mental events are unimportant as they cannot be observed.

  
• cognitive approach to psychology

  Studies how the mental process of thinking, perception, memory, and problem-solving impact our behavior

  
• humanistic approach to psychology

  philosophical approach to studying psychology through the roles of consciousness, free will, & awareness of the human condition.

  
• social-cultural approach to psychology

  the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking.

  
• basic research

  pure research that aims to confirm an existing theory or to learn more about a concept or phenomenon
• applied research

  scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

  
• psychiatrist

  a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; can prescribe medication

  
• clinical psychologist

  holds an advanced degree in psychology but is not a medical doctor; specializes in identifying and treating persons with mental illness, but does not prescribe medication

  
• natural selection

  the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

  
• John Watson


  Founded behaviorism, emphasizing the study of observable behavior and rejecting the study of mental processes

  
• Charles Darwin

  Proposed idea of natural selection as primary means of species diversity. His influence appears in psychology's evolutionary perspective.

  
• experimental psychology

  the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

  
• biopsychosocial approach

  Emphasizes the need to investigate the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors as contributing to a behavior or mental process.

  
• levels of analysis

  the differing complimentary views for analyzing any given phenomenon

  
• psychometrics

  the scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits; also sometimes called "quantitative psychology"

  
• developmental psychology

  A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

  
• educational psychology

  the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning

  
• personality psychology

  the study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling and acting

  
• social psychology

  The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

  
• industrial-organizational psychology

  application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces.

  
• human factors psychology

  A branch of psychology that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use

  
• counseling psychology

  A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being

  
• positive psychology

  the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive

  
• community psychology

  A branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups

  
• behaviorism


  Studies psychology from observable behaviors, and NOT through mental processes (i.e. introspection).

  
• cognitive neuroscience


  Interdisciplinary study linking brain activity with cognition.

  
• Sigmund Freud

  Emphasized how unconscious thoughts and emotional responses to childhood experiences affect behavior. Usually negative.