ABCs of Psychology Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does 'affect' define?

How you present yourself (facial expressions), which doesn't truly express how you think/feel.

Define 'behaviors'.

Habits that are visible to others and how one acts or behaves towards a topic.

What is meant by 'cognition'?

Your thought process and understanding of what's going on around you.

What did Socrates and Plato believe about the mind?

The mind is separate from the body and continues after death. Signup and view all the answers

What was Aristotle's theory about knowledge?

Knowledge is not pre-existing; it derives from memories. Signup and view all the answers

Who examined nerve paths?

Descartes. Signup and view all the answers

What did Bacon contribute to psychology?

He agreed with Socrates and Plato and was influenced by modern medicine. Signup and view all the answers

What significant work did Locke write?

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Signup and view all the answers

What is modern empiricism?

The idea that what we know comes from experience. Signup and view all the answers

What is psychology considered to be?

The science of mental life. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Wilhelm Wundt?

The experimental psychologist who created an apparatus to measure reaction time. Signup and view all the answers

What did G. Stanley do in psychology?

Established the first formal US psychology lab at Johns Hopkins University. Signup and view all the answers

What are the branches of psychology?

Structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis. Signup and view all the answers

What does structuralism focus on?

Used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind. Signup and view all the answers

What is functionalism in psychology?

Explores how mental and behavioral processes function and help the organism adapt. Signup and view all the answers

Define behaviorism.

The view that psychology should be an objective science studying behavior without reference to mental processes. Signup and view all the answers

What does Gestalt psychology emphasize?

Our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes. Signup and view all the answers

What is Psychoanalysis?

Freud's theory that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the study of behavior and mental processes known as?

Functionalism. Signup and view all the answers

What does an experimental psychologist study?

The behavior and thinking using experimental methods. Signup and view all the answers

How did Watson and Skinner redefine psychology?

As the science of mental life. Signup and view all the answers

What is Freudian psychology?

A major force focused on unconscious thought processes and their effects on behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does humanistic psychology emphasize?

The growth potential of healthy people. Signup and view all the answers

What is cognitive neuroscience?

An interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked to cognition. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definitions of Key Terms

Affect: The outward expression of emotions, often through facial expressions, which may not accurately reflect inner feelings.
Behaviors: Observable actions and habits that are visible to others, demonstrating how individuals act towards specific topics or situations.
Cognition: The mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding, encompassing thoughts, beliefs, and awareness of the environment.

Philosophical Foundations

Socrates and Plato: Proposed that the mind is distinct from the body and continues to exist after death.
Aristotle: Argued that knowledge is acquired from experiences rather than being pre-existing; learning emerges from memory.
Descartes: Studied the pathways of nerves, contributing to our understanding of the mind-body connection.
Bacon: Supported the ideas of Socrates and Plato, influenced by modern medicine, and recognized as a founder of modern science.
Locke: Authored "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding," introducing the concept of the mind as a blank slate (tabula rasa) at birth.

Emergence of Modern Psychology

Modern Empiricism: Asserts that knowledge is derived from experience; scientific understanding grows through observation and experimentation.
Wilhelm Wundt: Established experimental psychology by measuring reaction times using an apparatus, marking the inception of psychology as a science.
G. Stanley Hall: Founded the first formal psychology laboratory in the United States at Johns Hopkins University.

Branches and Theories of Psychology

Branches of Psychology: Includes structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, and psychoanalysis.
Structuralism: Employed introspection to analyze the human mind's structure, though reliant on subjective self-reflection.
Functionalism: Investigated mental processes and behaviors in terms of their adaptive functions, influenced by Darwin’s theories.
Behaviorism: Advocated for psychology as an objective science focused solely on observable behaviors, largely rejecting introspection; prominent figures included Watson and B.F. Skinner.
Gestalt Psychology: Emphasizes our innate tendency to perceive whole forms instead of individual components.
Psychoanalysis: Freud's perspective focusing on unconscious motives and conflicts shaping thoughts and behaviors.

Modern Psychological Perspectives

Experimental Psychologists: Specialize in studying behaviors and mental processes through experimental methods to derive conclusions.
Watson and Skinner's Redefinition: Reconceptualized psychology as the science of mental life, emphasizing observable behavior.
Freudian Psychology: Concentrates on how unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences influence behavior and emotional responses.
Humanistic Psychology: Highlights personal growth potential and was led by figures like Rogers and Maslow, who believed previous models were overly restrictive.
Cognitive Neuroscience: An interdisciplinary field investigating the connections between brain activity and cognitive functions such as perception, memory, and language.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key psychological terms with these flashcards. Each card provides a definition of important concepts in psychology, including affect, behaviors, and cognition. Enhance your understanding of these fundamental ideas that shape human interaction and thought processes.