Introduction to Psychology

Psychology uses scientific methods to study behavior and mental processes in humans and animals.

All outward actions, reactions, and expressions. Includes both observable and hidden behaviors.

Internal, covert activities of the mind, like thinking, feeling, and remembering.

One of the goals of psychology that involves careful observation of behavior to answer questions like 'what', 'where', and 'when'.

The goal of psychology that aims to explain why behavior occurs, often involving forming theories.

A general explanation for a set of observations or facts.

A goal of psychology focused on predicting when behavior will occur, based on existing knowledge.

The goal of psychology to influence or control behavior in a desired way.

A predisposition or readiness to perceive certain stimuli based on expectations or prior experiences.

The tendency to attend to and organize sensory information based on personal needs and desires.

If you are expecting something specific, you are more likely to notice it, even amidst other stimuli.

Different motives and needs lead to different perceptions of the same environment by different people.

The process of assigning meaning to a stimulus based on its context and prior knowledge.

The ability to focus on a particular stimulus while ignoring others.

The phenomenon where the same stimulus is perceived differently depending on the surrounding context.

The tendency to interpret sensory information based on existing knowledge and beliefs.

Early schools of psychology diverged in their focus on what they studied (conscious mind, unconscious mind, or overt behavior).

These schools aimed to either analyze the mind's components, such as thoughts and feelings, or observe how the environment impacts behavior.

Early schools employed various methods, including introspection (examining one's own experience), observation, and clinical case studies to gain knowledge.

The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes internal conflicts, forces, and instinctual drives within the individual.

The behavioral perspective focuses on how behaviors are learned through conditioning processes.

The humanistic perspective emphasizes individual potential and growth, striving for self-actualization.

The cognitive perspective examines mental processes such as perception, memory, thinking, and problem-solving.

The biological perspective seeks to understand how brain structure, neurochemicals, and genetic factors influence behavior.

The tendency to perceive an object's brightness as constant, even when the amount of light reaching the eye changes. It's relative to surrounding objects.

A visual illusion where the perceived size of an object is influenced by its distance from the observer. Farther objects appear larger.

An illusion where the moon seems larger at the horizon than high in the sky, despite being the same size.

An illusion where the length of lines is misjudged based on the surrounding angles or shapes. Lines with inward-pointing arrows appear shorter than lines with outward-pointing arrows.

The process by which we gain knowledge through our senses. It is a complex interplay of sensory input, prior knowledge, and interpretation.

The tendency for a conditioned response to be triggered by stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli, responding only to the specific conditioned stimulus.

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest.

The stimulus that naturally elicits an unconditioned response.

The unlearned, natural response to an unconditioned stimulus.

The neutral stimulus that becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus and eventually triggers a conditioned response.

The learned response to a conditioned stimulus.

A schedule of reinforcement where rewards are given after an unpredictable amount of time has passed since the last reward.

The idea that rewarding a behavior only sometimes, rather than every time, is more effective in making the behavior last.

A stimulus that weakens a behavior or makes it less likely to occur again.

Inherently punishing stimuli, such as pain, extreme heat, or cold.

Learned punishers, such as criticism, demerits, or fines.

Occurs when an unpleasant stimulus is added after a behavior, making it less likely to occur again.

Occurs when something pleasant is removed after a behavior, making it less likely to occur again.

Punishment is most effective when it's delivered immediately after the unwanted behavior, consistently applied, and appropriately intense.