Psychological Approaches Quiz

Study Notes

Psychological Approaches Overview

Biological Approach: Examines the relationship between brain anatomy/physiology and behavior.
Behavioral Genetics Approach: Attributes specific behaviors to genetically-based psychological traits.
Behavioral Approach: Focuses on the study of observable behaviors.
Cognitive Approach: Emphasizes understanding behavior through individual environmental interpretation and thought processes.
Humanistic Approach: Investigates consciousness, free will, and self-awareness to study the human experience.
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Approach: Sigmund Freud's theory highlighting the conscious vs. unconscious mind, emphasizing childhood experiences in personality development.
Sociocultural Approach: Considers the influence of a person's environment and cultural context on behavior and perception.
Evolutionary Approach: Based on Darwin's theories, explaining behavior through the lens of survival and adaptability.

Key Concepts and Figures

Dualism: The philosophical idea dividing existence into body and spirit.
Brain: The central nervous system's command center crucial for behavior.
Rene Descartes: Proposed interaction between mind and body via the pineal gland; viewed animals as mechanistic.
Pineal Gland: Brain structure positioned atop the brainstem, implicated in mind-body interaction.
John Locke: Empiricist philosopher advocating the tabula rasa concept, suggesting humans start as blank slates.
Thomas Hobbes: Emphasized nature's role in human behavior, influencing behaviorism.
Empiricism: The belief in gaining knowledge through observation and experience.
Charles Darwin: Developed the theory of Natural Selection, foundational for evolutionary psychology.
Wilhelm Wundt: Established psychology as a science; opened the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany.
Edward Titchener: Wundt's student; contributed to structuralism after founding a U.S. psychology lab.
William James: American psychologist credited with creating functionalism, countering structuralism.

Learning Theories

Classical Conditioning: A learning process identified by Ivan Pavlov, where neutral stimuli elicit conditioned responses.
B.F. Skinner: Behaviorist who utilized the Skinner Box for experimental studies on behavior.
Abraham Maslow: Introduced self-actualization and the hierarchy of needs, depicted as a pyramid.
Self-Actualization: The process of realizing and accepting one's own strengths and limitations.
Carl Rogers: Proposed unconditional positive regard as essential for achieving a healthy self-concept and self-actualization.

Description

Explore various psychological approaches in this quiz. From the Biological Approach to Behavioral Genetics, this quiz covers key concepts and definitions essential for understanding psychology. Test your knowledge and reinforce your learning about these foundational perspectives.