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Psychology Themes and Variations Chapter 1 Flashcards

UNLV PSY 101

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643048520Wilhelm Wundt1879's founder of psychology (date of birth) Characterized as the founder of psychology. According to Wundt it was consciousness- the awareness of immediate experience. Formulating that psychology became the scientific study of conscious experience.0
643048521StructuralismBased on the notion that the task of psychology is to analyze consciousness unto its basic elements and investigate how these elements are related.1
643048522IntrospectionCareful, systematic self observation of ones own conscious experience.2
643048523Functionalismbased on the belief that psychology should investigate the function or purpose pof consciousness, rather than its structure.3
643048524William JamesChief architect of functionalism- wrote principles of psychology (1890) - thoughts based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. "Psychology should investigate the functions rather than the structure of consciousness"4
643048525Sigmund Freud / UnconsciousnessCreated procedure known as PSYCHOANALYSIS. He researched the UNCONSCIOUS processes or the thoughts, memories, and desires that are well below the surfaces of consciousness awareness but that nonetheless exert great influence on behavior.5
643048526Psychoanalytic TheoryAttempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconsciousness determinants of behavior.6
643048527BehaviorismTheoretical orientation based on the premise that scientific psychology should study only observable behavior.7
643048528John B. WatsonProposed that psychologists abandon the study of consciousness altogether and focus on behaviors that they could observe directly. (founder of behaviorism)(Supported nurture not nature) "Give me a dozen healthy infants"8
643048529BehaviorRefers to any overt ( observable) response or activity by an organism.9
643048530Stimulus response (S-R) PsychologyPsychologies mission as an attempt to relate overt behaviors (responses) to observable events in the environment (stimuli). -> to animal research10
643048531Experimental ResearchIs often more productive if experiments can exert considerable CONTROL over their subjects like an animal.11
643048532B.F. SkinnerAccording to Skinner , if the stimulus of food is followed by the response of eating, we can fully describe what is happening without making any guesses about whether the animal is experiencing hunger. Wrote: (Beyond Freedom and Dignity)- he exerted in this book that all behavior is fully governed by external stimuli. "Free will is an illusion" "Organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes, and they tend not to repeat responses that lead to neutral or negative outcomes."12
643048533HumanismTheoretical orientation that emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and their potential for personal growth.13
643048534Carl RogersArgued that human behavior is governed primarily by each individuals sense of self,or "self-concept" - which animals presumably lack. (Humanistic Movement) Developed a new approach to psychotherapy: Client centered therapy14
643048535Applied PsychologyThe branch of psychology concerned with everyday, practical problems.15
643048536Clinical Psychologybranch of psychology concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems and disorders. - Eventually received "enormous institutional support"16
643048537CognitionRefers to the mental process involved in acquiring knowledge.17
643117151Evolutionary Psychologyexamines behavioral processes in terms of their adaptive value for members of a species over the course of many generations.18
643117152Positive PsychologyUses theory and research to better understand the positive, adaptive, creative, and fulfilling aspects of human existence.19
643117153Theme 1: Psychology is EmpiricalEmpiricism: premise that knowledge should be acquired through observation. Conclusions are based on direct OBSERVATION rather than on reasoning, speculation, traditional beliefs, or common sense.20
643117154Theme 2: Psychology is Theoretically DiverseTheory: System of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations. One single theory can not adequately explain everything that is known about behavior. Theoretical diversity is a strength not a weakness21
643117155Theme 3: Psychology Evolves in a Sociohistorical ContextPsychologies past is filled with examples of how social trends have left their imprint on psychology. Ex: WWII and PTS22
643117156Theme 4: Behavior is Determined by Multiple CasesMultifactorial causation of behavior.23
643117157Theme 5: Behavior is shaped by cultural heritageOur cultural backgrounds exert considerable influence over our behavior. Culture: refers to the widely shared customs, beliefs, values, norms, institutions, and other products of a community that are transmitted socially across generations. Both differences and similarities in behavior occur across cultures.24
643117158Theme 6: Heredity and Environment Jointly Influence BehaviorNature and Nurture are involved25
643117159Theme 7: People's Experience of the World is Highly SubjectivePeople sometimes see what they want to see, or expect to see.26

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