History & Approaches

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Monism

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principle that the mind and consciousness can be explained by physical structures; the mind and body are part of the same entity

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Mind-Body Dualism

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principle that the mind is a nonphysical substance; consciousness and the mind cannot be explained by physical structures; the mind and body are two separate entities

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Innatism (Nativism)

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principle that humans are born with certain innate ideas; experience is not necessary in order to acquire knowledge

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Empiricism

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principle that humans must acquire knowledge through experiences; knowledge is not innate/inborn

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Socrates

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dualist and innatist who taught Plato

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Plato

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dualist and innatist who studied under Socrates

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Aristotle

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empiricist who studied under Plato

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René Descartes

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dualist and innatist

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John Locke

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empiricist who said the mind at birth is a "tabula rasa" (blank slate)

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Trephination (Trepanation)

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surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the human skull to release "evil spirits" in order to treat various disorders or disturbances

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Mesmerization (Mesmerism, Animal Magnetism)

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method which produced an "artificial tide" in a patient by having him/her swallow a preparation containing iron, and then attaching magnets to various parts of his/her body in order to treat various disorders or disturbances

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Phrenology

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method in which the personality traits of a person were determined by "reading" bumps and fissures in the skull

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Wilhelm Wundt

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father of modern psychology; established the first laboratory for the study of psychology in Leipzig, germany in 1879

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G. Stanley Hall

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established the first American laboratory for the study of psychology at Johns Hopkins University in 1883; founded the American Psychological Association (APA)

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Structuralism

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the first school of psychology; focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components; researchers tried to understand the basic elements of consciousness using a method known as introspection

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Functionalism

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school of psychology that formed as a reaction to structuralism; heavily influenced by the work of William James and the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin; rather than focusing on the elements of consciousness, it focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior

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Edward Titchener

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student of Wilhelm Wundt; supporter of structuralism

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Introspection

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self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations; research method used by structuralists

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William James

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wrote Principles of Psychology; opposed structuralism's focus on introspection and breaking down mental events to the smallest elements; focused on the wholeness of an event, taking into account the impact of the environment on behavior

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Principles of Psychology

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monumental text written by William James and published in 1890

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Gestalt Psychology

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school of thought founded by Max Wertheimer; opposed structuralism; "the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts"

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Psychoanalytic Perspective (Psychodynamic Perspective)

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perspective which explains behavior and mental processes as the result of the role of the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships

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Humanistic Perspective

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perspective which explains behavior and mental processes as the result of motivation and the attempt to reach one's ultimate potential

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Cognitive Perspective

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perspective which explains behavior as the result of mental processes such as memory, thinking, problem solving, etc.

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Biological Perspective (Neuroscience Perspective)

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perspective which explains behavior and mental processes as the result of physical processes of the body, involving neurotransmitters, hormones, and various structures of the brain, nervous system, and endocrine system

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Sociocultural Perspective (Social-Cultural Perspective)

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perspective which explains behavior and mental processes as the result of cultural norms or the context or situation within which we find ourselves

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Behavioral Perspective

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perspective which explains behavior as the result of learning; believes that only observable behaviors should be measured and studied

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Evolutionary Perspective

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perspective which explains behavior and mental processes as the result of natural selection; behaviors have developed in order to facilitate survival and reproductive success

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Behavior Genetics Perspective

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perspective which explains behavior and mental processes as the result of the interaction between genetic predispositions and lifestyle

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Basic Research

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research driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific question; main motivation is to expand scientific knowledge, not to put it to practical use

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Applied Research

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research designed to solve practical problems of the modern world, rather than to aqcquire knowledge for knowledge's sake; goal is to improve the human condition

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Biopsychology (Biological Psychology)

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area of psychology that applies the principles of biology to the study of mental processes and behavior

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Developmental Psychology

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area of psychology that studies the systematic psychological changes that occur in human beings over the course of the life span

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Cognitive Psychology

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area of psychology that investigates internal mental processes such as problem solving, memory, thinking and language

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Personality Psychology

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area of psychology that studies personality and individual differences

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Social Psychology

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area of psychology that studies how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others

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Clinical Psychology

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area of psychology which studies and applies psychology for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development

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Psychiatry

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area of psychology devoted to the treatment, study and prevention of mental disorder; medical specialty; medical degree required

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Industrial-Organizational Psychology

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area of psychology devoted to organizations and the workplace; contributes to an organization's success by improving the performance and well-being of its people; researches and identifies how behaviors and attitudes can be improved through hiring practices, training programs, and feedback systems

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Educational Psychology

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area of psychology which studies how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations

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School Psychology

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area of psychology that applies principles of various psychological fields to the diagnosis and treatment of children's and adolescents' behavioral and learning problems; trained to carry out psychological and psychoeducational assessment, psychotherapy, and consultation

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Quantitative Psychology

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area of psychology which applies statistical and mathematical methods to the study of psychology

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Sport psychology

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area of psychology which studies a person's behavior in sports; seeks to understand psychological/mental factors that affect performance in sports, physical activity, and exercise and apply these to enhance individual and team performance

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Forensic Psychology

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area of psychology which applies psychological knowledge to the criminal justice system

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Environmental Psychology

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area of psychology which studies the interplay between humans and their physical surroundings

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Experimental Psychology

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area of psychology that studies the underlying processes behind behavior and the specific nature of mental life; investigations use the experimental method The focus of experimental psychology is on discovering

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Positive Psychology

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area of psychology that studies the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive; seeks to find and nurture genius and talent and to make normal life more fulfilling

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Abnormal Psychology

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area of psychology that studies abnormal thoughts and behavior in order to understand and change abnormal patterns of functioning