Psyc201 Chapter 1: Science Of Psychology

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applied research

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Research designed to solve or examine specific, practical problems

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basic research

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Research designed to obtain knowledge for its own sake

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behavioral neuroscience

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A subfield of psychology that examines brain processes and other physiological functions that underlie our behavior, sensory experience, emotions, and thoughts

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behavioral perspective

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A view that empasizes how the environment and learning experiences shape and control behavior

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behavioral genetics

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the scientific study of the role of genetic inheritance in behavior

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behaviorism

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A school of psychology that empasizes the effects of learning and environmental control on behavior and maintains that the proper subject matter of psychology is observable behavior

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biological perspective

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A view that focuses on the role of biological factors in behavior, including biochemical and brain processes, as well as genetic and evolutionary factors

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biopsychology

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A subfield of psychology that examines brain processes and other physiological functions that underlie our behavior, sensory experience, emotions, and thoughts

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British empiricism

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An eating disorder that involves a repeated cycle of binge eating followed by purging of the road

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clinical psychology

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A subfield of psychology that focuses on the study and treatment of mental disorders

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cognitive behaviorism

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A behavioral approach that incorporates cognitive concepts, suggesting that the environment influences our behavior by affecting our thoughts and giving us information

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cognitive neuroscience

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An area of psychology that intersects the subfields of cognitive psychology and physiological psychology and examines brain processes that underlie mental activity

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cognitive perspective

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A view that empasizes humans as information processors and problem solver, and that focuses on the mental processes that influence behavior

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cognitive psychology

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An area of psychology that specializes in studying mental processes such as thinking, memory, planning, reasoning, attention, and perception.

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cultural (cross-cultural) psychology

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A subfield of psychology that explores how culture is transmitted to its members and examines psychological similarities and differences that occur between people from diverse cultures.

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developmental psychology

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A subfield of psychology that examines human physical, psychological, and social development across the life span

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evolutionary psychology

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A field of study that focuses on the role of evolutionary processes (especially natural selection) in the development of adaptive psychological mechanisms and social behavior in humans.

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experimental psychology

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A subfield of psychology that focuses on basic processes such as learning, sensory systems (e.g., vision), perception, and motivational states (e.g., hunger).

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functionalism

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An early school of American psychology that focused on the functions of consciousness and behavior in helping organisms adapt to their environment and satisfy their needs.

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humanistic perspective (humanism)

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A psychological view that emphasizes personal freedom, choice, and self-actualization.

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industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

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A subfield of psychology that focuses on people's behavior in the workplace.

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interaction

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An interaction occurs (i.e., two factors “interact”) when the way in which one factor influences behavior depends on the presence of the other factor.

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natural selection

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The evolutionary process through which characteristics that increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction are preserved in the gene pool and thereby become more common in a species over time.

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neurotransmitters

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Chemical substances that are released from the axons of one neuron, travel across the synaptic space, and bind to specially keyed receptors in another neuron, where they produce a chemical reaction that is either excitatory or inhibitory.

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norms

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Rules (often unwritten) that specify what behavior is acceptable and expected for members of a particular culture or group.

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personality psychology

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A subfield of psychology that focuses on the nature of human personality

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positive psychology movement

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A view that empasizes the study of human strengths, fultillment, and optimal living

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psychoanalysis

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A psychological theory, developed by Freud, that emphasizes internal and primarily unconscious causes of behavior.

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psychodynamic perspective

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A psychological perspective that focuses on how personality processes—including unconscious impulses, defenses, and conflicts—influence behavior.

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psychology

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The scientific study of behavior and the mind

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social psychology

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A subfield of psychology that examines people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior in relation to the social world.

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sociocultural perspective

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A view that emphasizes the role of culture and the social environment in influencing our behavior, thoughts, and emotions.

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structuralism

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An early German school of psychology established by Wundt that attempted to study the structure of the mind by breaking it down into its basic components, which were believed to be sensations.