psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
behavior
observable and measurable actions of people and animals
cognitive activities
private, unobservable mental processes such as sensation, perception, thought, and problem solving
psychological constructs
theoretical entitiies, or concepts, that enable one to discuss something that cannot be seen, touched, or measured directly
theory
a set of assumptions about why something is the way it is and happens the way it does
principle
a rule or law
basic research
research that is conducted for its own sake, that is, without seeking a solution to a specific problem
introspection
an examination of one's own thoughts and feelings
associationism
a learned connection between two ideas or events
structuralism
the school of psychology, founded by Wilhem Wundt, that maintains that conscious experience breaks down into objective sensations and subjective feelings
functionalism
the school of psychology, founded by William James, that emphasizes the purposes of behavior and mental processes
behaviorism
the school of psychology, founded by John Watson, that defines psychology as the scientific study of observable behavior
Gestalt psychology
the school of psychology that emphasizes the tendency to organize perceptions into meaningful wholes
psychoanalysis
the school of psychology, founded by Sigmund Freud, that emphasizes the importance of unconscious motives and conflicts as determinants of human behavior
psychodynamic thinking
the theory that most of what fills an individual's mind is unconscious and consists of conflicting impulses, urges, and wishes
biological perspective
the psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of biology on behavior
evolutionary perspective
the theory focusing on the evolution of behavior and mental processes
cognitive perspective
the viewpoint that emphasizes the role of thought processes in determining behavior
humanistic perspective
the psychological view that assumes the existence of the self and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the freedom to make choices
psychoanalytic perspective
the perspective that stresses the influences of unconscious forces on human behavior
learning perspective
the psychological point of view that emphasizes the effects of experience on behavior
social-learning theory
the theory that suggests that people have the ability to change their environments or to create new ones
sociocultural perspective
in psychology, the perspective that focuses on the roles of ethnicity, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status in personality formation, behavior, and mental processes
ethnic group
a group united by cultural heritage, race, language, or common history