Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Scientific Observation
An empirical investigation structured to answer questions about the world in a systematic and intersubjective fashion
Research Method
A systematic approach to answering scientific questions
Animal Model
An animal's behavior is used to derive principles that may apply to human behavior
Description
The process of naming and classifying
Understanding
In psych, understanding is achieved when the causes of a behavior can be stated
Prediction
An ability to accurately forecast behavior
Control
Altering conditions that influence behavior
Critical Thinking
An ability to reflect on, evaluate, compare, analyze, critique, and synthesize information
Pseudopsychology
Any false and unscientific system of beliefs and practices that is offered as an explanation of behavior
Uncritical Acceptance
A tendency to accept a definition about oneself as being true because it is generally positive and flattering
Fallacy of Positive Instances
The tendency to remember or notice information that fits ones own expectations whole forgetting discrepancies
Barnum Effect
The tendency to consider a description accurate if is stated in very general terms
Scientific Method
A form of critical thinking based on careful measurement and controlled observation
Hypothesis
The predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about the relationship between variables
Operational Definition
Defining a scientific concept by stating the specific actions or procedures used to measure it
Theory
A system of ideas designed to interrelate concepts and facts in a way that summarizes existing data and predicts future observations
Cognitive Behaviorism
An approach that combines behavioral principles with cognition (perception, thinking, anticipation) to explain behavior
Gestalt Psychology
A school of psychology emphasizing the study of thinking, learning, and perception in whole units, not by analysis into parts
Unconscious
Contents of the mind that are beyond awareness, especially impulses and desires not directly known to a person
Repression
the unconscious process by which memories, thoughts, or impulses are held out of awareness
Psychoanalysis
A Freudian approach to psychotherapy emphasizing the exploration of unconscious conflicts
Neo-Freudian
A psychologist who accepts the broad features of Freud's theory but has revised the theory to fit his or her own concepts
Psychodynamic Theory
Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts, motives, and unconscious force
Humanism
An approach to psychology that focuses on human experience, problems, potentials, and ideals
Determinism
The idea that all behavior has prior causes that would completely explain one's choices and actions if all such causes were known
Free Will
The idea that human beings are capable of freely making choices or decisions
Self-Actualization
The ongoing process of fully developing one's personal potential
Biological Perspective
The attempts to explain behavior in terms of underlying biological principles
Psychological Perspective
The traditional view that behavior is shaped by psychological processes occurring at the level of the individual
Positive Psychology
The study of human strengths, virtues, and effective functioning
Sociocultural Perspective
The focus on the importance of social and cultural contexts in influencing the behavior of individuals
Cultural Relativity
The idea that behavior must be judged relative to the values of the culture in which it occurs
Social Norms
Rules that define acceptable behavior for members of a group
Psychologist
A person highly trained in the methods, factual knowledge, and theories of psychology
Clinical Psychologist
A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of psych and behavioral disturbances or who does research on such disturbances
Counseling Psychologist
A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of milder emotional and behavioral disturbances
Psychiatrist
A medical doctor with additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders
Psychoanalyst
A mental health professional trained to practice psychoanalysis
Counselor
A mental health professional who specializes in hlping people with problems not involving serious mental disorders
Psychiatric Social Worker
A mental health professional trained to apply social science principles to help patients in clinics and hospitals
Statistical Significance
Experimental results that would rarely occur by chance alone
Meta-Analysis
A statistical technique for combining the results of many studies on the same subject
Research Participant Bias
Changes in the behavior of participants caused by unintended influence of their own expectations
Placebo Effect
Changes in behavior due to participant's expectations that a drug will have some effect
Placebo
An inactive substance given in the place of a drug
Single Blind Experiment
An arrangement in which participants remain unaware of whether that are in the experimental group or the control group
Researcher Bias
Changes in the subject's behavior because of the unintended influence of the researcher's actions
Self Fulfilling Prophecy
A prediction that prompts people to act in a way that will make the prediction come true
Double Blind Experiment
An experiment in which the researchers and the participants remain unaware if they are in the experimental group or the control group
Experimental Method
Investigating causes of behavior through controlled experimentation
Naturalistic Observation
Observing the subject in it's natural environment
Correlational Method
Making measurements to discover relationships between events
Clinical Method
Studying psychological problems and therapies in a clinical setting
Survey Method
Using questionnaires and surveys to poll large groups of people
Observer Effect
Participant behavior is altered by the understanding that they are being observed
Observer Bias
The tendency of an observer to distort observations or perceptions to match his or her expectations
Anthromorphic Error
The error of attributing human characteristics to animals, especially when trying to discern their motivations
Correlation
The existence of a consistent, systematic relationship between two events, measures, or variables
Coefficient of Correlation
A statistical index ranging from -1.00 to +1.00 that indicates a direction and degree of correlation
Positive Correlation
Increases in one measure are matched by increases in another
Negative Correlation
Increases in one measure are matched by decreases in another
Causation
The act of causing some effect
Case Study
An in-depth focus on all aspects of a single person
Survey Method
The use of public polling techniques to answer psychological questions
Representative Sample
A small, randomly selected part of a larger population that accurately reflects characteristics of the whole population
Population
An entire group of animals or people belonging to a particular category
Biased Sample
A subpart of a larger population that does not accurately reflect the characteristics of the whole population
Gender Bias
A tendency for females and female issues to be underrepresented in research