The science of psychology (Kap 1)

Psychology The scientific study of behaviour and the mind

Basic research Reflects the quest for knowlegde purely for its own sake

applied research designed to solve specific, practical problems

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) excessive disproportionate anxiety about several different aspects of life

mind-body dualism the belief that the mind is a spiritual entity not subject to physical laws that govern the body

monism hold that mind and body are one and that the mind is not a separate spiritual entity

empiricism held that all ideas and knowlegde are gained empirically, that is, through senses

structuralism the analysis of the mind in terms of its basic elements

functionalism held that psychology should study the functions of consciousness rather than its structure

psychodynamic perspective searches for the causes of behaviour within the inner workings of our personality (our unique pattern of traits, emotions and motives), emphasazing the role of unconscious processes

psychoanalysis the analysis of internal and primarily unconscious psychological forces

decende mechanism psychological techniques that help us cope with anxiety and the pain of traumatic experiences

object relations theories focus on how early experiences with caregivers shape the views that people form themselves and others

behavioural perspective focuses on the role of the external environment in governing our actions

behaviourism school of thought that emphasizes environmental control of behaviour through learning

cognitive behaviourism proposes that learning experiences and the environment influence our expectations and other thoughts, and in turn our thoughts influence how we behave

humanistic perspective (humanism) emphasized free will, personal growth and the attempt to find meaning in ones existence

positive psychology movement emphasizes the study of human strengths, fulfilment and optimal living

cognitive perspective examines the nature of the mind and how mental processes influence behaviour

gestalt psychology examines how elements of exoerience are organized into wholes

cognitive psychology focuses on the study of mental processes and embodies the cognitive perspective

cognitive neuroscience uses sophisticated electrical recording and brain-imaging techniques to examine brain activity while people engage in cognitive tasks

social constructivism maintains that what we consider ´reality´ is largely our own mental creation

sociocultural perspective examines how the social encironment and cultural learning influence our behaviour, thoughts and feelings

culture the enduring values, beliefs, behaviours and traditions that are shared by a large group of people and passed from one generation to the next

norms rules (often unwritten) that specify what behaviour is acceptable and expected for members of a group

socialization the process by which culture is transmitted to new members and internalized by them

behaviour genetics the study of how behavioural tendencies are influenced by genetic factors

cross-culture psychology explores how culture is transmitted to its members and examines psychological similarities and differences among people from diverse cultures

individualistic an emphasis on personal goals and seld-identity based primarily on ones own attributes and achievements

collectivist individual goals are subordinated to those of the group, and personal identity is defined largely by the ties that bind one to the extended family and other social groups

biological perspective examines how brain processes and other bodily functions regulate behaviour

behaviour neuroscience examines brain processes and other psychological functions that underlie our behaviour, sensory experiences, emotions and thoughts

natural selection if an inherited trait gives certain members an advantage over others there members will be more likely to survive and pass these characteristics on to their offsprings

neurotransmitters chemicals released by nerve cells that allow them to communicate with one another

evolutionary psychology a growing discipline that seeks to explain how evolution shaped modern human behaviour

interaction the way in which one factor influences behaviour depends on the presence of another factor

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