What is psychology defined as?

The scientific study of the mind.

How do philosophical issues become psychological?

When tested empirically.

What distinguishes psychology from philosophy?

Psychology tests philosophical issues empirically.

Who popularized the method of psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud, through his emphasis on patients discussing their experiences.

What concept did B.F. Skinner emphasize in behavior?

The importance of reinforcement and punishment in driving behavior.

What did Pavlov's experiments with dogs demonstrate?

Dogs learned to associate certain sights or sounds with food, leading to salivation.

What is Abraham Maslow best known for?

Proposing a hierarchy of human needs that motivate behavior.

How many stages of cognitive development did Piaget identify?

Four stages, each showing increasing complexity in thinking.

Neuron

the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system

External (outside) Stimuli

A stimulus that comes from outside an organism and causes a reaction

Internal (inside) Stimuli

A stimulus that comes from inside an organism

Dendrites

Appendages that are designed to receive communications from other cells

Axon Terminals

Neurotransmitters are stored there to communicate with other neurons

Frontal Lobe

Considered our behavior and emotional control center and home to our personality

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual perception, including color, form and motion

Cerebellum

Controls muscle functions and also control speech, thought, emotions, reading, writing, and learning

Personality Theories

Frameworks that help us understand how and why people think, feel, and behave differently.

ID

Consists of all the inherited (i.e., biological) components of personality present at birth, does not change with time or experience, and operates within the unconscious parts of the personality.

The Ego

The part of personality which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world, considering social realities and norms before deciding how to behave.

The Superego

Incorporates the values and morals of society learned from one's parents and others, medi-ating between the ID and the Ego, and controlling the impulses of the ID.

Openness

Reflects a person's willingness to embrace new ideas, experiences, and intellectual curiosity.

Conscientiousness

The degree to which a person is organized, responsible, and goal-oriented.

Extraversion

Measures the extent to which someone is outgoing, social, and energetic.

Agreeableness

Reflects a person's level of compassion, cooperativeness, and empathy.

Neuroticism (Emotional Stability)

Measures emotional stability and resilience to stress.

Qualitative Research

Focuses on obtaining data through open-ended and conversational communication.

Quantitative Research

The process of collecting and analyzing numerical data.

Control Group

A group separated from the rest of the experiment so that the independent variable being tested can be ruled out from influencing the experiment's results.

Experiment Group

A group that is separate from the controlled group, in which the dependent variable is being tested on.

Population

The entire group that you want to draw conclusions about.

Sample

A specific group that you will collect data from, with the size always being less than the total size of the population.

Random Assignment

Participants have an equal chance of being assigned to an experimental or control group, resulting in a sample that is, in theory, representative of the population.

Biased Assignment

Certain members of a sample population are intentionally omitted or targeted based on a specific trait(s).

Proper Representation

An intentional choice in picking participants based on the population you are trying to study.

Cross-Sectional Research

Compares different population groups at a single point in time using a single metric to measure.

Longitudinal Studies

Researchers conduct several observations of the same subjects over a period of time, some-times lasting many years.

Case Studies

An up-close, in-depth, and detailed examination of a particular case or cases, within a real-world context.

What is the primary difference between psychiatrists and psychologists?

Psychiatrists can prescribe medications to patients.

What type of training do psychologists typically have compared to counselors?

Psychologists usually have more advanced training and experience.