principle of falsifiability - The principle that a scientific theory must make predictions that are
specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation; that is, the theory must
predict not only what will happen but also what will not happen.
phrenology - The now discredited theory that different brain areas account for specific character
and personality traits, which can be "read" from bumps on the skull.
structuralism - early psych approach that emphasized the analysis of immediate experiences into
basic elements
empirical - relying on or derived from observation, experimentation, or measurement
psychology - the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
psychobabble - Pseudoscience and quackery covered by a veneer of psychological and scientific-
sounding language
critical thinking - The ability and willingness to assess claims and make objective judgments on the
basis of well-supported reasons and evidence rather than emotion or anecdote
Occams Razor - The principle of choosing the solution that accounts for the most evidence while
making the fewest unverified assumptions.
functionalism - an early psychological approach that emphasized the function or purpose of
behavior and consciousness
psychoanalysis - Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious
motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and
interpret unconscious tensions
biological perspective - approach that emphasizes bodily events and changes associated with
actions feelings and thoughts
,evolutionary psychology - emphasizes the importance of adaptation, reproduction, and "survival
of the fittest" in shaping behavior
learning perspective - emphasizes how the environment and experience affect a person/animal
actions
behaviorism - emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment and
prior experiences as determinant of behavior
cognitive perspective - A psychological approach that emphasizes mental processes in perception,
memory, language, problem solving, and other areas of behavior
socioculture perspective - perspective that focuses on the relationship between social behavior
and culture
psychodynamic perspective - emphasizes unconscious dynamics within the individual, such as
inner forces, conflicts, or the movement of instinctual energy
humanist psychology - a psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth, resilience, and
the achievement of human potential
feminist psychology - a psychological approach that analyzes the influence of social inequities on
gender relations and on the behavior of the two sexes
psychological practice - providing health or mental health services
basic psychology - the study of psychological issues in order to seek knowledge for its own sake
rather than for its practical application
applied psychology - The study of psychological issues that have direct practical significance; also,
the application of psychological findings.
, psychotherapist -
psychoanalyst - a person who has obtained specialized training at a psychoanalysis institute
psychiatrist - A medical doctor who has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of
psychological disorders
theory - an organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified
set of phenomena and interrelationships
operational definition - A precise definition of a term in a hypothesis, which specifies the
operations for observing and measuring the process or phenomenon being defined.
confirmation bias - the tendency to look for or pay attention only to information that confirms
one's own belief
representative sample - A group of individuals, selected from a population for study, which
matches the population on important characteristics such as age and sex.
descriptive methods - methods that yield descriptions of behaviors but not necessarily casual
explanations
case study - a detailed description or particular individual being studied or treated
observational study - a study in which the researcher carefully and systematically observes and
records behavior without interfering with the behavior; it may involve either naturalistic or laboratory
observation
psychological tests - procedures used to measure and evaluate personality traits, emotional
states, aptitudes, interests, abilities, and values