PSYC 2000 Chapter : Chapter 1
Document Summary
Focused on conscious experience and its building blocks. Psychology- is the science of mental processes and behavior. Structuralism- examines the structure of the mind and organization of basic elements of sensations, feelings, and images. Introspection- carefully observing one"s own conscious psychological reactions. Functionalism- mental associations allow us to benefit from previous experience. Gestalt psychology- objects are well organized structures, whole objects instead of separate, isolated parts. Psychoanalytic approach/ psychodynamics- how thoughts and feelings affect behavior. Austrian neurologist, founded psychoanalysis, focused on unconscious thoughts in determining behavior. feelings come from a hidden place in your mind called the unconscious. Defense mechanisms help us protect ourselves from our real feelings. Emphasized the study of observable behavior only. Skinner introduced the concept of reinforcement to behaviorism. Assumes that people have positive values, free will, and deep inner creativity. Led to the emergence of cognitive psychology. The study of mental process that attempts to characterize how information is stored and operated on internally.
