PSYCH 100 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Scientific Method, Absolute Threshold, Parasympathetic Nervous System
Document Summary
The goals of psychology are: description, prediction, explanation, and application/control: understand the distinction between nativism/empiricism (nature/nurture). Nativism is the idea that thoughts, ideas and characteristics are inborn while empiricism is the idea that thoughts, ideas and characteristics are influenced by one"s environment: know the difference between structuralism/functionalism. Structuralism (wilhelm wundt) is the study of the structure or basic elements of the mind, such as sensations and perceptions that make up our conscious mental experiences. Psychoanalysis is sigmund freud"s theory and belief that childhood experiences influence development of later personality traits and psychological problems: know what behaviorism is. Gestalt psychology focuses on perception and sensation, particularly the perception of patterns and whole figures. It emphasizes that perception is more than the sum of its parts. Gestalt studied how sensations are assembled into meaningful perceptual experiences: know the seven modern perspectives of psychology.
