College
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Psychology 101
Introductory psychology concepts covering major theories, disorders, and researchers.
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Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Behaviorism
School of thought focusing on observable behavior; Watson, Skinner; environment shapes behavior
Psychoanalysis
Freud's theory; unconscious drives behavior; id, ego, superego; dream analysis; free association
Humanistic Psychology
Maslow, Rogers; focuses on personal growth and self-actualization; positive view of human nature
Cognitive Psychology
Study of mental processes: thinking, memory, perception, problem-solving, language
Biological Psychology
Studies how brain, neurotransmitters, and genetics influence behavior
Developmental Psychology
Study of how people change across the lifespan; cognitive, social, and physical development
Social Psychology
How people think about, influence, and relate to one another; conformity, obedience, group dynamics
Clinical Psychology
Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders
Independent Variable
The variable that is manipulated in an experiment; the cause
Dependent Variable
The variable that is measured in an experiment; the effect
Control Group
Group that does not receive the treatment; used for comparison
Random Assignment
Each participant has equal chance of being in any group; reduces bias
Reliability
Consistency of a measure; test gives same results each time
Validity
Does the test measure what it claims to measure?
Positive Reinforcement
Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., giving a treat for good behavior)
Negative Reinforcement
Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., stopping an alarm when you wake up)
Positive Punishment
Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior (e.g., getting a speeding ticket)
Negative Punishment
Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior (e.g., taking away phone privileges)
Observational Learning
Learning by watching others; Bandura's Bobo doll experiment; modeling
Selective Attention
Focusing on one stimulus while ignoring others; cocktail party effect
Conformity
Adjusting behavior to match group norms; Asch's line experiment
Groupthink
Poor decisions made by groups seeking consensus; suppresses dissent
Obedience
Following orders from authority; Milgram's shock experiment
Attribution Theory
How we explain others' behavior; internal (dispositional) vs external (situational) attributions
Anxiety Disorders
Excessive worry/fear; includes GAD, panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety, OCD
Defense Mechanisms
Freud; unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety: repression, denial, projection, rationalization
Stages of Grief
Kübler-Ross: Denial → Anger → Bargaining → Depression → Acceptance
Neuroplasticity
Brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life
Circadian Rhythm
24-hour biological clock; regulates sleep-wake cycle; influenced by light exposure
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