Key Terms for Introduction to Psychology

adaptation

a trait of an organism has a function for the survival and reproduction of the individual 

American Psychological Association (APA)
professional organization representing psychologists in the United States

behaviourism

focus on observing and controlling behaviour

biopsychology

study of how biology influences behaviour

biopsychosocial model

perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual’s health

clinical psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behaviour

cognitive psychology

study of cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to experiences and actions

counselling psychology

area of psychology that focuses on improving emotional, social, vocational, and other aspects of the lives of psychologically healthy individuals

developmental psychology

scientific study of development across a lifespan

dissertation

long research paper about research that was conducted as a part of the candidate’s doctoral training

empirical method

method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities

forensic psychology

area of psychology that applies the science and practice of psychology to issues within and related to the justice system

functionalism

focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment

humanism

perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans

introspection

process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an attempt to break it into its component parts

natural selection

the process by which differences in an organisms characteristics arise leading to better adaptation to their environment

-ology
suffix that denotes “scientific study of”

personality psychology

study of patterns of thoughts and behaviours that make each individual unique

personality trait

consistent pattern of thought and behaviour

PhD

(doctor of philosophy) doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspectives housed in a traditional college of liberal arts and sciences

postdoctoral training program

allows programs and broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field

psychoanalytic theory

focus on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behaviour

psychology

scientific study of the mind and behaviour

PsyD

(doctor of psychology) doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research-oriented skills and focuses more on application of psychological principles in the clinical context

sport and exercise psychology

area of psychology that focuses on the interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical performance in sports, exercise, and other activities

structuralism

understanding the conscious experience through introspection