Empiricism

The view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of the human mind.

Functionalism

A school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish.

Experimental Psychology

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method.

Behaviorism

Humanistic Psychology

Historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for personal growth.

Cognitive Neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes.

Nature-nurture issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

Natural selection

Levels of analysis

The differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.

Biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Biological psychology

A branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes.

Evolutionary psychology

The study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection.

Psychodynamic psychology

Behavioral psychology

The scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning.

Cognitive psychology

The scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Social-cultural psychology

The study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking.

Psychometrics

The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.

Basic research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

Developmental psychology

The scientific study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

Educational psychology

The study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning.

Personality psychology

The study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Social psychology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Applied research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

The application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces.

Human factors psychology

The study of how people and machines interact and the design of safe and easily used machines and environments.

Counseling psychology

A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.

Clinical psychology

A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

Psychiatry