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All GRE Psychology Names
All GRE Psychology Names
170
Psychology
Graduate
09/28/2008

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Term
Norman Triplett
Definition
(1861-1931)Considered the firs social Psychologist. Studied the "Social Facilitation" effect in cyclists in later in the the lab with single and paired children
Term
William McDougall
Definition
(1871-1938)Wrote one of the first Soc. Psych. Texts," An Introduction to Social Psychology" (1908–50, reprinted 1973)
Term
Edward Alsworth Ross
Definition
Sociologist who wrote "Social Control" (1901) one of the first Soc. Psych. texts.
Term
Verplank
Definition
Put forward the notion that approval influenced behavior. In a 1950's experiment he showed how the course of conversation is changed by the approval of others
Term
Fritz Heider
Definition
(1896-1988) Austrian Psychologist put forword two important ideas.

"Balance Theory": a consistancy theory involving self/other/thing

"Attribution Theroy": Explains how people decide what to attribute other behavior to "Situational/Dispositional"
"Fundamental Attribution Error"
Term
Leon Festinger
Definition
(1919-1989) Best known for his "Theory of Cognative Disonence" in which people change beliefs based on behavior as opposed to vice/versa.
-"Free Choice" dissonence produces a "Post Decision Dissonance" which can result in the subject "Spreading the Alternatives"
-"Forced Coice Dissonence"
-"Minimal Justification Effect"
(Fest./Carlsmith Spool Experiment)

"Social Comparison Theory": Evaluating self based on other attracts us to those that are simelar in opinions and abilities. Person will change to match group.
Term
Daryl Bem
Definition
Put forward "Self-Perception Theory" as an alternative to Cog. Diss. One infers there attitude post-hoc their behavior. No discomfort or dissonance necessary.
-"Overjustification effect": loss of pleasure in an act after receiving external reward for it
Term
Carl Hovland
Definition
(1912-1961) Looked at attitude change in persuasion considering 3 factors "communicator" "Communication" "Setting"
(Hov./Weiss 1950 source credibility experiment)
-"Sleeper Effect":Low and High credibility sources show less difference in effect over time.
-"Two-Sided Messages" are more persuasive
Term
Petty and Cacioppo
Definition
"Elaboration Likelihood" model of persuasion dependent on the participants ability/motivation to elaborate on the material presented.
2 routs to persuasion
-"Central Route" Person is more cognitively engaged and likely to be swayed based on content.
-"Peripheral Route" Less involved, more swayed by communicator and setting
Term
William McGuire
Definition
Coined "Analogy of Inoculation" in terms of attitude change/persuasion. People are more resistant to arguments against a belief after having successfully defended that belief.
-"Cultural Truisms" that go unquestioned are open to persuasion.
-"Refuted Counterargument" beliefs already attacked and defended are more resilient (tooth brushing/enamel ware)
-"Belief Perseverance":beliefs that a person has formed there own defense for will persevere in spite of disproof.
-"Reactance": Beliefs attacked aggressively will be more strongly held
Term
Stanley Schachter
Definition
(1922-1997) Looked at the anxiety and the desire to affiliate. Research showed that anxious people affiliated with the like.
Term
Aronson and Linder
Definition
"Gain-Loss Principle" as an elaboration of "Reciprocity Hypothesis". In terms of affiliation and attraction, the degree of ones like or dislike for the other can depend on the overall change in the athers like/dislike of one.
Term
Robert Zajonc
Definition
(1922-) Coined "Mere Exposure Effect" as an alternative "Spatial Proximity" as a contributing factor in attraction. The more familiar one is with the other the more attractive the other becomes.

Looked at the "Social Facilitation Effect" in terms of the facilitation of dominant responses in the presence of others.
Term
John Darley and Bibb Latane
Definition
1964 "Bystander Intervention" research based on Kitty Genovese case. The likelihood of Intervention is based on 2 things.
"Social Influence": Attitude of others towards the event.
-"Pluralistic Ignorance"
(smoke room)
"Diffusion of Responsibility": # of others present.
(Phone Booth)
Term
Daniel Batson
Definition
(1943-) Put forward the "Empathy-Altruism" model of helping behavior. Those who empathize more then just become distressed are more likely to help
Term
Albert Bandura
Definition
(1925-) Canadian Psychologist father of "Social Cognitive Psychology" who put forward "Social Leaning Theory" to explain aggression. Aggression is learned through "Modeling" and "Reinforcement" or "Observational Learning"
(Beating "Bobo" doll)
Term
Muzafer Sherif
Definition
(1906-1988) Looked at the conformity in terms of subjects tendency to agree with the group on subjective movement in the "Autokinetic Effect.

("Robert Cave Experiment" looked at competition and cooperation when formally hostile groups focus there attention on "Superordinate Goals"
Term
Solomon Asch
Definition
Conformity Study
(Looked at subjects tendency to change responses about objectively obvious lengths of lines based to conform with the false responses of others)
Term
Stanley Milgram
Definition
(1933-1984) "Milgram Experiment" looked at obedience/conformity and authority
(Subjects continued to administer electric shocks past danger levels 65%. Done in Yale and a random comercial building. Subjects were much more likely to continue if someone else pulled the switch, and much less likely if someone else refused
Term
Clark and Clark
Definition
(1974 Looked at "doll Preference" in terms of the race of the children and the doll, and found that black and white children preferred the white doll)
Used in 1954 "Brown vs Topeka Board of Education"
Term
Melvin J. Learner
Definition
"Belief in a Just World" or "BJW" is used to explain social perceptions. individuals who score high on BJW tend
Term
Theodore Newcomb
Definition
(1936 Looked at group norms as an influence of political beliefs of female college student at the Benington. Girls were more likely to vote democratic based on there time at the University, and most maintained that attitude into adulthood.
Term
Edward Hall
Definition
Looked at social norms of "Proxemics" or how close people are likely comfortably interact.
Term
Philip Zimbardo
Definition
("Prison Simulation" anonymity creates a sense of "Deindividuation" in which a person loses there sense of self and the ingrained morality and therefore can become overwhelmed by there roles)
Term
Irving Janis
Definition
(1918-1990) Coined the term "Group Think" which described how groups strive for consensus at the sacrifice of careful rational decision making.
"Risky Shift" is a byproduct of this and shows a tendency for groups to be more risk prone then individuals (based on how risk is valued culturally "Value hypothesis)
(Looked at historic examples, "The Bay of Pigs")
Term
James Stoner
Definition
(1968 experiment with pregnant couples showed a tendency towards less risk which led to a new formulation of group decision making in terms of extremes "Group Polarization")
Term
kurt Lewin
Definition
(1890-1947) Considered the founder of social psychology. Looked at leadership styles of boys in an after school program
"Autocratic" most productive, hostile and leader dependent
"Democratic" more work motivation and interest
"Laissez-Faire"

"Humanistic" "Field Theory": Personality and traits is not fixed but exist as individual systems in a dynamic interplay of all things external and internal. Articulation and distinction of different areas breaks down in times of stress.
-Developed the Lewin Equation which described behavior as a function of individual and their environment.
Term
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Definition
(1712-1778) French Philosopher who believed that society was not only not necessary for development, but that it was a detriment to optimal development.

Wrote "Emil: Concerning Education"
Term
John Locke
Definition
(1632-1704) British Philosopher and member of the British Empiricist School of Thought, which maintained that all knowledge is gained through experience.

The mind is a "Tabula Rasa" or "blank slate"
Term
G. Stanley Hall
Definition
(1844-1924) Father of "Developmental Psychology" and the APA
Term
John Watson
Definition
(1878-1958)American psychologist who believed that development should be considered in terms of behavior and environment not mentalistic concepts.
Term
Arnold Gesell
Definition
(1880-1961)American Psychologist and Pediatrician. Described as a "Nativist" in that he believed that much of development is biologically based. Development occurred as a "Matuarational" process independent of practice or training.
Term
Sigmund Freud
Definition
(1856-1939) Austrian Psychiatrist who started the psychodynamic school of psychology.

"Libido": (Sex/Life drive) is driver of development. "Psychosexual" development stages "Oral" 0-1 "Anal" 1-3 "Phallic/Oedipal/Electra" 3-6 "Latency" 6-puberty "Genital" final.

Stressed the role of subconscious conflict in development.
Term
Jean Piaget
Definition
(1896-1980) Swiss psychologist. Described as a "cognitive structuralist" in contrast to behaviorism.

Four stages of cognitive development. "sensory motor" - "properational" - "concrete operational" - "formal operational"

"schema" "Adaptation" - "Assimilation/Accommodation" "Object permanence" "Centration" "ego centrism" "Conservation"
Term
Gregor Mendel
Definition
(1822-1884) Austrian monk and father of genetics. Discovered basic unit of inheritance "Genes" and alternative forms they took "Allele" either "Dominant/Recessive"

"Genotype/Phenotype" "Chromosomes"
Term
Robert Choate Tryon
Definition
Major contributor to early "Eugenics". Discovered the genetic basis for maze running ability in rats.

"Maze Bright" "Maze Dull"
Term
Lewis Terman
Definition
(1877-1956) U.S. Psychologist who studied gifted children (IQ over 135) in longitudinal study.
-Adopted the use of Intelligence Quotient and modified the "Binet-Simon test" into the "Stanford-Binet Inteligence Test"
Term
Lev Vygotsky
Definition
(1896-1934) Russian Psychologist who founded the school of "Cultural Historical Psychology": Development inluenced by childs internalizing of cultural rules/symbols/language etc.

"Zone of Proximal Development": Difference between child's ability alone and with adult aid.
Term
Lennenberg, Rebelsky and Nichols
Definition
(1965) Around 9-12 months all children regardless of their or there parents hearing begin to babel.
Term
Noam Chomsky
Definition
Linguist who studied "Transformational Grammar" syntactic transformations which changes with meaning i.e. children are born with LAD "Language Acquisition Device"
Term
Erik Erikson
Definition
(1902-1994) "Psychosocial Theory" also considered "Neo Freudian". Expanded Freuds stages of development to cover the whole life span and considered healthy psyche in its of terms not just in relation to the unhealthy.

8 stages of development involving life crisies around needs vs social demands 1."Trust/Mistrust" 0-1 2."Autonomy/Shame,Doubt" 1-3 3."Initiative/Guilt" 3-6 4."Industry/Inferiority" 6-12 5."Identity/Role confusion" adolescence
6."Intimacy/Isolation" Young adult 7."Generativity/Stagnation" middle age 8."Integrity/Despair" old age
Term
Alexander and Chess
Definition
Studied Temperament in a longitudinal study and proposed three infant emotional/behavioral styles "Easy" "Slow to Warm Up" "Difficult"
Term
Peter H. Wolff
Definition
Studied crying as comunication in newborns.

"Basic Cry" hunger
"Angry Cry" Frustration
"Pain Cry"
Term
Harry Harlow
Definition
(1905-1981) Studied tangible affection on social cognitive development in new born Rhesus Monkeys.

Chose tactile life like mothers over feeding wood cylinders.

Isolated monkeys could not be brought back into society after a year.
Term
John Bowlby
Definition
(1907-1990) Naturalistic study of attachment style 0-2 yrs.
-"pre-attachment" phase -familiar/unfamiliar face distinction
-mother specific seeking and response
-stranger anxiety
-"Separation Anxiety"
Term
Mary Ainsworth
Definition
(1913-1999) Used the "strange situation" to study attachment in Ugandan children.

-"Insecure/Avoidant"
-"Secure"
-"insecure/Resistant
Term
Konrad Lorenz
Definition
(1903-1989) Austrian father of modern Ethology. rapid forming attachment bonds or "Imprinting" of Jackdaw
Term
Lawrence Kohlberg
Definition
(1927-1987) founder of "Moral Development"3 Cognitive stages of moral development.
1."Preconventional"
-(punishment/obediance)
-(orientation towards reciprocity)
2."Conventional" socialy oriented
-(good girl, nice boy)
-(law and Order)
3."Post-Conventional"
-(Social contrast) ensure greater good
-(Universal Ethical Principles)

Cognitive development: self-socializing in 3 stages.
1."Gender Labeling" 2-3
2."Gender Stability" 3-4
3."Gender Constancy" 4-7
Term
Carol Gilligan
Definition
Looked at gender difference in moral development. Proposed that women are more interpersonaly motivated then rule bound
Term
Diane Baumrind
Definition
Studied parental style and discipline looking at control, nurturance, communication and maturity demands.

3 parenting styles
1."Authoritarian" cold, demand/putative
2."Permissive" low control/demand
3."Authoritative" warm, demand/reward
Term
Melanie Klein
Definition
Object Theorist
Mind develops in terms of a dynamic between individual and object. Object can be both external and Internal/mental. Early object relationships are fundamental and though alterable, are usually long lasting. Ideally Child begins with "Part Object", but through interacion with world, can refine and expand mental representation to be less ridged and more in line with reality.
Term
D.W. Winnicott
Definition
Object Theorist
Mind develops in terms of a dynamic between individual and object. Object can be both external and Internal/mental. Early object relationships are fundamental and though alterable, are usually long lasting. Ideally Child begins with "Part Object", but through interacion with world, can refine and expand mental representation to be less ridged and more in line with reality.
Term
Margaret Mahler
Definition
Object Theorist
Mind develops in terms of a dynamic between individual and object. Object can be both external and Internal/mental. Early object relationships are fundamental and though alterable, are usually long lasting. Ideally Child begins with "Part Object", but through interacion with world, can refine and expand mental representation to be less ridged and more in line with reality.
Term
Otto Kernberb
Definition
Object Theorist
Mind develops in terms of a dynamic between individual and object. Object can be both external and Internal/mental. Early object relationships are fundamental and though alterable, are usually long lasting. Ideally Child begins with "Part Object", but through interacion with world, can refine and expand mental representation to be less ridged and more in line with reality.
Term
William Sheldon
Definition
(1898-1977) Used the notion of "Somatotypes" as correlates of behavior.
"Endomorphy": Soft/Spherical
"Mesomorphy": Hard/Rectangular
"Ectomorphy": Fragile/Thin
Term
Edwin Garrigues Boring
Definition
(1886-1968) Considered the first historian of Psychology. Suggested that the development of psychology was a result of Zeitgeist no individuals.
Term
Edward Titchener
Definition
(1867-1927) Early or first structuralist considered sensations and thoughts as literal basic elements of psychology and used introspection to study these.
Term
Philippe Pinel
Definition
1792 was placed in charge of Paris asylums and undertook to better the condition of the mentally ill
Term
Dorothea Dix
Definition
(1802-1887) Activist who successfully lobbied for the institution of the first generation of insane asylums in the US.
Term
Cerletti and Bini
Definition
1938 introduced electroshock for the treatment of psychiatric patients.
Term
Emil Kraepelin
Definition
(1856-1926) Considered the founder of modern scientific psychiatry. Worked out a system of classifying disorders by symptom incorporating clinical data (precursor of the DSM)
Term
Sigmund Freud
Definition
(1856-1939) Developed "Psychodynamic" OR "Psychoanalytic" Theory. The psyche is a danamic between three components.
-"ID" which is the store house of psychic energy operating under "The pleasure Principle" being the "Primary process",which when unfulfillable will represent in the mind as "Wish-Fulfillment".
-"Ego": Operating under the "Reality Principle" operating as the "Secondary Process" to fulfill the impulse of the Id within the confines of circumstance. Instinct as expressed by the Id is still the primary motivating force
-"Superego" Operating in the realm of moral ideals, is made up of "Conscience" reinforced by punishment and "Ego-Ideal" reinforced by reward.
Term
Carl Jung
Definition
(1875-1961) Swiss Psychiatrist who expanded on Psychodynamics to include social/cultural/interpersonal dimensions. Less emphasis on psychic energy as sexually rooted. Ego becomes conscious mind and subconscious is divided into "Personal" and "Collective" which shares common "Archetypes with other minds, which become the primary motivation for behavior.
Also put forward fundamental distinctions of personality, "Introverted" and "Extroverted"
Term
Alfred Adler
Definition
(1870-1837) Austrian MD and psychologist in the Psychodynamic model, later emphasized "Individualistic/differential" model. Emphasized societal/family impact on the unconscious "Social Variables" and saw striving towards Superiority as the root of psychic energy. Pathology stems from anti-social methods of archiving superiority. Coined "Inferiority Complex"
The "Creative Self" is the force within individuals which acts in the world to archive superiority and which is expressed as a "Style of Life".
"Fictional Finalism" Is the notion that individuals are driven by creative subjective future fiction vs actual past events.
Term
Karen Horney
Definition
(1885-1952) German Psychodyanamic or Neo-Fraudian. Focused on neurotic personality as govererned by 10 needs which are common to healthy people and differ only in the extream to which they are applied and to how they affect the neurotic person. These needs fall into 3 motivational categories Moving "Towards" "Against" and "Away".
Much of this theory is rooted in the idea of "Basic Anxiety". Coping strategies for this anxiety are learned in childhood and are dependent on the utilization of the 3 motivational strategies.
Term
Anna Freud
Definition
(1895-1982) Mother of "Ego-Psychology. Focused more on Ego and its relation to environment and other psychic elements in her work with children.
Also further developed the understanding of "Defense Mechanisms"
Also focused more on the impact of care giving adult pathology on child pathology.
Term
John Dollard
Definition
Crossed Psychodynamic theory with behavioral stimulus-response learning. Interested in conflicting motives/tendencies in the development of personality
Term
Neal Miller
Definition
Crossed Psychodynamic theory with behavioral stimulus-response learning (Freudian anxiety is "signal of danger"). Interested in conflicting motives/tendencies in the development of personality
-Concluded with Dolard that "Operative Conditioning" is the next step after "Classical Conditioning". Improved performance through lengthening the reinforcement period.
Term
Martin Seligman
Definition
(1942-) Coined "Learned helplessness" and applied the notion to depression.
(Dog floor shock)
Term
Aaron Beck
Definition
(1921-) Behaviorist oriented father of "Cognitive Therapy": systematic rational analysis of thinking pasterns with the development of healthier better justified thinking.
Invented a number of scales for measuring and assessing disorders.
Term
Albert Ellis
Definition
(1913-2007)Behaviorist oriented creator of "Rational-Emotive Therapy" RET: Client is motivated to challenge the rational for certain irrational thoughts and beliefs
Term
Abraham Maslow
Definition
(1908-1970) Considered father of "Humanistic Psychology" famous for "Hierarchy of Needs": Exist in order of importance from "Physiological"-"Belongingness"-"self actualization": not all achieve this state and certain characteristics appear to be present with self actualized people. Many have "Peak Experiences"
Term
George Kelly
Definition
(1905-1966) Humanist who put aside many of the standard models of motivation. Saw individual as scientist interacting in the world an developing schema/constructs. The predictive value of these constructs determines the psychological well being of the individual.
Term
Carl Rogers
Definition
(1902-1987) Humanistic Psychologist with a phenomenological orientation. Focused on empowering the individual through "Client/Person Centered" "Non directive" Therapy. The Goal is to align a person with with there ideal of themselves in a setting of "Unconditional Positive Regard"
Term
Victor Frankle
Definition
(1905-1997)Austrian Psychiatrist who fathered "Logotharapy" a form of "Existential" therapy which focused on the injection of meaning in all things
Term
Raymond Cattell
Definition
(1905-1998) Subscribed to the "Trait" Theory of personality and advocated the scientific method in analizing these traits through "Factor Analysis" of what he termed "Source Traits" Which were the source of behavior and of which he identified 16 total.
-approach to intelligence described two basic mental abilities "Fluid Intelligence": Develops through adolescence and involves the ability to quickly understand the relationship of variables in novel situations and "Crystallized Intelligence": Develops throughout life and involves problem solving based on prior experience, knowledge and skills.
Term
Hans Eysenck
Definition
(1916-1997) Type/Trait theorist simelar to Cattel in his use of Factor Analysis. Types, most famously "Introversion" and "Extroversion" could be divided into subsequent Traits. Also distinguished "Neurotic/Secure" and later "Psychotesism".
Term
Gordon Allport
Definition
(1897-1967) Early Personality theorist, rejected both Psycodynamic and Behaviorist schools as extremes. Identified the distinction between "Ideographic" and "Nomothetic" methodological approaches to personality.
Trait Theorist concerned with 3 levels of traits.
-"Cardinal": Single dominant trait around which a person organizes there life.(Exclusive to some)
-"Central" Those traits that are easily recognized in an individual.
_"Secondary" more personal traits which occur less often.
Distinguished "Drive" from "Motive" as eventual gaining "Functional Autonomy" from the initial motive.
Term
David McClelland
Definition
(1917-1998) Trait Theorist who is famous for the specific trait "The Need for Achievement" nAch: High scorers find middle ground between Difficulty/Ease of a task, are risk averse and realistic about goals.
-"Optimal Incongruity": Small deviations from a persons individual adaption level are pleasurable. i.e. We enjoy challenge within reason.
Term
Herman Witkin
Definition
(1916-1978) Phenomenolegist and "Field Theorist" and distinguished personality Types by "Field Dependence": Ability to examine stimuli/events independently of one and other
Term
Julian Rotter
Definition
(1916-) Her personality theory divided people types, those with an "Internal vs External Locus of Control" in regards to the ascribing of internal/external cause to an event. Both effect self esteem in opposite directions depending on the negative or positive quality of the event being ascribed.
Also developed "Social Learning Theory": Behavioral reinforcement is as much dependent on social factors as psychological factors.
Term
Sandra Bem
Definition
(1944-) Looked at gender and personality with the division of masculinity and femininity as two separate measures not a spectrum.
May have coined "Androgyny"
-"Gender Schema Theory" Children develop a gender lens based on cultural gender norms, through which they view self, other and object.
Term
Walter Mischel
Definition
(1930-) Critic of Trait/Type Theory and in 1968 published the famous Monograph "Personality and Assessment" Which showed a lack of consistancy between behavior and personality models. Put foreword the importance of factoring in situation "if/then" for determining behavior. Stressed importance of cognitive functions in behavior.
(1960's "Marshmallow Experiment" Looked at "Differed/Delayed Gratification" in children, and later achievement)
Term
David Rosenhan
Definition
(1973 he and seven other went into a psychiatric hospital for an average of 3 weeks complaining of auditory hallucinations, were diagnosed paranoid or bipolar in remission despite normal behavior)
Term
Thomas Szasz
Definition
(1920-) Started the anti-psychiatry movement and criticized the "Social Control" aspect of medicine.
Wrote "The Myth of Mental Illness"
Term
William James
Definition
(1842-1910) Pioneering American Psychologist, FATHER OF PSYCHOLOGY. Strong proponent of "Functionalism" in regards to the study of mental events and behavior and there function in relation to the environment
Term
John Dewey
Definition
(1859-1952) Strong proponent of "Functionalism" in regards to the study of mental events and behavior and there function in relation to the environment.

Criticized the notion of "Reflex Arch" which broke down stimulus/reaction into discrete parts as opposed to considering the organism and its prosessis as a whole.
Term
Max Wertheimer
Definition
(1880-1943) The founders of "Gastalt Psychology": Mind/Brain operations operate in parallel, with the whole being greater then the sum of its parts. Stands in opposition to "atomistic" or step wise approach to processing.
(Study of "Phi Phenomenon": apparent connection and movement of two spacialy destict flashing dots.)
-First to formulate a list of criteria for perceptual organization."law of pragnanz" "Closure" "Similarity" "Common Fate" "Symmetry" "Continuity"
Term
Kurt Koffka
Definition
One of 3 founders of "Gastalt Psychology": Mind/Brain operations operate in parallel, with the whole being greater then the sum of its parts. Stands in opposition to "atomistic" or step wise approach to processing.
Term
Wolfgang Köhler
Definition
One of 3 founders of "Gastalt Psychology": Mind/Brain operations operate in parallel, with the whole being greater then the sum of its parts. Stands in opposition to "atomistic" or step wise approach to processing.

-Put forward "Theory of Isomorphism" to explain figure/ground distinction in the brain. One/one correlation between perceived object and the pattern of brain stimulation.
-Argued that problem solving in animals is not just trial/error, depending on the context of the behavior, animals are capable of learning through "insight". (Monkey Box Stack)
Term
Wilhelm Wundt
Definition
(1832-1920) Germain MD founded the first Journal and the first laboratory of psychology.
Mentor of Titchner, interested in understanding fundamental constituents of consciousness in the same manner as fundamental physical constituents.
Term
Franz Gall
Definition
(1758-1828) German anatomist who Developed field of "Phrenology": Well developed traits result in localized brain growth which pushes on skull to produce bumps which can be categorically described.
Term
Pierre Flourens
Definition
(1794-1867) French Physiologist interested in "Localizationism" and studied pigeons through the use of "Extirpation" and "Ablation".
Term
Paul Broca
Definition
(1824-1880) French Neuroanatomist who found that aphasic patients had lesions in a ventral-posterior region of the frontal lobe which was later named after him. First to discover lateralization of brain functions.
Term
Johannes Muller
Definition
(1801-1858) German Physiologist who put descovered the "law of specific energies": the type of sensation experienced is dependent on the nerve organ itself not the nature of the stimulus and that each sensory nerve is stimulated by only one kind of energy.
Term
Hermann Von Helmholtz
Definition
(1821-1894) Germain MD, first to measure the speed of nerve conduction. Specifically in terms of reaction to a stimulus.

"Trichromatic Theory": Eye contains three types of "Cones" maximally sensitive to Red/Blue/Green, all color perception relates to a ratio of the activation of these cones"
Term
Charles Sherrington
Definition
(1857-1952) English Neurophysiologist who fist inferred the existence of Synapses.
-Classified 3 types of sensory recepters:
"Exteroceptors":receive environmental stimuli.
"Proprioceptors":input from bone, muscle, tendon, vessels.
"Interoceptors": Gastrointestinal, viscera.
Term
Walter Cannon
Definition
(1871-1945) Physiologist most noted for his work on the ANS and theroy of "Homeostasis" an example of which is "Osmoregulation" performed by "Osmoreceptors" in the hypothalamus.
-Discoverer "Fight/Flight response"
Term
James Olds, Peter Milner
Definition
(1950's Descovered that the "Septum" or "Septal area" is primary pleasure center of the brain as well as an important region in aggression inhibition. Rats chose Septum stimulation over food even 24hrs after eating. Damage to septum produces "Sham Rage" Simelar to the 1920's research on the hypothalamus and the removal ho the cerebral cortex)
Term
Heinrick Kluver, Paul Bucy
Definition
(Coined "Kluver Bucy Syndrome" Which was a result of by-lateral temporal lobectomy performed of Resus monkeys. The resulting loss of fear and hypersexuality is supposedly related to the loss of the amygdala)
Term
Brenda Milner
Definition
(1918-) (Clinical Neuropsychologist who studied the relationship of memory loss and damage to the medial temporal lobes. Specificaly the hippocampus and anterograde amnesia. She studied the famous amnesiac patient HM
Term
Carl Wernike
Definition
(1848-1905) Followed Broca's research and found that damage to the Left Posterior, superior Temporal Gyrus "Wernike's Area" resulted in a deficit in language comprehension 'Wernike's Aphasia"
Term
Roger Sperry, Michael Gazzaniga
Definition
(1960's Collaborative research at Cal Tech on Split brain epileptics. Discovered the importance of the Corpus Collosum in inter hemisphere communication)
Term
Eric Kandel
Definition
(1929-) Nobel Prize winning physiologist
(discovered that habituation in "Aplysia" (Sea Snails) was a result of the decrease in neurotransmition, specifically greater presynaptic potentiation. Later found that long term memory involved CREB protein which facilitated actual structural change)
Term
Alexander Luria
Definition
(1902-1977) Russian Neurologist. One of the most prominent Neurpsychologist. Studied many neuropsychological disorders and is famiou for his 14 scale "Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Test". He is famous also for the premium he put on observing patients behavior and abilities in performing tasks
Term
William James, Carl Lange
Definition
Developed the "James-Lange Theory of emotion in the late 19th century. The emphasis was on the activities in the peripheral nervous system as the basis of emotion. One feels emotions as the direct result of physiological reactions
Term
Walter Cannon, Philip Bard
Definition
Developed the "Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion" in response to James-Lange putting greater emphasis on the CNS. It gave more importance to our cognitive interpretation of an event, which results in physiological response and the experience of emotion simultaneously.
(The empirical basis for this was that any activation of the sympathetic nervous system resulted in the same physiological responce)
Term
Stanley Schacter, Jerome Singer
Definition
Developed the "Two-factor Theory of Emotion" which posited the importance of both the physiological and cognitive response to events in the manifesting of emotion. Particular emotions are the result of cognitive interpretations of physiological activity based on environmental cues.
(adrenaline, playful confederate experiment)
Term
Wilder Penfield
Definition
(1891-1976) Canadian Neurosurgeon Famous for his still used maps of the sensorymotor cortex, created by stimulating areas of the brain with electrodes. His method for meningo-cerebral scaring is still used.
Term
David Hubel, Torsten Wiesel
Definition
1981 Nobel Prize winners for work on finding neural basis for "Feature Detection Theory": Certain cells are maximally sensetive to certain features of a stimuli
"Simple": Pick out orientation
"Complex": Features of movement
"Hypercomplex": Form/shape
(Used micro-electrodes in visual cortex
"Recording From Single Nerve Fibers"
Term
Ernst Weber
Definition
In 1834 he introduced the notion of "Just Noticeable Difference" (jnd) which is the single unite which denotes the quantity of the "Difference threshold"
-"Stevens Law" or "Stevens Fraction/Constant": "Difference Threshold" divided by "Standard Stimulus" is a constant ratio which reliably predict the "JND" given the "SS"
Term
Francis Galton
Definition
(1822-1911) English Victorian Polymath and father of many psychological practices which shaped the field.
-One of the first researchers interested in individual differences "Differential Psychology"
-First to use Surveys and questionnaires for data collection.
-Developed some of the fundamental statistical methods, "Correlation" "Regression Towards the Mean".
-Coined "Nature vs Nurture"
Term
Gustav Fechner
Definition
(1801-1887) Experimental Psychologist and founder of "Psychophysiology".
-"Fechner's Law": Quantified the relationship between stimulus intensity and the corresponding sensation intensity
-Quantified Weber's "Difference Threshold" as "Weber's Law": Ratio of the amount of change required for jnd over the "Standard Stimulus"
-"Method of Limits" and "Method of Constant stimuli" the former presenting stimuli or varying magnitudes sequentially and incrementally, to find DT or AT. The Later presenting them at random.
Term
Stanley Smith Stevens
Definition
Introduced the principles behind the "Stevens Power Law" which was considered to have superseded "Weber's Law" as it describes a wider range of stimuli, but is criticized as being overly dependent "Magnitude Estimation" method Stevens used to collect his data.
-First introduced "Operational Definitions"
-"Method of Constant Stimuli": Presentation of stimuli of varying magnitude to find DT or AT is randomised.
Term
John Swets
Definition
Psychophysiologist who criticized the lack of consideration of "Response bias" in "Signal Detection" research. Refined the use of "Receiver Operating Characteristic" Curves (ROC) in "Signal detection theory.
Term
Thomas Young
Definition
Originator of "Young-Helmholtz" "Trichromatic Theory of Color"
Postulated three cone types in 1802

"Place Theory" of pitch perception: Different pitches vibrate at different locations on the "Basilar Membrane"
Term
Ewald Hering
Definition
Put forward the "Opponent Process Theory of Color Vision" Partly inspired by the existence of "Afterimages". Colors are coupled in opposing pairs. The excitement of one inhibits the other. Necessitates 6 not 3 receptors.
Term
James Jerome Gibson
Definition
Studied visual perception and "Texture Gradients" as an important factor in depth perception.
-Followed Adelbert Ames "Transactional" view of perception with his "Ecological Psychology"(Egon Brunswik was another early thinker along these lines with his "Probabilistic Functionalism".
Term
George Berkeley
Definition
(1685 1763) Famous "Subjective Idealist" philosopher. Put foreword 3 important depth cues
-"Interposition/Overlap"
-"Relative Size"
-"Linear Perspective"
Term
George Von Bekesy
Definition
1960 Proposed "Berkesy's Traveling Wave Theory" which found that the basilar membrane does vibrate all over, particularly below 400 Hz (Frequency Theory) but that certain areas maximally vibrate at specific frequencies
Term
Glen Wever, Charles Bray
Definition
Presented the "Volley Principle" as a method for explaining how the "Frequency Theory" Could work with oscillation over a thousand Hz given the absolute refractory period of nerves. The idea is that the information for higher frequencies is sent along a number of nerves in a volley.
Term
Ronald Melzach, Patrick Wall
Definition
1960's Developed the "Gate Theory of Pain": Pain signals travaling along "Nociceptors" can be inhibited by "Nonnociceptors" at the spinal cord before reaching the brain.
Term
Donald Broadbent
Definition
Theory of selective attention posits a "Filter" mechanism which deters unattended to stimulus into a buffer for latter access, to avoid overloading short term memory.
Term
Robert Yerkes, John Dodson
Definition
Developed the "Yerkes-Dodson Law" of arousal. Arousal is maximally beneficial to performance in between an extreme high or low. This can be graphed as a curve of performance facilitation too arousal.
Term
Eleanor Gibson, Richard Walk
Definition
Using their "Visual Cliff" experiment found that animals across species can perceive and avoid sharp drops by the time they achieve self locomotion. Initially through "Motion Parallax" and later by other depth cues.
Term
Keller Breland, Marian Breland
Definition
Husband/Wife team and first "Applied Animal Psychologists"
(1961 released a paper identifying a pattern in animal conditioning called "Instinctual Drift" which described the tendency of animals to apply instinctual action pattern behaviors in novel learned behaviors. Countered simplistic notion of Opperant Conditioning as the only factor in behavior. (Raccoon Coin Crayfish))
Term
John Garcia
Definition
(1917-) Looked at "Biological Constraints" in animal conditioning particularly certain innate tendencies for association such as (Taste Aversion Learning" as a survival mechanism. Couters simplistic Classical Conditioning theroy.
(Nausea/water specific association in rats)
Term
David Premack
Definition
"Premack Principle" Steaming from Cebus Monkey research. Found that Less probable behavior can be reinforced my more probable behavior. Translated into therapy setting, One can reinforce new desirable, but potentialy unpleasant behavior, with old pleasant behavior as reward.
Term
Robert Recorla
Definition
Proposed more advanced theory of associations in "Classical Conditioning". It is not enough for CS and UCS to have temporal "Contiguity" The CS must also be a good signal for that the USC will occur "Contingency Theory" of classical conditioning. In other words the USC must appear to be contingent on the CS.
-"Recorla Wagner Model" Looked at associative strengths of CS in relation to all stimuli present.
Term
B.F. Skinner
Definition
(1904-1990) Father of modern "Operant Conditioning" (dismissing use of mentalistic concepts) and the school of "Radical Behaviorism" and the notion of "Reinforcement". Distinguished "Positive/Negative Reinforcement" "Punishment" and "Extinction"
Term
Edward Thorndike
Definition
(1874-1949) Formulated "The Law of Effect" which was the precursor to "Operant Conditioning" with the notion that "satisfying" or "annoying" consequences to an action will either increase or decrease the likelihood of that behavior in the future. Did not believe animals used "Insight" to salve problems.
(Puzzle Box)
Term
Nikolaas Tinbergen
Definition
(1907-1988) Dutch Ethologist. Won the Nobel Prize with Lorenz and Frisch. Introduced experimental methods in the field allowing for the study of animals in their own environment.
-Outlined 4 areas of study in animal behavior.
1."Development": genetic/environment interaction
2."Mechanism": Behavior/physiological system interaction
3. "Function": Adaptive/Survival capacities
4. "Evolution": Unifying of other 3
(Aggression and courtship in sticklebacks)
Term
Karl von Frisch
Definition
(1886-1982) Australian Ethologist most famous for his work on the senses of Bees and one complex communication technique called the "Wiggle Dance"
Term
Karl von Frisch
Definition
(1886-1982) Australian Ethologist most famous for his work on the senses of Bees and one complex communication technique called the "Wiggle Dance"
Term
John Watson
Definition
(1878-1958) Father of "Behaviorism": Psychology in experimental objective branch of the natural sciences. No use for Hypothetic-deductive notions of things like mental states.
(Little Albert experiment)
Term
Edward O. WIlson
Definition
(1929-) Biologist and father of "Sociobiology": Systematic study of biology as the basis of social behavior" all human behavior can be considered a result of "Epigenetics"
Term
Joseph Wolpe
Definition
(1915-1997) Psychiatrist who developed the "Behavioral Therapy" now known as "Systematic Desensitization": used on anxiety/phobia in a hierarchical exposure including relaxation to "Counter Condition" the poatient.
Term
Hermann Ebbinghaus
Definition
(1850-1909) German Psychologist famous as one of the first to experimentally test memory phenomena. Based of the theory by Kant and Bacon. Formulated the "Forgetting Curve": Exponential drop off of retention which flattens after about a day. and similar "Learning Curve"
("Method of saving" experiment used nonsense syllables memorized repeatedly to see, based on the number of trials it took to re memorize the list, how much info was retained.)
Term
George Sperling
Definition
(1960 Used a 3 row matrix of letters based on the "Whole-Report Procedure" used to test retention in "Sensory Memory" using "Free Recall" in earlier research it was believed that only 4-5 letters could be retained. He showed that "Iconic Memory" allowed for a very short retention of all 9 letters, given that the participants could name all the letters in any row if given the prompt within 5 milliseconds)
Term
George Miller
Definition
Descovered the "Magic Number Seven" as the quantity of "Chunks" of information which could be held in short term memory at any given time. It was later refined that the span of 7 plus or minus 2 was dependent on chunk category (Digits, letters, words) and qualities of the chunk (Lexical status, Length, etc.).
Term
Elizabeth F. Loftus, Allen M. Collins
Definition
(1975 Proposed the "Spreading Activation Model" of "Long Term" "Semantic Memory". Information is stored and accessed based on its relationship to other memories. Concepts and Properties can activate one and other based on there semantic similarity or proximity (within a model or likely withing neural systems). Properties can also be associated with other properties, and concepts with concepts. Activation is dependent on the "distance" between concept/properties
Term
Smith, Shoben, Rips
Definition
1970's Proposed the "Semantic Feature-Comparison Model" or "Long Term" "Semantic Memory". The idea being that memories of concepts are stored and accessed based on there necessary or sufficient features. It is the amount of overlap in features of concepts which determines the strength of there association.
Term
Fergus Craik, Robert Lockart
Definition
1972 Proposed the "Depth/Level of Processing Theory": There is only one memory system and the strength of memory is determined by the "depth" with which it is processed. Specifically time, effort, relationship to preexisting memories and stimulus type determine the depth. The three primary levels of processing which also rank in degree of difficulty/involvement are
-"Physical/Visual"
-"Acoustical"
-"Semantic": Requiring association with preexisting memory.
Term
Richard Atkinson, Richard Shiffrin
Definition
1968 Proposed the "Multi-Store/Multi-Memory Model" or "Stage Theory" of Memory which posited that memory structure is based on three dependent stages of storage/encoding.
Term
Allen Paivio
Definition
1986 Presented the "Duel-Coding Theory" of Cognition and memory. Visual and Verbal information are encoded in separate and distinct systems. More importantly these systems are differentially utilized based not just on the sensory nature of the stimuli, but also other qualities of the information.
-The visual system usually stores concrete info using "Analogue Codes"
-The Verbal system usually encodes both concrete and abstract info using "Symbolic Codes".
Term
Frederick Bartlett
Definition
Social Psychologist considered a forerunner to cognitive Psych. Used "The War of the Ghosts" story to study memory formation bias. Found that people
Recalled the story with additions and omitions based on there own preexisting schema.
Term
Elizabeth F. Loftus
Definition
("Spreading Activation Model") also highly influential is Law Psych. Studied the "Misinformation effent" and "False Memory" in relation to eyewitness testimony. Such memory is erronious for a meriad of reasons.
(Crash/Hit car accident testimony)
Term
Bluma Zeiganik
Definition
(1900-1988) Studied the "Zeiganik Effect" which proposes that people will remember interrupted or uncompleted tasks better.
-Student of Kurt Lewin who influenced the theory with the model of Gastalt Phenomena which maintain a presence in cognition, not just isolated perceptions.
Term
Abraham S Luchins
Definition
1914-2005 Gastalt Psychologist and founder of "Group Tharapy"
("Luchin's Water-Jar Problem" used to test if a persons "Mental Set":(Problem solving technique which one has developed through resent similar problem solving trials in which a persons thinking becomes almost mechanized "Einstellung Effect" or later "Functional Fixedness") can negatively impact one's ability to salve a similar task requiring an alternative approach.
Term
Joy Paul Guilford
Definition
Important figure in the study of creativity in psychology. Coined the terms "Convergent/Divergent Thinking/Production". "Divergent Thinking" which is often used in place of creativity, implies the ability to consider multiple and divergent solutions or applications for a given problem. ("Fluid Intelligence" and "Flexible Thinking" are similar ideas.)
Term
Daniel Kahneman, Amos Tversky
Definition
Nobel Laureates who greatly built on the research into "Heuristics" (Rules of thumb) and the errors that con come about through there use. 3 of the most important Heuristics defined were the -"Availability Heuristic" -"Representative Heuristic":Which involves categorizing based only on the quality of the object considered, not the larger context leading to the "Base-Rate Fallacy"
-"Anchor and Adjustment": Starting with implicit judgment of premise and adjusting around that
Term
Benjamin Whorf
Definition
(1897-1941) Linguist who presented the Sociolinguistic "Sapir–Whorf hypothesis" (SWH) or "Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis" which suggest that the nature of a language directly informs an individuals habitual thinking style.
Term
Charles Spearman
Definition
(1863-1945) English Psychologist and important figure in "Factor Analysis" and Intelligence measures. Found that between disparate cognitive tests two factors could be factored out the "Specific Factor" different for all test and the "General" or "G" factor which is constant across tests and seems to be related to a "Mental Energy".
Term
Louis Thurstone
Definition
(1887-1955) Pioneer in Psychometrics particularly factor analysis. Came up with the notion of "Primary Mental Abilities" 7 categories describing individual factors of intelligence in opposition to ideas of a single general factor of intelligence or "Mental Age"
-his factor analysis models were foundational to later hierarchical models such as "WAIS" and "Stanford-Benet"
-"Thurstone Scale": Metric for attitude based on level of agreement with a statement.
Term
Robert Sternberg
Definition
(1949-) Psychometrition who believed that the standard Intelligence measures were too narrow. His cognative vs Psychometric defenition of inteligence was focused on how a persion deals with environmental changes throughout life . Proposed "Triarchic Theory" with 3 areas of intelligence:
-"Componential": "Analytic" giftedness
-"Experiential": "Synthetic" giftedness
-"Practical": "Contextual" giftedness.
Term
Howard Gardner
Definition
(1943-) Presented "Theory of Multiple Intelligences" a persons individual "Cognitive Profile" is made up of the varying levels of these 7 (now 8) intelligences. Most intelligence testing is preoccupied with only two of these, as are most standard curriculum.
Term
Arthur Jensen
Definition
(1923-) Interested in Educational and Differential Psychology and Psychometrix. "Level 1" and "Level 2" intelligence. The latter associated with "G factor" and highly heritable and differentially pronounced between races.
Term
David E. Rumelhart, James L. McClelland
Definition
Proposed the "parallel distributed process" theory of Information Possessing. Which is a "Neural Network" approach defining information processing as neural networks activating and processing in parallel with neural representations distributed across the brain.
Term
Oswald Kulpe
Definition
(1862-1916) Structuralist and early Student of Wilhelm Wundt. Famous for disagreeing with Wundt's limitations on the complexity of cognition which could be studied, also believed that thoughts could exist without visual, or sensualy appropriate, mental representation. Used "Systematic Experimental Introspection" to study consciousness.
Term
Alfred Binet
Definition
(1857-1911) French Psychologist who developed the first usable inteligence test "Binet-Simon test" developed wile working with retarded children in was intended for children 3-15
Term
William Stern
Definition
(1871-1938) Developed the notion of IQ, Mental age divided by actual age multiplied by 100, which was later used to by Lewis Terman in the Stanford-Binet IQ test"
-Also invented the "Tone Variator" to study sensory thresholds which a gradual as opposed to discrete change in stimuli.
Term
Starke R. Hathaway, J. C. McKinley
Definition
(1930's) Developed the "Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory" which used the atheoretical "Emperical Criterion-Keying Approach" To match Attitude towards 550 statements to clinical groups. Used to identify personality and psychopathology.
Term
Henry A. Murray, Christiana D. Morgan
Definition
(1930's developed the "Thematic Apperception Test" (TAT) Which involves presenting a visual scene to a subject and having them create a story around it, to study certain Freudian personality qualities like internal conflict, dominant drives, etc.
Term
John L. Holland
Definition
Came up with "Vocational Preference Inventory" based on the "Holland Code" or "RIASEC Code"
Realistic: Doer
Investigative: Thinker
Artistic: Creator
Social: Helper
Enterprising: Persuader
Conventional: Organizer
Term
Endel Tulving
Definition
(1927-) Came up with the concept of "Encoding Specificity" memories are accessed from long term memory through "Retrieval Cues" The most effective of which are those stored at the same time as the memory being accessed.
-Made the distinction between "Eposodic" and "Semantic" memory.
Term
Otto Loewi
Definition
(1873-1961) German Pharmacologist considered father of Neuroscience. Discovered the nature chemical component of nerve communication.
(1921 bathed a frog heart in Acetylcholine and found that it slowed)
Term
Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Definition
(1852-1934) Nobel leureate and early neuroscience pioneer. Concluded through the use of Histological staining, that Neurons were the fundamental component of the nervous system.
Term
Richard F. Thompson, W. alden spencer
Definition
Pioneering work in habituation with the discovery that habituation is the result of presynaptic depression.
Term
Georg von Békésy
Definition
(1960 developed the "Traveling Wave Theory" of Audition. Sounds of different frequencies maximaly vibate in the basilar membrane at specific locations based on the structure of the cochlea. Though frequencies of below 400 Hz vibrate more diffusely along membrane.
Term
William Rutherford
Definition
(1839-1899)Proposed "Place Theory" "Telephone Theory" as an explanation for how sound is transduced into nerve signals, i.e. one nerve pulse for each frequency cycle. Only possible up to 500 hz.
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