Catalog / Psychology Fundamentals Cheatsheet
Psychology Fundamentals Cheatsheet
A quick reference guide covering key concepts, theories, and influential figures in psychology, designed to aid students and professionals alike.
Core Concepts
Schools of Thought
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Structuralism |
Focused on breaking down mental processes into basic components. Pioneered by Wilhelm Wundt. |
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Functionalism |
Emphasized the purpose of mental processes in adapting to the environment. Key figure: William James. |
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Behaviorism |
Stressed the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior. Prominent figures: John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner. |
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Gestalt Psychology |
Focused on the organization of perception and thinking in a ‘whole’ sense rather than individual elements. |
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Psychoanalysis |
Emphasized the role of unconscious drives and early childhood experiences in shaping personality. Founder: Sigmund Freud. |
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Cognitive Psychology |
Studies mental processes such as memory, problem-solving, and language. |
Key Terms
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Cognition |
Mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding. |
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Behavior |
Observable actions or reactions of an organism. |
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Perception |
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information. |
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Emotion |
A complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence behavior. |
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Motivation |
The driving force behind behavior that leads to the achievement of a goal. |
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Consciousness |
Awareness of internal and external stimuli. |
Major Theories
Developmental Psychology
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Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development |
Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational. |
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Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development |
Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Integrity vs. Despair. |
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Bowlby’s Attachment Theory |
Early attachments with caregivers shape future relationship patterns. |
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Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development |
Preconventional, Conventional, Postconventional. |
Social Psychology
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Attribution Theory |
Explains how individuals interpret causes of events and behaviors. |
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory |
Inconsistency between beliefs and behaviors leads to discomfort, motivating change. |
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Social Learning Theory |
Behavior is learned through observation, imitation, and modeling. |
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Groupthink |
The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility. |
Personality Theories
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Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory |
Id, Ego, Superego; Psychosexual Stages. |
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Humanistic Theory (Maslow, Rogers) |
Emphasis on self-actualization and personal growth. |
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Trait Theory (Big Five) |
Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism (OCEAN). |
Research Methods
Types of Research
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Descriptive Research |
Case studies, surveys, naturalistic observation. |
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Correlational Research |
Examines the relationship between two or more variables. |
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Experimental Research |
Manipulates one or more variables to determine cause and effect. |
Key Concepts
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Independent Variable |
Variable that is manipulated by the researcher. |
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Dependent Variable |
Variable that is measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable. |
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Control Group |
Group that does not receive the experimental treatment. |
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Experimental Group |
Group that receives the experimental treatment. |
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Random Assignment |
Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, minimizing preexisting differences between the groups. |
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Confounding Variable |
A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment. |
Mental Health & Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) |
Persistent and excessive worry about various things. |
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Panic Disorder |
Recurrent unexpected panic attacks. |
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Social Anxiety Disorder |
Intense fear of social situations. |
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Specific Phobias |
Excessive fear of specific objects or situations. |
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) |
Characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions). |
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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) |
Develops after exposure to a traumatic event. |
Mood Disorders
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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) |
Persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and fatigue. |
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Bipolar Disorder |
Alternating periods of mania and depression. |
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Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) |
A chronic form of depression with milder symptoms. |
Other Disorders
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Schizophrenia |
Characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and other cognitive and emotional problems. |
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Personality Disorders |
Inflexible and maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. |
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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) |
Characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. |
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) |
A developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. |