The cognitive approach in psychology studies mental processes—such as how we perceive, think, remember, learn, make decisions, and solve problems. Cognitive psychologists see the mind as an information processor, similar to a computer, examining how we take in information, store it, and use it to guide our behavior.| Simply Psychology
Learned helplessness is a psychological phenomenon in which a person learns that they cannot avoid bad things happening in the future. This causes a person to stop trying to prevent them. Learned helplessness is often associated with depression.| Simply Psychology
Cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking, affecting how we process information, perceive others, and make decisions. It can lead to irrational thoughts or judgments and is often based on our perceptions, memories, or individual and societal beliefs.| Simply Psychology
Unconditional positive regard refers to the non-judgmental acceptance, caring, and support of the client, regardless of what the client says or does in the therapy session| Simply Psychology
Humanistic, humanism, and humanist are terms in psychology relating to an approach that studies the whole person and the uniqueness of each individual.| Simply Psychology
Classical conditioning is a learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a reflex-eliciting unconditioned stimulus, such that the neutral stimulus eventually elicits the same innate reflex response that the unconditioned stimulus does. For example, pairing a bell sound (neutral stimulus) with the presentation of food (unconditioned stimulus) can cause an organism to salivate (unconditioned response) when the bell rings, even without the food.| Simply Psychology
Positive reinforcement is a basic principle of Skinner's operant conditioning, which refers to the introduction of a desirable or pleasant stimulus after a behavior, such as a reward.| Simply Psychology
Behaviorism, also known as behavioral learning theory, is a theoretical perspective in psychology that emphasizes the role of learning and observable behaviors in understanding human and animal actions.| Simply Psychology
Self-esteem should be viewed as a continuum and can be high, medium, or low, and it is often quantified as a number in empirical research.| Simply Psychology
Self-actualization is a concept in psychology that refers to the process of fulfilling one's true potential, becoming the best version of oneself, and achieving personal growth, meaning, and fulfillment in various aspects of life.| Simply Psychology
Social Learning Theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, posits that people learn through observing, imitating, and modeling others' behavior. This theory posits that we can acquire new behaviors and knowledge by watching others, a process known as vicarious learning.| Simply Psychology
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. It falls under the category of Cluster B personality disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which also includes antisocial, borderline, and histrionic personality disorders.| Simply Psychology
Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach and theory, founded by Sigmund Freud, that seeks to explore the unconscious mind to uncover repressed feelings and interpret deep-rooted emotional patterns, often using techniques like dream analysis and free association.| Simply Psychology
Information Processing Theory explains human thinking as a series of steps similar to how computers process information, including receiving input, interpreting sensory information, organizing data, forming mental representations, retrieving info from memory, making decisions, and giving output.| Simply Psychology
Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behavior and a consequence. B.F Skinner is regarded as the father of operant conditioning and introduced a new term to behavioral psychology, reinforcement.| Simply Psychology
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a pyramid of the needs that motivate people. Individuals most basic needs, at the base of the pyramid, are physiological. Once they have fulfilled these needs, people move on to their safety needs, social well-being, self-esteem then ultimately their need for self-actualization.| Simply Psychology