Explanation: Edward Thorndike proposed the Law of Effect, which states that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by discomfort are less likely …
Edward Thorndike (1874–1949) was a pioneering psychologist whose work laid the foundation for modern behavioral psychology. His most influential contribution, the Law of Effect, states that behaviors followed by satisfying …
Explanation:Ainsworth’s (1978) Strange Situation is a structured observational procedure categorizing infant–caregiver attachment as secure, avoidant, or ambivalent. The child’s behavior during separations and reunions with the caregiver indicates attachment quality.Her …
Explanation:Gordon Allport (1897–1967) emphasized personality as a dynamic system of traits unique to each individual, moving psychology away from psychoanalytic determinism. He distinguished cardinal, central, and secondary traits and stressed that personality is shaped …
Explanation:Anna Freud (1895–1982), daughter of Sigmund Freud, expanded psychoanalysis to child development. She proposed defense mechanisms—strategies used by the ego to manage anxiety—and explored how early experiences shape personality.Her work …
Explanation:Ivan Pavlov (1849–1936), originally a physiologist, discovered classical conditioning while studying digestion in dogs. He found that neutral stimuli (bells) paired repeatedly with unconditioned stimuli (food) eventually produced conditioned responses …
Explanation:Mary Whiton Calkins (1863–1930) was a trailblazer in early American psychology. Despite completing all doctoral requirements at Harvard, she was denied a PhD due to her gender. Her contributions include …
Definition: Karen Horney was a pioneering psychoanalyst who challenged traditional Freudian theories, particularly the concept of “penis envy,” and emphasized the sociocultural and environmental factors influencing psychological development. Horney argued …
Definition: Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, developed a theory of cognitive development that describes how children acquire, construct, and refine knowledge over time. Piaget proposed four stages of development: sensorimotor …
Definition: Behaviorism, championed by B.F. Skinner, is a psychological approach that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they are influenced by environmental stimuli. Skinner expanded on earlier behaviorist theories …