AP Psychology Unit 1 - History & Approaches

Empiricism

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

Structuralism(School of Psychology)

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

Functionalism(School of Psychology)

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(Domain)

the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

Behaviorism(School of Psychology)

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes; most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2)

Humanistic Psychology(Approach/Perspective)

Emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for personal growth

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

Levels of Analysis

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

Biopsychosocial(Approach/Perspective)

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

Biological Psychology(Approach/Perspective)

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

Evolutionary Psychology(Approach/Perspective)

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

Psychodynamic Psychology(Approach/Perspective)

a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders

Behavioral Psychology(Approach/Perspective)

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

Cognitive Psychology(Approach/Perspective)

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

Social-Cultural Psychology(Approach/Perspective)

the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking

Psychometrics(Domain/Job)

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

Basic Research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Development Psychology(Domain/Job)

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

Educational Psychology(Domain/Job)

the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning

Personality Psychology(Domain/Job)

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

Social Psychology(Domain/Job)

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(Domain/Job)

the applications of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces

Human Factors Psychology(Domain/Job)

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

Counseling Psychology(Domain/Job)

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(Domain/Job)

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

Psychiatry

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical (i.e. drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy

Forensic Psychology(Domain/Job)

Apply psychological principles to legal issues.

Experimental Psychology(Domain/Job)

Work on research to add new knowledge to the field

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of scientific psychologyFather of PsychologyStructuralism

G. Stanley Hall

First President of APAStructuralism

Edward Titchener

StructuralismStudent of Wundt

Margaret Floy Washburn

First woman to complete PhD in psychologyStructuralism

William James

wrote Principles of PsychologyFunctionalism

Mary Whiton Calkins

First woman president of the APAFunctionalism

Ivan Pavlov

Behavioral ApproachClassical conditioning of dogs

John Watson

Behavioral ApproachClassical Aversive conditioningLittle Albert Experiment

BF Skinner

Behavioral ApproachOperant Conditioning (rewards/punishment)Skinner Box (pigeons)

Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalysis (Father of)

JungAdlerHorneyKohut

Psychodynamic Approach

Carl Rogers

Humanistic ApproachUnconditional Positive Regard

Abraham Maslow

Humanistic ApproachHierarchy of Needs

Jean Piaget

Cognitive ApproachCognitive development in children

Plato & Descartes

Behavior is innate (nature)

Aristotle & Locke

Behavior results from experience (nurture)