Prologue review AP Psych

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

humanistic psychology

historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for personal growth.

behaviorism

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).

levels of analysis

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

clinical psychology

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

natural selection

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

community psychology

a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups.

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.

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

biopsychosocial approach

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

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

counseling psychology

a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.

positive psychology

the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.

psychiatry

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes.

SQ3R

a study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review.

testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply reading, information. Also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning.

Edward Titchener was concerned primarily with the study of....

sensory experiences

Introspection

looking inward on oneself

Wilhelm Wundt

established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany

Edward Bradford Titchner

used introspection to search for the mind's structural elements; structuralist

William James

Believed thinking, like smelling, developed because it was adaptive; Functionalist

Mary Whiton Calkins

became pioneering memory researcher; first woman to be president of the American Psychological Association (APA)

Margaret Floy Washburn

the first woman to receive a psychology Ph.D.; Synthesized animal behavior research in "The Animal Mind

John Watson

championed psychology as the science of behavior and demonstrated conditioned responses on a baby who became famous as "Little Albert", Behaviorist

Sigmund Freud

The controversial ideas of this famed personality theorist and therapist have influenced humanity's self-understanding, Freudian Psychology (emphasized the ways our unconcious thought processes and our emotional responses to childhood experiences affect o

B.F. Skinner

A leading behaviorist, rejected introspection and studied how consequences shape behavior

Functionalism

Early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental/behavior processes enable people to adapt, survive, and flourish

Cognitive Revolution

(1960's) Cognitive neuroscience

John Locke

argued that the mind is a blank sheet on which experience writes (nurture side)

Rene Descartes

believed that some ideas are innate, disagreed with Locke (nature side)

Charles Darwin

argued that natural selection shapes behaviors as well as bodies

Biological Influences

- genetic predispositions responding to environment
- natural selection of adaptive traits
- brain mechanisms
-hormonal influences

Psychological Influences

- learned fears and other learned expectations
- emotional responses
- cognitive responses and perceptual interpretations

Social-Cultural Influences

- presence of others
- cultural, societal, and family expectations
- peer and other group influences
- compelling models (such as the media)

Neuroscience perspective

How the body and brain enable emotions, memory, and sensory experiences

Evolutionary perspective

How the natural selection of traits has promoted the survival of genes

Behavior Genetics Perspective

How our genes and our environment influence our individual differences

Psychodynamic perspective

How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts

Behavioral Perspective

How we learn observable responses

Cognitive Perspective

How we encode, process, store, and retrieve information

Social-Cultural Perspective

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

Ivan Pavlov

Russian scientist used classical conditioning on dogs (early 1900s)

Jean Piaget

Swiss biologist who studied development (early-mid 1900s)

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Started Humanistic Psychology

Henry Roeriger and Jeffrey Karpicke

Created the testing effect (testing repeatedly over restudying)

Structuralism

Early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.