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AP Psych - Unit I
Unit I: Psychology's History and Approaches - Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Empiricism | The view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation |
Structuralism | Early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; Used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind |
Functionalism | Early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral process function |
Experimental Psychology | The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method |
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) |
Humanistic Psychology | A historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people |
Cognitive Neuroscience | The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language) |
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 |
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 |
Levels of Analysis | The differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social |
Biopsychosocial Approach | An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social |
Behavioral Psychology | The scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning |
Biological Psychology | The scientific study of links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and some psychological processes |
Cognitive Psychology | The scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating |
Evolutionary Psychology | The study of the evolution of behavior and mind, using principles of natural selection |
Psychodynamic Psychology | A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders |
Social - Cultural Psychology | The study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking |
Psychometrics | The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits |
Basic Research | Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base |
Developmental Psychology | A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span |
Educational Psychology | The study of psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning |
Personality Psychology | The study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feelings, and acting |
Social Psychology | 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 | The application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces |
Human Factors Psychology | An I/O Psychology subfield that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use |
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 |
Clinical Psychology | 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 sometimes provide medical (ex: drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy |
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 |
Community Psychology | A branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups |
Testing Effect | Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information; Also sometimes referred to as retrieval practice effect or test |
SQ3R | A study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Questions, Read, Retrieve, Review |