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AP Psych - Unit 1
Term | Definition |
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critical thinking | thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions; rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions |
empiricism | the idea that knowledge comes from experience, and that observation and experimentation enable scientific knowledge |
structuralism | an early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind |
introspection | the process of looking inward in an attempt to directly observe one’s own psychological processes |
functionalism | an early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function ---how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish |
behaviorism | the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2) |
humanistic psychology | a historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential |
cognitive psychology | the study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems |
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 |
natural selection | the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations |
evolutionary psychology | the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection |
behavior genetics | the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior |
culture | the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next |
positive psychology | the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive |
biopsychosocial approach | an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural viewpoints |
behavioral psychology | the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning |
biological psychology | the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes |
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 |
testing effect | enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information |
SQ3R | a study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review |
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 how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning |
personality psychology | the study of individuals’ characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, 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 psychology | the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces |
human factors psychology | a field of psychology allied with I/O psychology 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-being |
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 are licensed to provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy |
community psychology | a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups |