Unit 1 | AP Psychology Exam Definitions

Structuralism

Focuses on the mind's different structures of conscience and uses introspection.

Introspection

The act of examining one's conscious thoughts, emotions, judgments, and perceptions.

Functionalism

Aims to understand how mental and behavioral processes operate and their connections.

Behaviorism

Belief that psychology should study behavior objectively without considering mental processes.

Humanistic

Focuses on self-determination and self-realization through self-reported experiences and feelings.

Evolutionary Approach

Examines traits and adaptations resulting from natural selection.

Biological Approach

Studies the physical basis for behavior in animals and humans.

Cognitive Approach

Emphasizes the brain's role in behavior and thinking.

Biopsychosocial Approaches

Considers biological, psychological, and social-cultural perspectives in psychology.

Sociocultural

Analyzes how social groups influence individuals' development and interactions.

Biological Domain

Explores how biology influences behavior, including brain structure and genetics.

Clinical Domain

Focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological disorders and behavioral patterns.

Cognitive Domain

Studies perception, thinking, intelligence, and memory.

Counseling Domain

Uses psychological principles to enhance mental health and well-being.

Developmental Domain

Examines development across the lifespan.

Educational Domain

Studies how humans learn and retain knowledge, especially in educational settings.

Experimental Domain

Tests theories related to human thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Industrial-organizational Domain

Studies human behavior in the workplace.

Personality-Domain

Focuses on consistent traits and patterns in individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Psychometric Domain

Measures and predicts human psychological traits, aptitudes, and behaviors.

Social Domain

Examines social reasoning and behavior developmentally.

Positive domain

Focuses on character strengths and behaviors for a meaningful life.

Correlational Studies

Research design to assess relationships among multiple variables.