AP Psychology Unit 1 Vocab

(first 20 words for unit 1 in the textbook)

structuralism

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

cognitive psychology

The study of mental processes

evolutionary psychology

The study of evolution of behavior and the mind

Critical thinking

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions

Introspection

The process of looking inward in an attempt to directly observe one’s own psychological processes

Empiricism

The idea that knowledge comes from experience and that observation a experimentation enables scientific knowledge

Humanistic Psychology

A historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential

Cognitive Neuroscience

The interdisplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition

biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social cultural viewpoints

Positive Psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing with goals of discovering strengths that help humans thrive

Biological Psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Behavioral psychology

The scientific study of observable behavior

Culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group

Natural Selection

The principal that inherited traits that better an organism to survive will most likely be passed on to next gen

Behavuorism

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes; scientists don’t agree with 2.

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes

functionalism

Promoted by Janes and influenced by Darwin. Explored how mental and behavioral processes function

Behavior Genetics

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Nature-Nurture Issue

Genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

Psycho dynamic psychology

Studies how unconscious drives conflict and influence behavior, used to treat people with psychological disorders