Significant Figures in AP Psych

Wilhelm Wundt

Known as the "Father of Psychology"; established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, focusing on structuralism and introspection.

William James

A leading figure in functionalism and author of "The Principles of Psychology," the first comprehensive psychology textbook, emphasizing the purpose of consciousness and behavior.

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis, emphasizing the influence of unconscious drives, conflicts, and early childhood experiences on personality and behavior.

Ivan Pavlov

A Russian physiologist known for his work on classical conditioning, demonstrated through his experiments with dogs salivating at the sound of a bell.

B.F. Skinner

A prominent behaviorist who developed operant conditioning, focusing on how consequences (reinforcement and punishment) shape voluntary behavior.

John B. Watson

Known as the "Father of Behaviorism"; conducted the "Little Albert" experiment, demonstrating how emotions could be classically conditioned.

Carl Rogers

A humanist psychologist who developed client-centered therapy, emphasizing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness to foster personal growth.

Abraham Maslow

A humanist psychologist known for his Hierarchy of Needs, proposing that individuals are motivated to fulfill a series of needs, culminating in self-actualization.

Jean Piaget

A developmental psychologist famous for his theory of cognitive development, outlining distinct stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational) through which children's thinking progresses.

Albert Bandura

Developed the social learning theory (now social cognitive theory) and conducted the Bobo doll experiment, demonstrating the importance of observational learning and modeling.

Stanley Milgram

A social psychologist known for his controversial experiments on obedience to authority, which highlighted how far people would go in obeying instructions from an authority figure.

Philip Zimbardo

Conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment, a controversial study on the psychological effects of perceived power, focusing on how roles and social situations can influence behavior.