AP Psychology - Psychological Perspectives Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key psychological perspectives, core concepts, and major historical figures from the introductory AP Psychology lecture.

Unit 0

The introductory section in Mister Sinn's review focusing on the scientific practices and research methods listed in the CED.

Psychodynamic Perspective

A psychological approach originally developed by Sigmund Freud that focuses on the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and repressed memories.

Sigmund Freud

The founder of psychoanalytic theory who believed personality is shaped by unconscious motives and studied dreams and free association.

Free Association

A psychodynamic method where one word or image triggers another word, idea, or image in the mind to access subconscious thoughts.

Behaviorism

An objective scientific perspective supported by John B Watson, Ivan Paulo, and BF Skinner that focuses solely on observable behavior formed through reinforcement and punishment without referencing mental processes.

John B Watson, Ivan Paulo, and BF Skinner

Key figures who championed behaviorism, rejecting psychodynamic focus on hidden processes in favor of studying observable behavior.

Sociocultural Perspective

An approach focusing on how social environments, family, religion, and cultural norms shape individual decisions and behaviors.

Cultural Norms

Shared expectations and rules that guide behavior within a group or society.

Humanistic Perspective

An optimistic approach that emphasizes human growth potential, free will, individual differences, and personal development.

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Leaders of the humanistic approach who rejected behaviorism as too limiting and focused on growth potential and self-esteem.

Self-Actualization

A key concept in humanistic psychology referring to the state where an individual is motivated to reach their full potential.

Cognitive Perspective

A perspective centered on inner mental processes, specifically how individuals interpret, process, and store information.

Biological Perspective

An approach that explores the links between biological processes and mental actions, focusing on the brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, and the nervous system.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

An integrative approach that combines biological, psychological, and social factors to explain behavior, mental processes, and health treatments.

Evolutionary Perspective

A perspective that examines how natural selection and adaptation influence behaviors such as fear responses.

Charles Darwin

The theorist who proposed that human behaviors and physical characteristics were formed through natural selection.