AP Psych 7 Major Perspectives Buzz Words

Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic

Buzzwords: Unconscious, childhood experiences, repressed memories, inner conflicts, defense mechanisms, Sigmund Freud.

Core idea: Behavior is driven by hidden, unresolved past conflicts in the unconscious mind.

Behavioral

Buzzwords: Observable behavior, learning, reinforcement, punishment, environment, conditioning, B.F. Skinner, John Watson.

Core idea: Actions are shaped strictly by environmental rewards and consequences rather than internal thoughts.

Cognitive

Buzzwords: Thinking, memory, problem-solving, information processing, language, perception, interpretation.

Core idea: Behavior is explained by how people think, store, and process mental information.

Humanistic

Buzzwords: Free will, self-actualization, personal growth, full potential, choice, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow.

Core idea: Humans are innately good and actively driven to achieve their highest personal potential.

Biological / Neuroscience

Buzzwords: Brain, genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones, nervous system, physical body, nature.

Core idea: Physical and chemical processes inside the body dictate thoughts and actions.

Evolutionary

Buzzwords: Natural selection, adaptation, survival of the fittest, genes, ancestral traits, Charles Darwin.

Core idea: Universal behaviors exist because they gave our ancestors an advantage in surviving and reproducing

Sociocultural

Buzzwords: Culture, social norms, environment, societal expectations, ethnicity, group influence.

Core idea: Actions and values change depending on a person's cultural background and social surroundings.