AP Psych Unit 1 Vocab

Psychiatrist

A medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders.

Psychologist

A professional trained to study, assess, and treat behavior and mental processes

Applied Research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Basic Research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Behaviorism

The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconsciousness motives and conflicts

Biopsychosocial Perspective

An integrative framework that states behavior, mental processes, and psychological disorders and are shaped by the constant interaction of many factors

Humanistic Perspective

A psychological approach that emphasizes free will, personal growth, and the innate drive of humans to reach their full potential

Cognitive Perspective

An approach that explains human behavior and mental processes by focusing on internal thoughts

Biological Perspective

Explains behavior and mental processes through physical and physiological causes like brain, nervous system, genetics, hormones

Sociocultural Perspective

Explains human thoughts and feelings by cultural norms, social expectations, and group contexts

Confounding Variable

A factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study’s results

Case Study

A descriptive technique in which one individual group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other

Dependent Variable

In an experiment, the outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated

Independent Variable

In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied

Single-Blind Study

A study where the participants don’t know if they’re in the experimental group or control group

Double-Blind Study

A study where the participants and staff talking to them don’t know who gets the actual treatment or who gets a Placebo

Placebo Effect

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition

Standard Deviation

A compared measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Control Group

The group not exposed to the treatment; constants with experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Experimental Group

The group not exposed to the treatment or one version of the independent variable in an experiment

Representative Sample

Participants that accurately reflects the key characteristics, demographics, and diversity of a larger target population

Convenience Sample

A non-random method where participants are selected because they’re easy to reach and ready to take part

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion