AP Psych Unit 1.1: Waves of Psychology

Introduction to the 6 waves of psychology and their creation.

Waves of Psychology

Structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, eclectic

Structuralism

Focus on the brain's structures and how they interact to analyze psychology

Functionalism

The idea that mental states are identified by what they do rather than what makes up their structure

Gestalt psychology

The view that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts: focused on how we interpret our experiences

Psychoanalysis

The concept of feelings being derived from the unconscious, with defense mechanisms emerging to protect ourselves from the feelings we don't want to experience.

Behaviorism

The idea that behavior was the main focus of psychology, with feelings being largely irrelevant in the face of cause/effect relations.

Eclectic

The use of a wide variety of theoretical appoaches to address psychological needs.

Wilhelm Wundt

A German physiologist who founded psychology as a formal science; opened first psychology research laboratory in 1879; known as the father of psychology

Edward Titchner

Effectively created and developed the structuralist wave of psychology, promoting the use of introspection and self reflection to learn about oneself.

Max Wertheime

Leader of Gestalt Psychology

Sigmund Freud

Father of psychoanalysis

B.F. Skinner

Founder of behaviorism, significant leader in the field of operant conditioning

Ivan Pavlov

Often credited as another forerunner in behaviorism, focused on classical conditioning

Variety

Eclectic psychology is largely about _______.

Darwinist

Functionalism involves heavily _________ thinking.

Relationships

Structuralism primarily analyzes the ___________ between brain structures.

Introspection

Internal examination and analysis of someone’s own mental state

Defense mechanisms

According to psychoanalysis, we protect ourselves from unwanted thoughts by using ________ ____________.

Unconscious

Psychoanalysis theorizes about emotions being derived from the _________ mind.

Conscious

Functionalism places a heavy focus on the ________ mind and human behaviors.

Experience

Gestalt psychology focuses on how humans ___________ the world.