Unit 0 - Ap Psychology

Psychology

The science and study of behavior and mental process

Clinical/counseling Psychology

Evolution ,Diagnosis, and treatment

Educational Psychology

Learning different methods and materials

Industrial-Organization Psychology

Workplace dynamics - Employee satisfaction and motivation

Psychiatry psychology

Able to prescribe medication - Medical degree needed

Nature Vs. Nurture

Argues the influence of genetic and envierments on behavior

Natural selection

Inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular envierment (most likely be passed down to future generations)

Evolutionary Psychology

Study of how natural selection and evolutionary princeples shape the human mind and it’s behaviors

Empiricism

Argument that knowledge is gained through experience

Structuralism

School that sought out the structure of the mind

Functionalism

School that focuses on how mental process thoughts and behaviors help individuals adapt to their enviorment

Behaviorism

Studying observable behavior process rather than mental process

Humanistic

Humans having the desire to reach their full potential. Exploiting free will

Psychodynamic

Focuses on the unconscious mind; Repressed memories, free association, and dreams

Biological

Physical basis for behavior (Nervous & endocrine system)

Cognitive

How humans gather/store information

Social-cultural

How culture/society affect our behavior, thoughts, and feelings

Theory

Developed general idea that is consistent with what you have observed

Experiment

Research method where the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observe whether any changes occur in the second variable

Correlational/descriptive

Research method where the investigator cannot manipulate variables

Hypothesis

Testable statement describing the relationship between two or more variables

Independent variable

Factor manipulated by the experimentor

Dependent variable

factor measured by the experimentor

Operational definition

A precise description of how the variable in a study will be manipulated and measured

Control group

Consists of similar subjects who do not receieve the special treatment given to the experimental group

Experimental group

Subjects that do receive special treatment in regard to the independent variable

Confounding variables

An external factor that can affect the results of an experiment

Random assignment

Participents have equal chance to be assigned to any group or condition o the study

Replication

An experiment is only valid when it can be reproduced with similar end results

Placebo effect

Subjects a change despite receiving the same empty, fake, or ineffectual

Survey

A questionnaire/interview

Social desirability

Answering the way society wants you to