Ap Psychology Unit 1

Empiricism

The idea that what we know comes from experience and that observation and experimentation enable scientific knowledge.

Structuralism

An early school of though promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.

Introspection

The process of looking inward in an attempt to directly observe one’s own Psychological process.

Functionalism

How mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.

Behaviorism

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

Psychoanalytic Psychology

Emphasizes the ways our unconscious mind and childhood experiences affect on someone’s behavior.

Humanistic psychology

A historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential.

Cognitive psychology

The study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems.

Cognitive neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition. (including perception, thinking, memory, and language.)

Psychology

The science behavior and mental process.

Nature-nurture issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.

Natural selection

The principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Evolutionary psychology

The study of evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Behavior genetics

The study of the relative power and limits of genetics and environmental influences on behavior.

Positive psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.

Biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological psychological and social-culture viewpoints.

Behavioral psychology

The study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning.

Biological psychology

The study of the links between biological and psychological process. (Genetic, neutral, hormonal)

Psychodynamic psychology

A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders.

Social-cultural psychology

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures.

Testing effect

Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading information. Also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test enhanced learning.

Psychometrics

The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.

Basic research

Pure science that aims to increase scientific knowledge base.

Developmental psychology

A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

Educational psychology

The study of how Psychological processes can enhance teaching and learning.

Personality psychology

The study of individuals characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Social psychology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Applied research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

The application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplace.

Human factors/engineering psychology

A field of psychology allied with I/O psychology that explores how people and machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use.

Counseling psychology

Psychologist who assist people with problems living and in achieving greater well-being. (Often related to school, work, or marriage)

Clinical psychology

Psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychology disorders.

Psychiatry

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders. (They are physical causes)

Community psychology

Psychologist that study how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups. (Bullying).