Unit 0 AP Psychology

What are the “Perspectives of Psychology?”

Different ways of understanding and explaining human behavior and mental processes

Psychodynamic

Unconscious drives, conflicts, and childhood experiences shape behavior

Behaviorism

Observable behaviors and the ways they’re learned through interaction with the environment

Humanistic

Personal growth, free will, and the concept of self-actualization

Cognitive

Internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem solving

Biological

Physiology bases of behavior in humans and animals

Evolutionary

How behavior and mental health processes serve as adaptations for survival and reproduction

Sociocultural

How culture, social norms, and social environments influence behavior

Biopsychosocial

Combines biological, psychological, and social factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of human behavior

Psychology

Scientific study of mental processes and behavior

Mental Processes

“Thinking” parts of the brain

Behavior

This is what we do and how we act

Confirmation Bias

People tend to look for, interpret, or remember info in a way that confirms what we believe

Hindsight Bias

People believe that they knew something was going to happen after it has already occurred even if they didn’t actually predict it

Overconfidence

When people have too much faith in their own judgements or abilities, thinking they know more than they actually do

Empirical Evidence

Information that is obtained through observation, experimentation, or measurement

What is significant about Empirical Evidence?

Helps prevent cognitive bias by providing objective data

The Scientific Method

Systematic approach used to study behavior and mental processes