AP Psychology Perspectives

Biologucal Perspective

The scientific study of links between biological and psychological processes.

-key terms: neurons, brain structure, nervous system, genes

Evolutionary Perspective

How the natural selection or adaptation of traits has promoted the survival of genes/species.

-key terms: survival of the fittest, mating patterns, ancestors

Psychoanalytic/Dynamic Perspective

How behavior spring from unconcious drives and conflicts.

-key terms: unconcious, repressed memories, superego, TAT, inkblot test, id, ego, defense mechanisms

Behavioral Perspective

How we learn observable responses (behaviors).

-key terms: conditioning, learning, nurture, reward, punisher, conditioned stimulus/response

Cognitive Perspective

How we encode, process, store, and retrieve information.

-key terms: mental process, thinking, memory, perception

Humanistic Perspective

How we meet our needs for love and acceptance and achieve self-fulfillment (self-actualization).

-key terms: self-actualization, growth potential, client-centered therapy, unconditional positive regard

Socio-Cultural Perspective

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures.

-key terms: individualistic versus collectivist, norms