AP Psychology – Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology (Vocabulary Flashcards)

35 vocabulary flashcards covering key Unit 1 concepts in AP Psychology.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Behavior

The outward actions and observable activities of organisms.

Mental processes

Internal experiences such as thoughts, memories, and feelings.

Describe

To observe and record behavior or mental processes.

Explain

To account for why behavior or mental processes occur.

Predict

To forecast future behavior or mental processes.

Control

To influence or change behavior.

Wilhelm Wundt

Father of psychology; established the first psychology laboratory; associated with structuralism.

Structuralism

First psychology school in analyzing conscious experience into basic elements.

William James

Proponent of functionalism; studied how mental processes help adaptation.

Functionalism

Perspective focusing on the function of mental processes and how they help individuals adapt to environments.

Sigmund Freud

Founded psychoanalysis; emphasized unconscious drives and early experiences.

Psychoanalysis

Theory and therapy focusing on unconscious influences and childhood experiences.

Unconscious drives

Hidden motivations that influence behavior outside conscious awareness.

Early childhood

Critical period or focus in psychoanalytic theory.

John B. Watson

Behaviorist who emphasized observable behavior.

B. F. Skinner

Behaviorist known for operant conditioning.

Behaviorism

School of psychology that emphasizes observable behavior and conditioning.

Observable behavior

Actions that can be seen and measured.

Abraham Maslow

Humanistic psychologist who proposed a hierarchy of needs.

Carl Rogers

Humanistic psychologist who emphasized client-centered therapy.

Humanistic psychology

Perspective focusing on personal growth, self-actualization, and free will.

Personal growth

Process of developing toward self-actualization.

Self-actualization

Fulfillment of one’s potential and talents.

Biological

Perspective focusing on brain, hormones, genetics, and nervous system.

Behavioral

Perspective emphasizing observable behavior and conditioning.

Cognitive

Perspective focusing on thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

Psychodynamic

Perspective emphasizing unconscious desires and childhood experiences.

Social-Cultural

Perspective on how culture, norms, and environment influence behavior.

Scientific Method

Systematic process to test hypotheses and draw conclusions.

Hypothesis

Testable prediction derived from theory or observation.

Operational definition

Precise description of how a variable will be measured or manipulated.

Replication

Repeating a study to see if results are consistent.

Correlation coefficient (r)

Statistic measuring the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables, from -1 to +1.

Correlation does not imply causation

A relationship between variables does not prove that one causes the other.