AP Psychology - Unit 1, Module 1

Hi everyone! This is a general flashcard consisting of facts and definitions you should know for AP psychology. There may be some mistakes in spelling, and some niche terms may not be covered (I apologize if this happens). I recommend using this to aid your study, but always make sure to take your own notes and complete readings so that you have your own understanding of the material! Good luck studying :)

Characteristics of the Scientific Attitude

curiosity, skepticism, humility

Critical Thinking

Examines assumptions, Discerns hidden values, Evaluates evidence, Assess conclusions

Socrates

believed that mind is separate body/continues in death/knowledge is born within us

Francis Bacon

believed humans suppose more order in things than reality; focus on observations

Descartes

studied how mind/body cooperate; believed animal spirits (fluids) flow from brain thru nerves that create movement/memories → “Discovered” nerve paths

John Locke

Believes our mind is a blank state (tabula rasa); introduced empiricism

Empiricism

idea that knowledge is from experience and experience is formed w/ observation and experimentation

Wilhelm Wundt

Measured “atoms of mind”; conducted first psych study by analyzing reaction times to ball. Found that becoming aware of awareness takes time

Structuralism

used introspection to reveal human mind/ask people to self

Introspection

“looking inward”; observing own innate mental process; Later proven unreliable bc self

Structuralism Scholar

Edward Titchener

Functionalism Scholar

William James (influenced by Darwin)

Functionalism

study of brain functions and how its useful to humans, believes our thinking evolves like other body functions. Note: about brain FUNCTIONS and structure, thinks that brain works like the body and different structures responsible for different functions.

Behaviorism Scholar

John B. Watson (started APA); B. F. Skinner (Operant conditioning)

Behaviorism

anti to introspection, believes psych analysis is the “study of observable behavior”; based on pure behavior observations through conditioning. Didn’t have psych technology so had to focus on OBSERVABLE behavior

Humanistic Psychology Scholar

Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow

Humanistic Psychology

Believes behaviorism/freud too limiting so they choose emphasis on personal growth/individual perceptions

Gestalt Psychology Scholar

Wertheimer, opposed Wundt

Gestalt Psychology

Based on idea that “the whole is different and greater than sums of the parts” ; Opposition to the analytical approach of structuralists. Paid attention to perception

Freudian (Psychoanalytic) Psychology Scholar

Sigmund Freud

Freudian Psychology

emphasis on how unconscious mind/childhood affects behavior