AP Psych Unit 1 Vocab

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

examines assumptions, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions 

Empiricism

 the idea that knowledge comes from experience, and observation and experimentation enable scientific knowledge

Structuralism

early school of though used to reveal the structure of the human mind

Introspection

process of looking inward in attempt to directly observe one’s own psychological processes

Functionalism

Explored how mental and behavioral processes function

Behaviorism

the view that psych should be objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Humanistic Psychology

perspective that emphasized human growth potential 

Cognitive Psychology

study of mental processes when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems

Cognitive Neuroscience

study of the brain activity linked with cognition

Psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

Nature-Nurture Science

Controversy over the contributions that genes and experience make the development of psychological traits and behaviors

Natural Selection

principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment

Evolutionary Psychology

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

Behavior Genetics

study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Culture

behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people passed through generations

Positive Psychology

study of human flourishing with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals/communities to thrive

Biopsychosocial approach

approach that incorporates biological,psychological,and social cultural viewpoints

Behavioral Psychology

study of observable behavior, and explanations of principles of learning

Biological Psychology

study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Psychodynamic Psychology

studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior and uses that info to treat people with psychological disorders

Social-Cultural Psychology

study of how situations and cultures influence our behavior and thinking

Testing Effect

enhanced memory after retrieving

SQ3R

5 step study method Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

Psychometrics

study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

Basic Research

pure science that aims to increase scientific knowledge

Developmental Psych

studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan

Educ. Psych

study of how psych processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning

Personality Psychology

study of individual characteristics patterns of thinking, feeling and acting

Social Psychology

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

Applied Research

study that aims to solve practical problems

(I/O) Psych

concepts and methods to optimize human behavior in workplaces

Human Factors Psych

explores how people and machines interact

Counseling Psych

assists people with problems in living

Clinical Psych

studies, assets, treats people with psychological disorders

Psychiatry

branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders

Community Psychology

studies how people interact with their social environments