AP Psychology: Foundations, Perspectives, Stress, and Positive Psychology Flashcards

Flashcards defining foundational vocabulary terms, psychological perspectives, stress models, coping methods, and concepts from positive psychology based on lecture notes.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Behavior

Anything that an organism does that can be directly observed and measured.

Mental processes

The internal experiences that influence behavior, including thinking, remembering, learning, dreaming, feeling emotions, making decisions, and solving problems.

Nature versus nurture debate

One of the oldest questions in psychology that examines whether our genetic inheritance (nature) or our environment and life experiences (nurture) primarily influence who we become.

Wilhelm Wundt

A researcher who opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany in 1879, marking the birth of psychology as a formal scientific discipline.

American Psychological Association (APA)

The largest professional organization for psychologists in the United States, founded in 1892 to promote psychology, establish ethical standards, and direct publication formats.

Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic perspective

A perspective rooted in the theories of Sigmund Freud focusing on unconscious drives, unresolved conflicts, and early childhood caregiver experiences.

Behavioral perspective

A perspective that focuses exclusively on observable behaviors and environmental causes, emphasizing conditioning, rewards, and punishments while rejecting unobservable mental states.

Cognitive perspective

The most widely applied modern perspective, focusing on internal mental processes such as memory, perception, thinking, problem solving, and decision-making.

Humanistic perspective

A perspective emphasizing a positive view of human nature, free will, self-concept, and the intrinsic drive toward growth and self-actualization.

Socio-cultural perspective

A perspective examining how social contexts and cultural factors—such as religion, ethnicity, gender, family, and income level—shape human thoughts and actions.

Biological perspective

Also known as the neurobiological or neuroscience perspective, it examines how genetics, brain chemistry, hormones, and nervous system structures influence behavior.

Neuroscience

The scientific study of the structure, function, development, genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system.

Evolutionary perspective

A perspective rooted in Charles Darwin's theories, asserting that human mental processes and behaviors exist because they aid in survival and reproduction.

Natural selection

The evolutionary process by which traits and genes that are beneficial for survival are preserved and passed on to subsequent generations.

Bio-psychosocial approach

An integrated framework that combines biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors to provide a comprehensive explanation of human behavior and mental processes.

Health psychology

A subfield of psychology that investigates how biological, psychological, and social factors interact to influence physical and mental well-being.

Stress

The process by which we perceive and respond to events (stressors) that we appraise as threatening or challenging to our goals or well-being.

Stressors

External or internal events or conditions that trigger a stress response in the mind and body.

Cognitive appraisal

The personal cognitive process of interpreting and evaluating an event to determine whether or not it is stressful.

Daily hassles

Small, everyday irritations—such as traffic or physical discomfort—that accumulate multiplicatively over time to impact health.

Traumatic event

Any experience, such as an accident or act of violence, that overwhelms an individual's immediate capacity to cope.

Adverse childhood experiences

Harmful or stressful conditions during childhood—such as abuse, neglect, or household instability—that can disrupt brain development and increase long-term health risks.

Distress

An unpleasant, overwhelming form of stress typically associated with an external locus of control, avoidance-avoidance conflicts, and potential learned helplessness.

U-stress

A positive, challenging, and motivating form of stress associated with an internal locus of control and approach-avoidance conflicts that builds resilience.

Hedonic adaptation

The psychological process of emotionally adjusting to new positive or negative situations over time, eventually returning to a baseline level of happiness.

Negativity bias

An evolutionary cognitive bias wherein the brain naturally pays more attention and gives greater weight to negative events than to positive ones.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A three-stage model developed by Hans Celier describing the body's predictable physiological response to prolonged stress.

Alarm stage

The initial stage of General Adaptation Syndrome where the fight-or-flight response is triggered, releasing adrenaline and cortisol alongside a brief drop in stress resistance.

Resistance stage

The second stage of General Adaptation Syndrome where the body maintains elevated physiological arousal and mobilizes resources to cope with an ongoing stressor.

Exhaustion stage

The third stage of General Adaptation Syndrome where prolonged exposure to stress depletes physical resources, causing fatigue, vulnerability to illness, and burnout.

Tend and befriend

A stress response pattern common in females and linked to oxytocin, characterized by nurturing oneself and others (tending) and seeking social support (befriending).

Problem-focused coping

A long-term coping mechanism that targets the root cause of stress by taking direct, practical actions to resolve the issue.

Emotion-focused coping

A short-term coping strategy designed to reduce and manage internal emotional distress when the stressor itself cannot be immediately altered.

Positive psychology

The scientific study of human strengths, virtues, traits, and behaviors that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Subjective happiness

The personal, internal experience of feeling happy, which varies significantly depending on individual interpretations and preferences.

Objective happiness

Universal and measurable physical or environmental conditions—such as safety, shelter, food, and basic physical health—required for general well-being.

Well-being

A broad state of overall physical and mental contentment, low distress, and life satisfaction.

Resilience

The psychological ability to adapt to difficulty, recover from setbacks, and grow through adverse experiences.

Gratitude

The practice of recognizing and appreciating the good things in life, which enhances positive affect, relationship quality, and health.

Signature strengths

The core character strengths out of 24 positive traits that come most naturally to a person and feel most authentic to their identity.

Post-traumatic growth

A phenomenon where individuals undergo positive psychological transformations, deeper relationships, and newfound life purpose after enduring severe trauma or hardship.