AP Psychology Unit 12: History and Approaches:

Mary Whiton Calkins

First female APA president; studied memory and self-psychology.

Charles Darwin

Proposed evolutionary theory (natural selection); influenced evolutionary psychology.

Dorothea Dix

Reformed mental asylums; advocated for humane treatment of patients.

Sigmund Freud

Founded psychoanalysis; emphasized unconscious drives and childhood experiences.

G. Stanley Hall

First APA president; pioneered child development research.

William James

Wrote Principles of Psychology; functionalism founder (studied purpose of behavior).

Ivan Pavlov

Discovered classical conditioning (dogs salivating at bell).

Jean Piaget

Studied cognitive development in children (stages of learning).

Carl Rogers

Humanistic psychologist; emphasized client-centered therapy.

B.F. Skinner

Behaviorist; researched operant conditioning (reinforcement/punishment).

Margaret Floy Washburn

First female psychology Ph.D.; studied animal cognition.

Edward Titchener

Structuralism founder (analyzed conscious experience via introspection).

Max Wertheimer

Gestalt psychology founder (whole > sum of parts).

John Locke

Philosopher; proposed tabula rasa (mind as blank slate).

John Watson

Behaviorism founder; conducted the 'Little Albert' experiment.

Wilhelm Wundt

'Father of psychology'; opened first psych lab in 1879.

Psychology

Science of behavior and mental processes.

Biological Psychologist

Studies brain-behavior links (e.g., neurotransmitters).

Cognitive Psychologist

Researches thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

Experimental Psychologist

Conducts lab studies on behavior and cognition.

Personality Psychologist

Studies traits and individual differences.

Clinical Psychologist

Diagnoses and treats mental disorders (therapy).

Counseling Psychologist

Helps with life challenges (e.g., career stress).

Social Psychologist

Studies group behavior and attitudes.

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychologist

Improves workplace productivity.

Forensic Psychologist

Applies psychology to legal issues.

Evolutionary Psychologist

Explores adaptive behaviors from a Darwinian perspective.

Environmental Psychologist

Studies human-environment interactions.

Social-Cultural Psychologist

Examines culture’s impact on behavior.

Sports Psychologist

Enhances athletic performance and mental focus.

Developmental Psychologist

Studies lifespan changes from child to adult.

Educational Psychologist

Researches learning and teaching methods.

Psychometric Psychologist

Designs psychological tests (e.g., IQ tests).

Stability-Change Issue

Debate on whether traits persist or evolve over time.

Diversity-Universality Issue

Debate on whether behaviors are culture-specific or universal.

Nature-Nurture Issue

Debate on the influence of genes vs. environment in shaping behavior.

Biological Perspective

Examines how physiological processes influence behavior and mental states.

Behavioral Perspective

Centers on observable behaviors and the ways they're learned through interactions.

Cognitive Perspective

Explores internal mental processes like perception and memory.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Investigates how unconscious drives and childhood experiences shape behavior.

Evolutionary Perspective

Applies principles of natural selection to understand behaviors.

Sociocultural Perspective

Looks at how social and cultural environments influence behavior.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors for a comprehensive understanding.