Important PPL AP Psych

Sigmund freud

Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis, a theory of personality that emphasizes unconscious motives and conflicts. He introduced concepts like the id, ego, and superego, and developed stages of psychosexual development.

B.f. skinner

Skinner was a behaviorist who studied how consequences shape behavior through operant conditioning. He used reinforcement and punishment to increase or decrease behaviors

Jean piaget

Piaget was a cognitive psychologist known for his theory of cognitive development in children. He proposed four stages that explain how children's thinking evolves over time.

William james

James was a founder of functionalism and often called the "father of American psychology." He focused on how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments.

Carl rogers

Rogers was a humanistic psychologist who emphasized self-concept and unconditional positive regard. He developed client-centered therapy to help people reach their full potential.

Albert bandura

Bandura is known for his social learning theory, which emphasizes learning through observation and imitation. His Bobo doll experiment showed how children can learn aggressive behaviors by watching others.

John b watson

Watson was the founder of behaviorism, focusing on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts. He conducted the Little Albert experiment to show how emotions can be conditioned.

Lev vygotsky

Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction and culture in cognitive development. He introduced the concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

Wilhelm wundt

Wundt established the first psychology laboratory and is considered the father of modern psychology. He used introspection to study the structure of the mind.

Erik erikson

Erikson developed the psychosocial stages of development, which describe how people evolve through social conflicts at different ages. He emphasized identity formation, especially during adolescence.

Solomon asch

Asch studied conformity and how group pressure can influence individual opinions. His famous line experiment showed that people often conform to fit in, even when they know the answer is wrong.

Albert ellis

Ellis created Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), which focuses on changing irrational beliefs. He believed thoughts strongly influence emotions and behavior.

Harry harlow

Harlow studied attachment in monkeys and showed the importance of comfort and caregiving. His research emphasized that emotional needs are crucial for development, not just physical needs.

Lawrence kohlberg

Kohlberg developed a theory of moral development with three levels: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. He studied how people's moral reasoning changes over time.

Abraham maslow

Maslow created the hierarchy of needs, a theory that prioritizes human needs from basic survival to self-actualization. He was a leading figure in the humanistic psychology movement.

Stanley milgram

Milgram conducted obedience experiments to study how far people would go in following authority. His controversial study showed that ordinary people could commit harmful acts under pressure.

Ivan pavlov

Pavlov discovered classical conditioning through experiments with dogs. He showed that a neutral stimulus can trigger a response when paired with a natural stimulus.