Ap Psychology: Unit 0

Psychology

the study of behavior (observable actions) and mental processes (internal thoughts/feelings we infer from behavior).

What is the big debate?

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature

traits/behaviors from biology & DNA.

Nurture

traits/behaviors shaped by environment & experiences.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Psychologists look at behavior/mental processes through 3 levels of analysis:

• Biological Influences – genetics, brain chemistry, natural selection.

• Psychological Influences – learned fears, emotional responses, cognitive processing.

• Social/Cultural Influences – peer pressure, family expectations, media, cultural norms.

Biological influences

genetics, brain chemistry, natural selection.

Psychological influences

learned fears, emotional responses, cognitive processing.

Social/Culture influences

peer pressure, family expectations, media, cultural norms.

Biological (neuroscience) perspective

Brain, body, and chemistry create emotions, memories, thoughts.

How are messages sent through the body? How does blood chemistry link to motives?

Evolutionary perspective

Natural selection shapes behavior & genes.

How does evolution influence behavior tendencies?

Psychodynamic perspective

Behavior directed by unconscious drives/conflicts.

How does the unconscious influence actions?

Behavioral perspective

how our behavior is shaped by the learning processes

How do we learn to fear particular objects? How can we change problematic behaviors?

Cognitive perspective

how we take in, store, and retrieve information, and how our perceptions influence our actions

How doe we use information to remember? How does interpretation impact behavior?