AP Psychology Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Empirical Approach

The standard for all psychological research, based on observation and scientific experimentation.

Pseudopsychology

Phony, unscientific psychology masquerading as the real thing.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to pay attention only to evidence that confirms our beliefs or expectations, while ignoring evidence that does not.

Experimental Psychologists

The work horses who do the research in psychology. Also, called research psychologists.

Teachers of Psychology

Overlaps with the experimentalists, because most researchers also teach classes at the college.

Applied Psychologists

Use the knowledge developed by experimental psychologists to tackle human problems.

Psychiatry

A medical specialty dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Can prescribe medications - psychologists cannot.

Structuralism

Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Tichener; Focused on revealing the most basic "structure" or components of the mind, rather than what consciousness could do; structuralism

Introspection

The process of reporting on one's own conscious mental experiences (relied on by Wundt in his lab)

Functionalism

William James; A historical school of psychology that believed mental process could best be understood in terms of their adaptive purpose and function.

Gestalt Psychology

A historical school of psychology that sought out to understand how the brain works by studying perception and perceptual learning; interested in why we perceive wholes as opposed to individual parts (ex. faces)

Behaviorism

A historical school that has sought to make psychology an objective science focused only on observable behavior--advocates exclusion of subjective mental processes.

Psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud; The psychoanaylytic method of treating mental disorders asserted that the mental disorders arised from conflicts in the unconscious mind.

Biological View

Emphasizes how our physical makeup and the operation of our brain, endocrine system, genetics, etc. influence our personality, perferences, behavior and abilities.

Neuroscience

The field devoted to understanding how the brain creates thoughts, feelings, motives, consciousness, memories and other mental processes.

Evolutionary Psychology

Suggests that many human traits arise form hereditary characteristics established in our remote ancestral past.

Developmental View

Psychological change resulted from an interaction between the heredity programmed in our genes and the experiences presented by our environment. interested in nature v. nurture.

Cognitive View

Our actions are profoundly influenced by the way we process information streaming in from our environment - ex. memory

Cognitions

Thoughts, expectations, perception, memories, and states of consciousness.

Cognitive Neuroscience

Psychologists who are especially interested in the connections between mind, brain and behavior have pioneered a hybrid field. fMRI technology enables this field today.

Clinical View

A special interest in mental health and mental disorders characterizes - humanistic and psychodynamic

Psychodynamic

We are motivied primarily by energy of irrational desires generated in our uncosious minds. interested in uncovering how our pasts influence current behaviors.

Humanistic Psychology

Our actions are hugely influenced by our self concept and by our need for personal growth and fulfillment. we all have potential for growth - positive psychology.

Behavioral View

A psychological perspective that finds the source of our actions in environmental stimuli, rather than in inner mental processes. How do reinforcement and punishment influence our behaviors?

Sociocultural View

Makes the idea of social influence, culture the focus of psychology.

Culture

A complex blend of language, beliefs, customs, values, and traditions developed by a group of people and shared with others in the same environment.

Trait View

A psychological perspective that views behavior and personality as the products of innate, enduring psychological characterists.