AP Psychology: Psychology's History and Approaches

empiricism

the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore rely on observation and experimentation

Wilhelm Wundt

the first to call himself a psychologist and founded the psychology lab at University of Leipzig, Germany

Stanley Hall

established the first formal U.S. psychology laboratory at Johns Hopkins

structuralism

early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

functionalism

early school of thought promoted by William James and influenced by Charles Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral process function - how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

Mary Calkins

pioneering memory researching and the first woman to be president of the American Psychological Association (APA); she was denied the right to receive her PHD in psychology at Harvard because she was a woman

Margaret Washburn

first woman to receive a PHD in psychology; she synthesized animal behavior research in The Animal Mind; she was also the second female president of the APA

experimental psychologists

the people who study the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

Watson and Skinner

psychologists who appeared much later in the field who dismissed introspection and redefined psychology as “the scientific study of observable behavior because they declared science is rooted in observation

behaviorism

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

Rogers and Maslow

humanistic psychologists that found Freudian psychology and behaviorism too limiting they drew attention to the ways that current environmental influences can nurture/limit our growth potential, and to the importance of having our needs for love and acceptance satisfied

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

nature-nurture issue

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

Charles Darwin

argued that natural selection shapes behaviors as well as bodies; famous evolutionist

natural selection

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on the succeeding generations

levels of analysis

the differing complementary views from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological psychological and social cultural levels of analysis

seven approaches to psychology

behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic, and social cultural

behavioral psychology

study of observable behaviors and its explanation by principles of learning

biological psychology (also called neuroscience or behavior genetics)

study of links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal_ and psychological processes

cognitive psychology

study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

evolutionary psychology

the study of evolution of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection

humanistic psychology

the study of how we meet our needs for love and acceptance and achieve self-fulfillment

psychodynamic psychology

studies how the unconscious drives, conflicts, and influences behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders

social cultural psychology

study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking

psychometrics

study of measurement of human abilities, attitudes and traits

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

developmental psychology

studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

educational psychology

studies how psychological processes affect and can enhance learning

personality psychology

study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and activity

social psychology

study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

industrial-organization (I/O) psychology

application of psychological concepts and methods to optimize human behavior in the workplace

human factors psychology

subfield of I/O psychology; explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be safe and easy to use

counseling psychology

assists people with problems in living (school, work, marriage, etc.) and in achieving greater well being

clinical psychology

branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

psychiatry

branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy

positive psychology

study of human functioning, with the goals of dissolving and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading informationn