AP Psychology: Unit 1 Summer Work

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Empiricism

The view that knowledge originates in experience and science should rely on observation and experimentation.

Experimental psychology

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method.

Behaviorism

Psychology as an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Humanistic psychology

Perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people.

Cognitive neuroscience

Interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, language).

Psychology

The study of behavior and mental processes.

Nature-nurture issue

Controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to trait development.

Natural selection

Principle that traits contributing to reproduction and survival are likely passed to succeeding generations.

Levels of analysis

Differing complementary views (biological, psychological, social-cultural) for analyzing any given phenomenon.

Biopsychosocial approach

Integrated approach incorporating biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Behavioral psychology

Scientific study of observable behavior and its explanation by principles of learning.

Biological psychology

Scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.

Cognitive psychology

Scientific study of mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Evolutionary psychology

Study of the evolution of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection.

Psychodynamic psychology

Study of how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior to treat psychological disorders.

Social-cultural psychology

Study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking.

Psychometrics

Scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.

Basic research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

Developmental psychology

Branch of psychology studying physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

Educational psychology

Study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning.

Personality psychology

Study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Social psychology

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

Applied research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

Application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces.

Human factors psychology

I/O subfield exploring human-machine interaction and making environments safe and easy to use.

Counseling psychology

Branch assisting people with living problems and 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.

Positive psychology

Study of human functioning to promote strengths that help communities thrive.

Community psychology

Study of how people interact with social environments and how institutions affect them.

Testing effect

Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information.

Sigmund Freud

Controversial personality theorist whose ideas influenced humanity's self-understanding.

John B. Watson

Championed psychology as the science of behavior; demonstrated conditioned responses on 'Little Albert.'

B.F. Skinner

Leading behaviorist who rejected introspection and studied how consequences shape behavior.

Carl Rogers

Humanistic psychologist who emphasized environmental influences and the importance of love/acceptance.

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist who pioneered the study of learning.

Jean Piaget

Influential observer of children; a Swiss biologist.

Charles Darwin

Argued that natural selection shapes behaviors as well as bodies.

Dorothea Dix

Reformer who led the way to humane treatment of those with psychological disorders.