AP Psychology Unit 1: History of Psychology

psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

empiricism

The view that (a) knowledge comes from experience via the senses, and (b) science flourishes through observation and experiment

structuralism

An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind

functionalism

A school of psychology that focused on how mental and behavioral processes function--how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

pseudo-psychology

Psychology that is not based on scientific facts or studies, that is more "common sense" in some cases

Wilhem Wundt

Known as father of psychology. Created the first scientific laboratory. Used structural approach.

William James

"Stream of consciousness," created functionalism with others, wrote 'Principles of Psychology'

psychiatry

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy

clinical psychology

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

counseling psychology

A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being

basic research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

applied research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

nature0nurture issue

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

phrenology

A now defunct theory that specific mental abilities and characteristics, ranging from memory to the capacity for happiness, are localized in specific regions of the brain

stimulus

Sensory input from the environment

consciousness

A person's subjective experience of the world and the mind

introspection

The subjective observation of one's own experience

natural selection

Charles Darwin's theory that the features of an organism that help it survive and reproduce are more likely than other features to be passed on to subsequent generations

Gestalt psychology

A psychological approach that emphasizes that we often perceive the whole rather than the sum of the parts

cognitive neuroscience

A field that attempts to understand the links between cognitive processes and brain activity

psychological constructs

Used to talk about something we cannot see, touch or measure

Barnum effect

Tendency to believe a general personality report

clinical psychologists

Largest group, help people with psychological problems but can't provide drugs

counseling psychologists

Treat people who have adjustment problems rather than serious mental disorders. Work often at universities.

school psychologists

Identify students with problems and help with placement of students

educational psychologists

Work on course planning and instructional methods

developmental psychologists

Study the changes that occur throughout a person's life span

personality psychologists

Identify characteristics or traits

social psychologists

Study people's behavior in social situations

experimental psychologists

Partake in basic research, research for its own sake

industrial and organizational psychologists

Study behavior of people and work, like those in organizations

environmental psychologists

Study how people's surroundings affect them

consumer psychologists

Study the behavior of shoppers to predict and explain their behavior

health psychologists

Study how behavior and mental aspects affect health

Socrates

Said "know thyself" - the beginnings of introspection

introspection

To "look within"

John Locke

Theorized that knowledge is not inborn but is learned from experiences

B.F. Skinner

Created reinforcement theory; behaviorist approach

Sigmund Freud

Creator of psychoanalysis and one of the most influential men in psychology

John B. Watson

Founder of the behavioral approach to psychology

psychoanalysis

Emphasizes the importance of unconscious motives and internal conflicts

biological perspective

Biological processes influence behavior and mental processes

evolutionary perspective

Adaptive organisms survive and transmit their genes to future generations

cognitive perspective

Perceptions and thought influence behavior

psychoanalytic perspective

Unconscious motives influence behavior

learning perspective

Personal experience and reinforcement guide individual development

sociocultural perspective

Sociocultural, biological, and psychological factors create individual differences

confirmation bias

Tendency to attend to evidence that complements and confirms our beliefs or expectations while ignoring evidence that does not