AP Psychology Ultimate Guide (copy)

Roots of Psychology

The origins of psychology can be traced to ancient Greece, rooted in the fields of philosophy, which examines fundamental truths and human existence, and physiology/biology, which focuses on the physical processes of living organisms.

Mind-Body Dualism

Mind-body dualism is the concept, famously associated with Hippocrates, which posits that the mind or soul is distinct from the physical brain, suggesting that though connected, they are fundamentally different in substance.

Plato's Beliefs on Knowledge and Identity

Plato, an influential philosopher, believed that human knowledge and identity are innate, implying that individuals are born with inherent qualities and knowledge rather than acquiring them solely through experience.

Structuralism

Structuralism is a psychological perspective that aims to deconstruct the complex structure of the human mind and understand its basic elements. It focuses on identifying the components of consciousness and how they interact, employing methods such as introspection to explore individuals' thoughts and feelings.

Wilhelm Wundt's Contribution to Psychology

Wilhelm Wundt is regarded as the father of scientific psychology; he established the first psychological research laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879, marking the formal beginning of psychology as a distinct scientific discipline.

Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the importance of observable behaviors over internal mental states; it seeks to understand behavior primarily through environmental stimuli and responses.

Pavlov's Role in Psychology

Ivan Pavlov is a key figure in psychology known for his research on classical conditioning, a learning process demonstrated through his experiments involving dogs, where he explored the relationship between stimulus and response.

Humanistic Approach to Psychology

The humanistic approach is a psychological perspective that focuses on individual potential and stresses the importance of personal growth, free will, and the belief that people are inherently good.

Biopsychosocial Model

The biopsychosocial model is an integrative framework in psychology that considers biological, psychological, and social factors impacting human behavior and mental processes, promoting a holistic understanding of health.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a form of associative learning in which an organism learns to associate a previously neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response through repeated pairings.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Self-Actualization

Self-actualization, at the pinnacle of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, represents the realization of an individual's potential, self-fulfillment, personal growth, and peak experiences.

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when an individual experiences mental discomfort due to the inconsistency between their beliefs, values, or behaviors, prompting a need for resolution.

Freud's Theory of the Unconscious Mind

Sigmund Freud introduced the theory of the unconscious mind, suggesting that many human behaviors and personality traits are influenced by unconscious conflicts and repressed memories.

Temperament in Developmental Psychology

In developmental psychology, temperament refers to the inherent personality traits that determine an individual’s emotional responses and moods; these traits are noticeable early in life and are seen as biologically based.

Bonding Period in Infants

Bonding is the emotional connection that develops between infants and their primary caregivers, which is crucial for the infant’s social and emotional development.

Coping Strategies - Hans Selye

Hans Selye identified two primary types of coping strategies: problem-focused coping, which aims to address the source of stress directly, and emotion-focused coping, which aims to manage the emotional response to the stressor.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

In schizophrenia, positive symptoms indicate an excess or distortion of normal functions, such as hallucinations, while negative symptoms reflect a deficiency or absence of normal emotional responses, such as a lack of affect.

DSM-5 Purpose in Psychology

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) serves as a standardized classification system for diagnosing mental disorders, providing criteria and definitions to aid professionals in identifying psychological conditions.

Self-Serving Bias

Self-serving bias is a cognitive distortion that involves attributing positive outcomes to one’s own abilities or efforts while blaming external factors for negative outcomes, thus protecting one’s self-esteem.

Schema in Psychology

In psychology, a schema refers to a mental structure that organizes knowledge and guides cognitive processes, helping individuals to interpret and understand information about the world.

Bystander Effect

The bystander effect is a social psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present, often due to a diffusion of responsibility.

Cognitive Therapy Technique

Cognitive restructuring is a common technique in cognitive therapy aimed at changing maladaptive thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to psychological distress.

Role of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synapses between neurons, playing a critical role in communication within the brain and throughout the nervous system.