AP Psychology General terms

Empiricism

The belief that knowledge comes from experience and learning through the senses.

Nativism

The belief that some abilities and knowledge are inborn and present at birth.

Association by Contiguity Principle

The idea that two things become linked in your mind because they happen together or close together in time.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Clinical Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies, diagnoses, and treats mental disorders.

Twin Studies and Adoption Studies

Research methods used to compare the effects of genes and environment on behavior.

Humanism

An approach that focuses on personal growth, free will, and reaching one's full potential.

Psychology as a Crossroads of Disciplines

The idea that psychology combines knowledge from many fields, such as biology, sociology, and neuroscience.

Tabula Rasa

The idea that people are born with a "blank slate" and learn through experience.

Freudian/Psychodynamic Approach

An approach that explains behavior through unconscious thoughts, feelings, and childhood experiences.

Behaviorism/Learning

An approach that studies how behavior is learned through experience and the environment.

Biological Approach

An approach that explains behavior through the brain, genes, hormones, and the nervous system.

Cognitive Approach

An approach that studies mental processes such as thinking, memory, learning, and problem-solving.

Evolutionary Approach

An approach that explains behavior as the result of adaptation through natural selection.

Social-Cultural Approach

An approach that studies how society, culture, and social interactions influence behavior.

Limitations of Approaches

The idea that no single psychological approach can fully explain all behavior.

Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic

The theory that behavior is influenced by unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.

Biopsychosocial Approach

An approach that explains behavior using biological, psychological, and social factors together.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate over whether behavior is influenced more by genes (nature) or environment (nurture).

Natural Selection

The process in which traits that improve survival and reproduction become more common over generations.

Genetic Predisposition

An increased likelihood of developing a trait or behavior because of inherited genes.

Eugenics

The attempt to improve the human population by controlling who can reproduce based on genetic traits

Twin Studies

Research that compares identical and fraternal twins to understand the effects of genes and environment on behavior.