AP Psych Unit 1 - Psychology's History & Approaches (Myers Textbook)

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes

(B.C.E 387) Plato’s role in Prescientific Psychology

Suggested that the brain is the seat of mental processes; concluded the mind is separable from the body, continues after death, and that knowledge is born with us

(B.C.E 335) Aristotle’s role in Prescientific Psychology

Denied that knowledge is preexisting and instead, claimed it grows from experiences in memories

(1595-1650) René Descartes

A French philosopher and scientist who proposed mind-body interaction and concluded that the fluid in the brain’s cavities contains “animal spirit”- a certain very fine air or wind- and that memories form as open pores in the brain into which animal spirits also flow

(1561-1626) Sir Francis Bacon

One of the founders of modern science, lingering in the experiments of today’s psychological science; wrote “human understanding easily supposed a greater degree of order and equality in things than it really finds” and countered superstition by claiming people tend to neglect and pass over failures in beliefs

(1632-1704) John Locke

A British political philosopher who wrote “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, in which he argued the mind at birth is a tabula rasa- a blank slate- on which experiences write and helped form modern empiricism

Empiricism

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

(1879) Wilhelm Wundt

The founding father of psychology; established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig , Germany, where he studied reactions

(1892) Edward Bradford Titcher

One of Wundt’s students who introduced structuralism and aimed to discover the structural elements of the brain through introspection

Structuralism

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

Introspection

A psychological process that involves looking inward to examine one’s own thoughts, emotions, judgments, and perceptions

(1842-1910) William James

A legendary Harvard teacher-writer who authored “Principles of Psychology” and believed consciousness, thinking, and smelling served a function; promoted the school of functionalism

Functionalism

Early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and function

(1863- 1930) Mary Whiton Calkins

A mentored student of William James who became a pioneering memory researcher and the first woman president of the APA (1905)

(1871-1939) Margaret Floy Washburn

The first woman to receive a psychology Ph.D and the second female president of the APA (1921); researched animal behavior

Experimental Psychology

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

(1920s) John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner

Working with Rayner, Watson championed psychology as the science of behavior and demonstrated conditioned responses on a baby known as “Little Albert”

(1930s) B.F Skinner

A leading behaviorist who rejected introspection and studied how consequences shape behavior

Behaviorism

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

(1900s) Sigmund Freud

The controversial ideas of this famed personality theorist and therapist have influenced humanity’s self-understanding; the founder of psychoanalysis

Humanistic Psychology

A historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people; led by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

(1960s) Cognitive Revolution

Led the psychological field back to the early interest of mental processes

Cognitive Neuroscience

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

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 & Natural Selection

The principle that inherited traits, which best enable an organism to survive and reproduce, are most likely to be passed down- Nature selects

Biopsychosocial Approach

Considers the influence of biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on how we learn observable behavior and responses (by principles of learning)

Biological Perspective

Focuses on the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

Cognitive Perspective

Focuses on how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information (thinking, knowing, remembering)

Evolutionary Perspective

Focuses on the evolution of behavior and mind, using principles of natural selection

Psychodynamic

Updated modern-day version of Freud’s Psychoanalysis; focuses on how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior

Social-Cultural Perspective

Focuses on how situations and cultures affect behavior and thinking

Humanistic Perspective

Focuses on how we meet needs for love, acceptance, and self-fulfillment

Developmental Subfield

Studies changing abilities from womb to tomb

Educational Subfield

Studies how psychological processes affect and enhance teaching and learning

Personality Subfield

Studies persistent traits and patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting

Social Subfield

Studies how we view and effect others (atitudes, aggression, prejudice, group behavior)

Applied Research Subfield

Aims to solve practice problems

Industrial Organization (IO) Subfield

The application of psychological methods in workplaces to optimise human behavior

Human Factors Subfield

Studies the interaction of people, machines, and environments

Counseling Subfield

Helps people cope with challenged and crisis

Clinical Subfield

Assesses and treats mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in a variety of settings (private, schools, legal systems, medical, conusling)

Psychiatrists

Psychologists who are licensed to prescribe drugs and treat disorders

Community Subfield

Works to create healthy social and physical enviroments

Positive Psychology

Focuses on the positive contributions of psychology

Testing Effect

A studying method that enhances memory after retrieving than rereading through retesting - “Your mind is not like a stomach, it is more like a muscle that grows stronger with exercise”

SQ3R

A study method with 5 steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

Psychometric Subfield

Study of methods used to acquire knowledge