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AP Psychology Quiz 1 Concept Application 1.A

Science Practice One

  • Definition: Applying psychological concepts and theories to real-world situations

  • Examples: Why we forget keys, why we ignore sidewalks, etc.

  • Goal: Bridge the gap between theory and practical application

  • Psychology: Scientific study of mind and behavior

  • Explores: Why we think, feel, and behave the way we do

Modern Perspectives in Psychology

  • Seven perspectives:

    1. Behavioral

    2. Cognitive

    3. Psychodynamic

    4. Humanistic

    5. Biological

    6. Evolutionary

    7. Sociocultural

  • Behavioral Perspective

    • Focus: Observable behaviors, environment's role

    • Belief: Behaviors are learned responses to stimuli

    • Influences: Reinforcement, punishment

  • Cognitive Perspective

    • Focus: Internal mental processes

    • Influences: Thoughts, perceptions, memory, problem-solving

  • Psychodynamic Perspective

    • Focus: Unconscious mind, childhood experiences

    • Belief: Unresolved conflicts shape behavior

  • Humanistic Perspective

    • Focus: Personal growth, individual potential

    • Belief: People make rational choices to develop fully

  • Biological Perspective

    • Focus: Brain structures, chemicals, genetics

    • Influences: Physiological factors, mood, energy

  • Evolutionary Perspective

    • Focus: Evolutionary history, adaptation

    • Belief: Behaviors evolved for survival and reproduction

  • Sociocultural Perspective

    • Focus: Social interaction, cultural norms

    • Belief: Behavior shaped by society and culture

Applying Perspectives to Kevin’s Behavior

  • Scenario: Kevin withdraws from marathon planning

  • Behavioral: Change in reinforcement, less praise

  • Cognitive: Negative thoughts about the activity

  • Psychodynamic: Unconscious conflicts or stress

  • Humanistic: Feeling undervalued, lack of personal growth

  • Biological: Mood changes, chemical imbalances

  • Evolutionary: Conserving resources, strategic adaptation

  • Sociocultural: Changes in social environment or cultural expectations

Additional Factors Influencing Behavior

  • Cultural norms and expectations

  • Circumstances (e.g., academic pressures, family responsibilities)

  • Cognitive biases:

    • Confirmation bias: Favoring information that supports existing beliefs

    • Hindsight bias: Believing one predicted an event after it happened

    • Overconfidence: Overestimating ability to control outcomes

Responsible Use of Psychology

  • Be critical of misuse or misapplication

  • Avoid supporting biased, stereotypical, or harmful views

  • Example: Past misuse of intelligence tests to justify discrimination

Conclusion

  • Importance of reviewing content thoroughly

  • Next topic: Research methods and design

  • Final note: Creating engaging content requires understanding psychological principles like attention, emotional resonance, and cognitive dissonance

  • Tip: Adding cute animals can help content go viral