AP Psychology Unit 12: History and Approaches:

Pioneers of Psychology

1. Mary Whiton Calkins - First female APA president; studied memory and self-psychology.

2. Charles Darwin - Proposed evolutionary theory (natural selection); influenced evolutionary psychology.

3. Dorothea Dix - Reformed mental asylums; advocated for humane treatment of patients.

4. Sigmund Freud - Founded psychoanalysis; emphasized unconscious drives and childhood experiences.

5. G. Stanley Hall - First APA president; pioneered child development research.

6. William James - Wrote Principles of Psychology; functionalism founder (studied purpose of behavior).

7. Ivan Pavlov - Discovered classical conditioning (dogs salivating at bell).

8. Jean Piaget - Studied cognitive development in children (stages of learning).

9. Carl Rogers - Humanistic psychologist; emphasized client-centered therapy.

10. B.F. Skinner - Behaviorist; researched operant conditioning (reinforcement/punishment).

11. Margaret Floy Washburn - First female psychology Ph.D.; studied animal cognition.

12. Edward Titchener - Structuralism founder (analyzed conscious experience via introspection).

13. Max Wertheimer - Gestalt psychology founder (whole > sum of parts).

14. John Locke - Philosopher; proposed tabula rasa (mind as blank slate).

15. John Watson - Behaviorism founder; "Little Albert" experiment.

16. Wilhelm Wundt - "Father of psychology"; opened first psych lab (1879).

Core Concepts

17. Psychology - Science of behavior and mental processes.

• a. Origins: Philosophy + physiology; Wundt’s lab (1879).

• b. Psychologists vs. Psychiatrists:

  • Psychologists: PhD/PsyD; no medical degree (therapy/research).

  • Psychiatrists: MD; prescribe meds + therapy.

Subfields of Psychology

18. Biological Psychologist - Studies brain-behavior links (e.g., neurotransmitters).

19. Cognitive Psychologist - Researches thinking, memory, problem-solving.

20. Experimental Psychologist - Conducts lab studies on behavior/cognition.

• a. Basic Research - Expands knowledge (e.g., memory studies).

• b. Applied Research - Solves practical problems (e.g., UX design).

21. Personality Psychologist - Studies traits/individual differences.

22. Clinical Psychologist - Diagnoses/treats mental disorders (therapy).

23. Counseling Psychologist - Helps with life challenges (e.g., career stress).

24. Social Psychologist - Studies group behavior/attitudes.

25. Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychologist - Improves workplace productivity.

• a. Human Factors Psychology - Designs user-friendly tools/tech.

26. Forensic Psychologist - Applies psychology to legal issues.

27. Evolutionary Psychologist - Explores adaptive behaviors (Darwinian perspective).

28. Environmental Psychologist - Studies human-environment interactions.

29. Social-Cultural Psychologist - Examines culture’s impact on behavior.

30. Sports Psychologist - Enhances athletic performance/mental focus.

31. Developmental Psychologist - Studies lifespan changes (child → adult).

32. Educational Psychologist - Researches learning/teaching methods.

• a. School Psychologist - Supports student mental health/learning.

33. Psychometric Psychologist - Designs psychological tests (e.g., IQ tests).

Key Debates

34. Stability-Change Issue - Do traits persist or evolve over time?

35. Diversity-Universality Issue - Are behaviors culture-specific or universal?

36. Nature-Nurture Issue - Genes vs. environment in shaping behavior.

Perspectives of Psychology

1. Biological (Neuroscience) Perspective

   • Focus: Examines how physiological processes—such as brain structures, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics—influence behavior and mental states.

   • Example: Investigating how imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin affect mood disorders.​

2. Behavioral Perspective

   • Focus: Centers on observable behaviors and the ways they're learned through interactions with the environment, emphasizing conditioning.

   • Example: Studying how positive reinforcement can encourage desired behaviors.​Fiveable

3. Cognitive Perspective

   • Focus: Explores internal mental processes such as perception, memory, thinking, and problem-solving.

   • Example: Analyzing how memory retrieval works and why we forget information.​Fiveable

4. Humanistic Perspective

   • Focus: Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will, highlighting the inherent goodness and potential of individuals.

   • Example: Encouraging clients to achieve their full potential through self-exploration.​

5. Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) Perspective

   • Focus: Investigates how unconscious drives, early childhood experiences, and inner conflicts shape behavior.

   • Example: Exploring how repressed childhood traumas influence adult relationships.​

6. Evolutionary Perspective

   • Focus: Applies principles of natural selection to understand the development of behaviors and mental processes.

   • Example: Examining how fear responses may have evolved to protect humans from danger.​

7. Sociocultural Perspective

   • Focus: Looks at how social and cultural environments influence behavior and mental processes.

   • Example: Studying how cultural norms affect attitudes toward mental health.​

8. Biopsychosocial Perspective

   • Focus: Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of behavior and mental processes.

   • Example: Assessing how genetics, personal coping mechanisms, and social support contribute to depression.