AP Psychology Unit 1
psychology
the science of behavior and mental processes
cognitive psychology
the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicatin
social psychology
the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
behavioral psychology
the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning
developmental psychology
the scientific study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span
personality psychology
the study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling and acting
educational psychology
the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning
social-cultural psychology
the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking
evolutionary psychology
the study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection
empiricism
the view that knowledge originates from experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation
functionalism
An early school of thought promoted by James and influence by Darwin Darwin explored how mental and behavioral processes function how they enable the organism to adapt to survive and flourish.
psychiatry
a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy
counseling psychology
a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being
community psychology
a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments
psychodynamic psychology
a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders
biological psychology
a branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes
clinical psychology
a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders
SQ3R Method
a study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review
structuralism
an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of the human mind
biopsychosocial approach
an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis
positive psychology
discipline that has sought to emphasize human strengths
testing effect
enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information
humanistic psychology
historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for personal growth
behavior genetics
how much our genes and our environment influence our individual differences
basic research
pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
applied research
scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
human factors psychology
study of the interaction of people, machines, and physical environments
cognitive neuroscience
study of the physical changes in the brain and nervous system during thinking
industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology
the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces
Culture
the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
Introspection
the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.
nature-nurture issue
the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture
natural selection
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival with most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
Psychometrics
the science of measuring mental capacities and processes.
behaviorism
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2)
critical thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions