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