AP Psychology Unit 1: Psychology's History and Approaches Flashcards

1
Q

How is psychology a science?

A

Psychology uses the tools of science to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior and mental processes

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2
Q

“The rat is always right”

A

Facts speak for themselves. Researchers have to accept the results of the study even if the hypothesis has been proven wrong.

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3
Q

Socrates and Plato

A

The mind is separable from the body and continues after the body dies. Knowledge is innate.

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4
Q

Aristotle

A

Knowledge comes from experience/observation and is not innate. We need information to learn

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5
Q

Greek philosophers

A

Aristotle, Plato, Socrates

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6
Q

René Descartes

A

Agreed with Socrates and Plato. Dissected animals and discovered that fluid in brain flows through nerves to muscles, causing movement

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7
Q

Francis Bacon

A

Father of modern science and empiricism

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8
Q

John Locke

A

We are a blank slate at birth and it is our experiences that define us (called tabula rasa)

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9
Q

Empiricism

A

The idea that knowledge is the result of experience and that scientific knowledge is developed through observation and experimentation.

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10
Q

Wilhelm Wundt

A

Established the first psychology lab and wanted to measure the fastest mental processes (“atoms of the mind”)
Physics (remember for test)

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11
Q

Edward Bradford Titchener

A

Used introspection to search for the mind’s structural elements (structuralism)

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12
Q

Structuralism

A

The early school promoted by Wundt and Titchener focused on identifying the elements of thought and mind (structures) the way early chemists developed the periodic table to classify elements.

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13
Q

Introspection

A

The process of looking inward to directly observe one’s own psychological processes.

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14
Q

Charles Darwin

A

Natural selection of physical and mental traits and adaptive evolution. Influenced William James

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15
Q

William James

A

Wrote “Principles of Psychology” and introduced functionalism

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16
Q

Functionalism

A

An early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental ad behavioral processes function - how they enable an organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

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17
Q

Mary Whiton Calkins

A

A student of William James who was denied her Ph.D. due to her gender. Memory researcher and the first female president of the APA

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18
Q

Margaret Floy Washburn

A

Student of Edward Titchener and the first female to earn a Ph.D. in psychology. Wrote “The Animal Mind.” The second female president of the APA

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19
Q

Behaviorists

A

John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner

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20
Q

Behaviorism

A

States that psychology should be an objective science. Observable behavior is important to study, not unseen mental processes. We can be conditioned (Baby Albert). Classical conditioning (reflexes) and operant conditioning (behavior)

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21
Q

Sigmund Freud

A

Founder of psychoanalysis (treatment process) and personality theory

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22
Q

Fruedian Psychology

A

Called psychoanalysis: Unconscious forces and childhood experiences affect our behavior and mental processes.

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23
Q

Humanists

A

Abraham Moslow and Carl Rogers

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24
Q

Humanism

A

States that humans strive to reach their full potential. Emphasizes unconditional love and personal growth. The “third force in psychology” that rejected behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Study of potential and personal growth.

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25
Q

Cognitive Psychology

A

The study of mental processes: Thinking, perceiving, learning, remembering, communicating, and solving problems.

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26
Q

Cognitive Neuroscience

A

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

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27
Q

Psychology

A

Psychology is the scientific study of humans and other animals’ behavior and mental processes.

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28
Q

Behavior

A

Any observable and measurable action taken by a person or other animal (anything a person or animal DOES)

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29
Q

Mental processes

A

The internal, subjective experiences inferred from behavior (sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.)

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30
Q

Nature-Nurture Issue

A

Is it genes or is it experience? Contemporary psychology recognizes the importance of both nature and nurture as well as how they interact

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31
Q

Nature

A

Behaviors and mental process occur because they are inborn or innate: Socrates, Plato, Rene Descartes, Charles Darwin

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32
Q

Nurture

A

Behaviors and mental processes occur as a result of experience or the environment: Aristotle, John Locke’s “blank slate”

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33
Q

Charles Darwin and Nature vs. Nurture

A

Argued for nature in his book “On the Origin of the Species”
Traits and behaviors that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are naturally selected

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34
Q

Evolutionary Psychology

A

The study of how behaviors and mental processes present in the species today exist because they were naturally selected

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35
Q

Behavior Genetics

A

The study of the relative influence and limits of genetic (nature) and environmental (nurture) influences on behaviors and mental processes

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36
Q

Twin studies

A

Identical (monozygotic) twins share 100% of the same genes

Fraternal (dizygotic) twins share 50% of the same genes

Twin studies provide evidence for the relative influence of nature and nurture and are used in behavior genetics

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37
Q

WEIRD Cultures

A

Western, Industrialized, Democratic, Educated, Rich

38
Q

Culture

A

The shared ideas, values, behaviors, and
traditions, shared by a group of people and passed from one generation to the next.

39
Q

Culture’s Impacts

A

Perception of time and promptness

Ideal personal space

Beliefs about marriage and sex

Emotional display

40
Q

Gender

A

Socially constructed roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male and female.

41
Q

Positive Psychology

A

The scientific study of human flourishing with the goal of discovering and promoting human strengths and virtues and strengthening individuals and communities
Martin Seligman is the founder of positive psychology

42
Q

Biopsychosocial approach

A

Understanding behavior or mental processes from three key viewpoints.

43
Q

Behavioral Perspective

A

How learned and observable behaviors impact behavior and mental processes.

44
Q

Biological Perspective

A

How biological (genetics, neural, hormonal) and physiological processes impact behavior and mental processes.

45
Q

Cognitive Perspective

A

How interpretations of situations and mental
processes (thoughts, memories, problem-solving) impact behavior and mental processes.

46
Q

Evolutionary Perspective

A

How the natural selection of traits has promoted the survival of genes

47
Q

Humanistic Perspective

A

How the drive for personal growth and
self-actualization impact behavior and mental processes.

48
Q

Psychodynamic Perspective

A

How unconscious drives and conflicts impact behavior and mental processes.

49
Q

Social-Cultural Perspective

A

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

50
Q

Critical Thinking

A

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discovers hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

51
Q

Natural Selection

A

The principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variants) most likely be passes on to succeeding generations

52
Q

Testing Effect

A

Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also referred to as retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning

53
Q

SQ3R

A

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

54
Q

Psychometrics

A

The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

55
Q

Basic Research

A

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

56
Q

Developmental Psychology

A

A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

57
Q

Educational Psychology

A

The study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance learning and teachiing

58
Q

Personality Psychology

A

The study of individuals’ characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting

59
Q

Social Psychology

A

The scietific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

60
Q

Applied Research

A

Scientific studies that aim to solve practical problems

61
Q

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology

A

The application of psychological concepts and methods to optimize human behavior in workplaces

62
Q

Human Factors Psychologists

A

A field of psychology allied with I/O psychology that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use

63
Q

Counseling Psychologists

A

A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being

64
Q

Clinical Psychology

A

A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders. Promotes psychological health in individuals, groups, and organizations

65
Q

Psychiatry

A

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; Practiced by physicians who are licensed to provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy

66
Q

Community Psychology

A

A branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups

67
Q

G. Stanley Hall

A

Wundt’s student who established the first formal US psychology laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in 1883

68
Q

Ivan Pavlov

A

A Russian psychologist who pioneered the study of learning. He pioneered “classical conditioning,” which is focused on reflexes

69
Q

Jean Piaget

A

A Swiss biologist who was the century’s most influential observer of children

70
Q

Dorthea Dix

A

Led the way for humane treatment of those with psychological disorders

71
Q

B.F. Skinner

A

Pioneered “operant conditioning,” which is focused on behaviors

72
Q

Cognitive Approach Strengths

A

Flexible theory that allows for differences between people and the complexity of thought. It is particularly well-suited towards treatment

73
Q

Cognitive Approach Weaknesses

A

Thoughts are difficult if not impossible to observe and study. Making a science or treatment plan from this approach often requires people to reflect and report on their own thoughts, which has flaws

74
Q

Psychodynamic Approach Strengths

A

Flexible theory that can not be proven wrong (you can not prove that the unconscious does not exist). Practically, we know that seemingly random thoughts and urges come from somewhere.

75
Q

Psychodynamic Approach Weaknesses

A

This theory isn’t very specific; it attempts to study a hidden part of the thing that we can not study

76
Q

Behaviorist Approach Advantages

A

Behaviors and reflexes can be studied and punishments and rewards have a measurable effect on behavior

77
Q

Behaviorist Approach Disadvantages

A

Creativity and thoughts are not simple reflexes and people are more complex than simple rewards and punishments (ex: acts of love and selflessness)

78
Q

Biological Approach Advantages

A

A scientific theory that is based on what can be measured, counted, and observed

79
Q

Biological Approach Disadvantages

A

This theory is too simplistic: It is presumptuous to say that biology knows what love or creativity is based on what the brain does

80
Q

Humanstic Approach Advantages

A

A positive theory that allows for and encourages differences between people. It believes in and promotes development.

81
Q

Humanistic Approach Disadvantages

A

The theory is not based on science. One can not observe the untapped potential of a person.

82
Q

Sociocultural Approach Advantages

A

Culture is somewhat measurable. We can use these cultural measurements when talking about average behavior and thoughts

83
Q

Experimental Psychology

A

Investigate a variety of basic behavioral processes in humans and other animals like motivation, learning, perception, and language. They rely on experimental methodology to conduct studies

84
Q

Psychometric and Qualitative Psychologists

A

Study math-related methods to acquire psychological knowledge. They may study and improve neurocognitive or personality tests or devise new tests.

85
Q

Forensic Psychologists

A

Apply psychology to legal settings. Conduct research on the interface of law and psychology, help create public policies related to mental health, help law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations, and consult on jury selection and deliberation processes

86
Q

Environmental Psychologists

A

Study the interaction of individuals with their natural and built environments. They are interested in how we influence and are affected by our environments

87
Q

Health Psychologists

A

Researchers or practitioners concerned with psychology’s contribution to promoting health and preventing disease. They help individuals lead healthier lives by designing, conducting, and evaluating programs and treat psychosocial problems associated with chronic illness.

88
Q

Neuropsychologists

A

Investigate the relationship between neurological processes and behavior. May assess, diagnose, or treat central nervous system disorders or evaluate people for evidence of head injuries, learning and developmental disabilities, and other psychiatric disorders

89
Q

Rehabilitation Psychologists

A

Work with people who have lost optimal functioning after an accident, illness, or other event

90
Q

School Psychologists

A

Assess and intervene for children in educational settings. Diagnose and treat cognitive, social, and emotional problems that negatively influence children’s learning and functioning

91
Q

Sport Psychologists

A

Study the psychological factors that influence, and are influenced by, participation in sports or other physical activities

92
Q

Psychodynamic Psychology

A

A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders