AP PSYCHOLOGY UNIT 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology Set I

empiricism

the view that knowledge originates in experience that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation

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.

psychodynamic psychology

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

Industrial Organizational Psychology

the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces

structuralism

early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

natural selection

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

social-cultural psychology

the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking

human factors psychology

an I/O psychology subfield that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use

functionalism

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

levels of analysis

the levels of differing complementary views from biological to psychological to social-cultural for analyzing any given phenomenon

psychometrics

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

counseling psychology

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

experimental psychology

the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach the incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

developmental psychology

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

psychiatry

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy

behaviorism

the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

behavioral psychology

the scientific study of observable behavior and its explanation by principles of learning

educational psychology

the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning

positive psychology

the scientific study of human functioning with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

humanistic psychology

historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people

biological psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

personality psychology

the study of individuals characteristic pattern of thinking feeling and acting

community psychology

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

cognitive neuroscience

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

cognitive psychology

the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

social psychology

the scientific study of how we think about, influence and relate to one another

testing effect

repeated self-testing and rehearsal of previously studied material

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and mind, using principles of natural selection