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AP Psych Vocab
Unit 1 vocab- Mrs Queener's class
Term | Definition |
---|---|
empiricism | view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation |
structuralism | early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Tichner; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind |
functionalism | early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function - how they enable organism to adapt, survive, and flourish |
experimental psychology | study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method |
behaviorism | 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) |
humanistic psychology | historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people |
cognitive neuroscience | interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language) |
psychology | science of behavior and mental processes. |
nature-nurture issue | 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 | principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations |
levels of analysis | differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon |
biopsychosocial approach | an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis |
biological psychology | scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes |
evolutionary psychology | study of the evolution of behavior and mind, using the principles of natural selection. |
psychodynamic psychology | branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders |
behavioral psychology | scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning |
cognitive psychology | scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating |
social-cultural psychology | study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking |
psychometrics | scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits |
basic research | pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base |
developmental psychology | branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span |
educational psychology | study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning |
personality psychology | study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting |
social psychology | scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another |
applied research | scientific study that aims to solve practical problems |
industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology | application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces |
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 |
counseling psychology | branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being |
clinical psychology | branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders |
psychiatry | branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy |
SQ3R | study method incorporating five steps Survey, Question, Read, Rehearse, Review. |
positive psychology | scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive |
community psychology | branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups |
testing effect | enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply reading, information; also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning. |