Unit 1 AP Psychology (Scientific Foundations of
Psychology)
the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore,
rely on observation and experimentation
empirical investigation
- observe and describe the world with descriptive research
- form a hypothesis from your observations
- test it
- retest it
- then test again
- if it holds up then it become a theory - ✔✔empiricism
an early school of psychology that used introspection, or the process of reporting one's
own conscious mental experiences, to explore the structural elements of the human
mind. Wilhelm Wundt (Voont) was the first to declare himself a psychologist and first to
%
design a psychological experiment.
Like most new theories, people began to dispute and refute structuralism. -
✔✔structuralism
a school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes
function-how they enable us to adapt, survive and flourish. William James wanted to
see how people functioned in everyday life, not just in contrived situations. -
✔✔functionalism
the study of behavior and thinking using the (scientific) experimental method -
✔✔experimental psychology
John B. Watson argued that a true and objective science of psychology should only
deal with observable events: stimuli from the environment and the organism's response
to that stimuli.
, KEY WORD: rewards, punishments, reinforcement - ✔✔behaviorism
historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy
people and the individual's potential for personal growth
The idea that shifts and approaches can happen as humans can grow over time (free
will)
Maslow emphasized basic physical needs. Society influences a person's self concept
KEY WORDS: basic needs, self-actualization (ideal/best self), self-esteem,
non-judgmental therapy) - ✔✔humanistic approach
the science of behavior and mental processes - ✔✔psychology
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 -
%
✔✔nature-nurture issue
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 -
✔✔natural selection
the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural,
for analyzing any given phenomenon - ✔✔level of analysis
an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural
levels of analysis - ✔✔biopsychosocial approach
a branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including
neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes. How much our
genes and our environment influence our individual differences.
Psychology)
the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore,
rely on observation and experimentation
empirical investigation
- observe and describe the world with descriptive research
- form a hypothesis from your observations
- test it
- retest it
- then test again
- if it holds up then it become a theory - ✔✔empiricism
an early school of psychology that used introspection, or the process of reporting one's
own conscious mental experiences, to explore the structural elements of the human
mind. Wilhelm Wundt (Voont) was the first to declare himself a psychologist and first to
%
design a psychological experiment.
Like most new theories, people began to dispute and refute structuralism. -
✔✔structuralism
a school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes
function-how they enable us to adapt, survive and flourish. William James wanted to
see how people functioned in everyday life, not just in contrived situations. -
✔✔functionalism
the study of behavior and thinking using the (scientific) experimental method -
✔✔experimental psychology
John B. Watson argued that a true and objective science of psychology should only
deal with observable events: stimuli from the environment and the organism's response
to that stimuli.
, KEY WORD: rewards, punishments, reinforcement - ✔✔behaviorism
historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy
people and the individual's potential for personal growth
The idea that shifts and approaches can happen as humans can grow over time (free
will)
Maslow emphasized basic physical needs. Society influences a person's self concept
KEY WORDS: basic needs, self-actualization (ideal/best self), self-esteem,
non-judgmental therapy) - ✔✔humanistic approach
the science of behavior and mental processes - ✔✔psychology
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 -
%
✔✔nature-nurture issue
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 -
✔✔natural selection
the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural,
for analyzing any given phenomenon - ✔✔level of analysis
an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural
levels of analysis - ✔✔biopsychosocial approach
a branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including
neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes. How much our
genes and our environment influence our individual differences.
