AP Psychology Units 1-10 Flashcards

Introduction to Psychology

• Psychology is defined as the science of behavior and mental processes, evolving through various perspectives over the decades.

Early Foundations

• Wilhelm Wundt is known as the father of psychology, establishing it as a science through formal methods like observations and experiments.
• Edward Titchener, a student of Wundt, developed structuralism focused on understanding the basic units of experience via introspection.

Key Concepts

• Behaviorism posits that psychology should focus solely on observable behavior rather than internal mental states; Watson and Skinner are prominent figures in this field.
• Functionalism, developed by William James, emphasizes the purpose of behavior and how it aids in adaptation to the environment.

Significant Figures

• Mary Calkins was the first female president of the APA, receiving mentorship from William James despite being denied a PhD.
• Margaret Floy Washburn served as the second female president of the APA and authored "The Animal Mind," aligning with Darwinistic ideas.

Evolution of Psychology

• The early 1900s focused on Wundt and Titchener's scientific approach, transitioning to behaviorism in the 1920s, and later evolving to include cognitive psychology and neuroscience by the 1960s.
• Current psychology integrates behavior with mental processes, reflecting a multifaceted understanding of human experience.

Important Perspectives

• Humanistic psychology, led by figures like Maslow and Rogers, highlights the importance of feelings, personal growth, and free will.
• Neuropsychological perspectives investigate how brain activity correlates with cognitive functions, including perception and memory.

Research and Application

• Psychological research can be categorically divided into basic research (conducted in academic settings) and applied psychology, which involves direct interaction with individuals and patients.
• The biopsychosocial model integrates biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors for comprehensive analysis.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

• The nature-nurture issue centers on the influence of genetics versus environment on traits and behaviors, a fundamental question in psychology.
• Natural selection underscores the inherited traits that enhance reproductive success and survival as critical to evolution.

Levels of Analysis

• Psychology employs multiple levels of analysis: biological, psychological, and social-cultural, to explore complex phenomena.
• The biopsychosocial approach combines these levels, fostering a holistic view of human behavior.

Specialized Perspectives

• The neuroscience perspective focuses on the connections between body, brain, and emotional experiences.
• The evolutionary perspective examines how natural selection shapes behavioral traits, while behavior genetics looks at heredity's role in individual differences.

Psychodynamic Perspective

• The psychodynamic perspective, grounded in Freudian theory, explores how unconscious drives and childhood experiences influence behavior.