AP Psychology

27 flashcards · Psychology · by Mohammed-sayfuddin Sahir

1. What is Psychology?

   An emerging field of Scientific study of human behavior and mental processes (thinking), draws work from philosophies and physiologists

2. What is behavior and mental processes

   Behavior is any action that people can observe or measure ○Ex: walking, eating ○Automatic body functions: heart rate, brain activity and mental processes is cognitive activities ○Dreams, perceptions, thoughts, memories

3. Explain developmental psychology

   Study of the changes that occur throughout a person’s life span (childhood to adult), it can be mental, cognitive, etc. The challenges of adolescence like contradicting messages between parents and peers, prevention of suicide depression, and to avoid harmful activities.

4. Explain clinical psychology

   Help people with psychological problems ○Anxiety, depression Help clients overcome problems and adjust to demands of life (treating) through interviews and psychological tests and understand and resolve problem by changing behavior

5. Explain the idea of Behaviorism Vs. Sigmund Freud

   Behaviorism is the Scientific study of observable/measurable behavior, it uses Conditioning” to teach us new behaviors and that learning is mechanical and purposeful, however Sigmund Freud idea is Psychoanalysis which is when unconscious motives and internal conflicts determine behavior, its the idea of people driven by hidden impulses.

6. How did ancient Greek philosophers contribute to psychology?

   Ancient Greek Philosophers were the first to logically think about human behavior Socrates coined the idea of inspection and Explained/described mental state, Aristotle Outlined the laws of association and that Experiences remind us of similar experiences in the past, and Hippocrates rejected the ancient Greek theory that God causes confusion/madness, instead said biology had a role.

7. Wilhelm Wundt

   established modern laboratory science and coined the term structuralism- basic elements of consciousness, those elements are objective sensation and subjective feelings, used introspection to report findings

8. Structuralism Vs. Gestalt Psychology

   Structuralism is the basic elements of consciousness- those elements are objective sensation (accurate reflection of world) and subjective feelings (emotional feelings) Gestalt Psychology, alternative of and rejects structuralism- context influences people’s interpretation of information, like Perception of objects is more than the sum of their parts, so they are wholes that gives shape or meaning to its parts

9. Give an example of Gestalt Psychology

   Similarity: when objects look similar, people tend to recognize a pattern and see them as a united whole, Closure: people fill in enough of the missing information when enough of the shape of an object is indicated

10. John Locke

    - knowledge is NOT inborn but learned from experience/environment

11. Functionalism and how it adapts to environment

    Functionalism is Concerned with how mental processes and behavior help organisms adapt to their environment. Adaptive Behaviors are learned and maintained because of their success and less adaptive ones are dropped, the successful adaptive actions are repeated into habits.

12. William James

    “Father of American Psychology” Coined Functionalism and Argued conscious experience could not be broken down as structuralists believed ●Experience is a continuous “stream of consciousness” ●Focused on the relationships between experience and behavior -Behavioral Observation AND introspection

13. Why do psychologists use conditioning?

    Because we can be conditioned into learning new behaviors

14. Introspection

    Explaining/describing mental state on your own

15. John B. Watson

    Coined Behaviorism- Scientific study of observable/measurable behavior, Believed it was unscientific to study a construct like consciousness, instead Saw consciousness as a private event known only to the individual, says we can be conditioned

16. Behaviorism (how does it differ from structuralism/functionalism)

    Scientific study of observable/measurable behavior, we can be conditioned to learn new behaviors, it differs because structuralism/functionalism?????

17. The first true psychological experiments would have used

    Psychology Laboratories or animals???

18. Humanistic Approach (main characteristic)

    Stresses the human capacity for self-fulfillment and the importance of consciousness, self-awareness, and the capacity to MAKE CHOICES Consciousness: seen as the force shaping human personality Consider peoples personal experiences to be the most important aspect ○Self-awareness, experiences, and choice permit us to “invent ourselves” ○We are free to choose our own behavior Views people as basically good and desiring to be helpful to others ●Help people explore feelings and manage negative impu…

19. Charles Darwin

    (Evolutionary Perspective) ● Natural Selection ○ The environment plays a role ● Survival of the fittest! ○ The most adaptive organisms have a greater chance of enduring Examples ○ Resistance to disease ○ Aggression = adaptive behavior

20. Cognitive psychology-measuring brainwaves while learning a language/ dominant school

    The Cognitive Perspective ●Dominant school since 1970s ● Emphasizes the role that thoughts play in determining behavior ● Study mental processes to understand human nature ○ (Ex: measuring brainwaves) How do people perceive information and ○ Make mental images ○ Solve problems Information Processing-To retrieve information you must know name of data; to retrieve long term memory brain needs clues people’s behavior is influenced by values, perceptions, choices

21. Biological Perspective

    The Biopsychosocial Perspective- Mental processes are influenced by the interaction of biological processes, psychological dispositions, and social factors heart disease studies should include factors of ○ Social, cultural, psychological ● Genetic predisposition and ○ Diet, exercise, stress, finances ● Said a physicians ability to treat the disease would be limited without understanding psychosocial interactions

22. Sociocultural Perspective

    Study the influence of ethnicity, gender, culture, and socio-economic status of behavior and mental processing

23. Sociocultural Perspective

    Study the influence of ethnicity, gender, culture, and socio-economic status of behavior and mental processing

24. Examples of Sociocultural Perspective

    Sociocultural Psychological Issues Related to Ethnicity- Inclusion of people from various ethnic minority groups in ○Psychological studies ○Bilingualism ○Ethnic Differences in ●intelligence tests ●vulnerability to health problems ○Prejudice Sociocultural Psychological Issues Related to Gender Roles-Not just anatomy! ● Cultural Expectations ● Social Roles ○ People’s self-concept ○ Aspirations ○ Behavior

25. Technological innovations/advances make psychology increasingly interesting for studying conscious/ unconscious mind

    Today’s technology advances make it possible to scientifically study the brain! (increasing interest in field) ○CAT scans ○PET scans

26. Natural Selection is part of what theoretical approach

    Evolutionary approach

27. Psychoanalytic School of Thought

    Stresses the influence of unconscious forces on human behavior ○Sigmund Freud (founder) interviewed patients Today: less dominant, focus more on *conscious choice* ●Does NOT use drugs to treat patients Freud: believed aggressive impulses are common reactions to the frustrations of daily life we seek to vent on others ● Put most aggressive impulses out of mind ○ Fear of rejection/ retaliation ● Hold aggression in, which eventually demands an outlet ○ Ex: physical activity