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AP Psychology Unit 1 Flashcards

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13865180850empiricismthe view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation0
13865180851experimental psychologythe study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method1
13865180852behaviorismthe 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)2
13865180853cognitive neurosciencethe interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)3
13865180854psychologythe science of behavior and mental processes4
13865180855nature-nurture issuethe 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 nurture5
13865180856natural selectionthe principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival with most likely be passed on to succeeding generations6
13865180857biopsychosocial approachan integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis7
13865180858biological psychologya branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes8
13865180859evolutionary psychologythe study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection9
13865180860psychodynamic psychologya branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders10
13865180861behavioral psychologythe scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning11
13865180862cognitive psychologythe scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicatin12
13865180863social-cultural psychologythe study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking13
13865180864psychometricsthe scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits14
13865180865basic researchpure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base15
13865180866developmental psychologythe scientific study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span16
13865180867educational psychologythe study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning17
13865180868social psychologythe scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another18
13865180869applied researchscientific study that aims to solve practical problems19
13865180870industrial-organizational (I/O) psychologythe application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces20
13865180871human factors psychologythe study of how people and machines interact and the design of safe and easily used machines and environments21
13865180872counseling psychologya branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being22
13865180873clinical psychologya branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders23
13865180874psychiatrya branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy24
13865180875AristotleGreek philosopher. A pupil of Plato, the tutor of Alexander the Great, and the author of works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, natural sciences, politics, and poetics, he profoundly influenced Western thought. In his philosophical system, which led him to criticize what he saw as Plato's metaphysical excesses, theory follows empirical observation and logic, based on the syllogism, is the essential method of rational inquiry.25
13865180876Charles DarwinEnglish natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)26
13865180877Rene DescartesFrench nativist philosopher; proponent of dualism; argued that "threads" within the body control movement, and that some behaviors occur without thought27
13865180878Sigmund FreudAustrian neurologist who originated psychoanalysis (1856-1939); Said that human behavior is irrational; behavior is the outcome of conflict between the id (irrational unconscious driven by sexual, aggressive, and pleasure-seeking desires) and ego (rationalizing conscious, what one can do) and superego (ingrained moral values, what one should do).28
13865180879William Jamesfounder of functionalism; studied how humans use perception to function in our environment29
13865180880John LockeEnglish philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.30
13865180881John B. Watsonbehaviorism; emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which baby was taught to fear a white rat31
13865180882Wilhelm Wundtgerman physiologist who founded psychology as a formal science; opened first psychology research laboratory in 187932

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