AP Psychology
History and Approaches
behavioral psychology
Behavioral psychology is a sub-set science of psychology that
analyzes how organisms learn or modify their behavior as they
respond to their environment.
Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov was a leading behaviorist known
for his testing of a dog to note behavioral clues and manipulate the
same behavioral clues.
American psychologist and behaviorist John Watson sought to
concentrate on observable facts and concluded that all such
behavior, even instinctual ones, are the result of conditioning.
Another American behaviorist, B.F. Skinner, took it a step further
by studying the reinforcement of behavior.
biological psychology
Biological psychology focuses on how physical and chemical
changes within a human influences their behavior.
Psychobiologists have begun to use high-tech tools such as PET
and CAT scans to better understand the brain, as well as the
nervous system, hormones and genetics.
cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology seeks to understand how humans process,
store, retrieve and use information and how these processes
influence human behavior.
Some of the leading cognitivists include the Swiss psychologist Jean
Piaget and Americans Noam Chomsky and Leon Festinger.
eclectic psychology
Eclectic psychology is a branch of psychology that applies
information, theories and intervention techniques from different
schools of thoughts.
evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology primarily focuses on how natural selection
has favored certain behaviors or traits that allowed for survival and
the propagation of one’s genes. Because of the nature of their
focus, something that would apply to any person, across cultures,
the seek to find traits and behaviors that are universal.
functionalism
Functionalism is a sub-set of psychology that seeks to explain the
functions/actions of the conscious mind as well as the
goals/purposes of the behavior. A functionalist might
additionally seek to understand how people adapt to their
environment.
One of the leading functionalist was American psychologist
William James, the first professor of psychology at Harvard
University.
humanistic psychology
Humanistic psychology is a sub-set of psychology and holds true
that each person has the ability to direct their own fate or future, as
well as reaching a stage of personal growth or actualization.
A humanist would discount the influence of one’s environment and
conditioning on the future decisions. For example, a humanist
would suggest that a young man who grew up in a crime and gangridden neighborhood with bad parenting and horrible schools still
has the means by which to re-direct his future towards meeting his
goals or objectives.
monism and dualism
Originating in philosophy, monism suggests that all things related to
humans can be attributed to initiating from a single source, structure
or construct.
Dualism, as suggested first by Sigmund Freud and later expounded
upon by Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, considers that humans are
shaped by conflict between two main forces within the person.
psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychology
Psychoanalytic psychology, an extension of structuralism, is a
science that seeks to understand the unconscious motives and
conflicts that influence human behavior.
Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud was a leading psychoanalyst
interested in the unconscious. While some of his ideas and
findings hold a great deal of weight in the field, many of his ideas
have been disproven and remain controversial.
psychology fields (part 1)
clinical psychologists – A clinical psychologist is one who diagnoses and treats those with
emotional issues or disturbances.
counseling psychologists – A counseling psychologist is one who helps others deal with the
issues and problems associated with life.
developmental psychologists – A developmental psychologist is one who studies the
emotional, cognitive, biological, personal and social changes that occur as an individual
grows up and matures. Focus tends to be on children and elderly.
educational psychologists – An educational psychologist devotes their time understanding
how students learn and the best teaching methods that would address those learning traits.
engineering psychologists – An engineer psychologist declares the need and possibility of
man-machine systems that serve human’s physiological and psychological needs.
psychology fields (part 2)
experimental psychologists – An experimental psychologist is one who studies various
qualities (sensation, perception, learning , motivation, etc.) in a strictly controlled
environment within laboratory conditions.
forensic psychologists – A forensic psychologist is one who applies the concepts of
psychology to legal matters as part of legal proceedings.
health psychologists – A health psychologist is one who applies the concepts of psychology
to health-related issues and behavior.
industrial/organizational psychologists – An industrial/organizational psychologist is one
who uses the pillars of psychological concepts to assist in making the work environment a
better place for both administration and employees.
neuropsychologists – A neuropsychologist focuses on the interaction between the brain and
one’s mental or cognitive processes.
personality psychologists – A personality psychologist is one who works with understanding
the nature and origin of personality.
psychology fields (part 3)
psychometricians – A psychometrician is one focused on psychological measurement,
particularly with the measurement of skills, traits and intelligence.
rehabilitation psychologists – A rehabilitation psychologist deals with those with disabilities
and chronic health issues in hopes of allowing them to live a full life.
school psychologists – A school psychologist deals with issues particular to students’ ability
to learn and a teacher’s ability to teach.
social psychologists – A social psychologist focuses on how one’s behavior and processes
are influenced by those around them.
sports psychologists – A sports psychologist focuses on helping athletes perform when
mental blocks or other obstacles interfere with their ability to achieve success.
sociocultural psychology
Sociocultural psychology, a sub-set of psychology, focuses on how
ethnicity, gender, culture and socio-economic status influences
how humans behave.
American sociocultural psychologist Leonard Doob highlighted the
cultural influences on human behavior by observing people
sneezing. The extent to which a person will try to prevent it, what
the person will say and how people around them will react and say
after the sneeze and the meaning people put into sneezing are all
components to the sociocultural understanding of an instinctual
behavior.
structuralism
Developed by German psychologist Wilhelm Wundt, structuralism
is a sub-set of psychology that attempts to examine the basic
elements that make up conscious mental experiences.
The human reaction to things it cannot explain or perceives
danger from, known as fight or flight, would be an example of the
experiences studied under structuralism.