AP Psychology Chapter 1 Notes Ms. Walker 20- Jan- 12 1 Objectives of chapter 1 Provide a definition of psychology. Discriminate from among the different subfields of psychology and provide some examples. Provide examples of the relevant enduring issues in the field. Match the historical figures in the field with their theories. Identify the three main stages in the historical development of psychology. Describe the major paradigms (theories) in the field. Differentiate between the terms "race" and "ethnicity." Describe and provide examples for the various research methods. Explain the strengths and weaknesses for the various research methods. Compare and contrast the educational backgrounds from among the various clinicians. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Definition of psychology. The science of behavior and mental processes II. Psychology s 3 subfields 1. Basic research a. Biological psychologists b. Developmental psychologists c. Cognitive psychologists d. Educational psychologists e. Personality psychologists f. Social psychologists 2. Applied research - Industrial and organizational psychology, human factors psychology 3. Clinical psychology helping people directly by assessing and treating their disorders. Psychiatrists go one step further in that they can prescribe drugs.
AP Psychology Chapter 1 Notes Ms. Walker 20- Jan- 12 2 III. Psychological approaches Psychologies Focus approaches Biological How the brain and body process emotions, memories and sensory experiences; genetics; the nature part of Nature vs. nurture. Cognitive How we encode, process, store and retrieve information Behavioral How we learn observable responses Evolutionary Natural selection of traits promotes the survival of genes Psychodynamic Behavior stems from he unconscious mind and conflicts within it Humanistic Love, acceptance, selffulfillment Socio-cultural How behavior and thinking vary across cultures and situations Questions you might encounter on the AP exam. The brain, the spinal cord, the endocrine system. Neurotransmitters and hormones. Biology s affect on intelligence, personality, sexual orientation, depression How do we use information in remembering, reasoning, solving problems? Classical and operant conditioning. How we learn fear. What is the best way to change behaviors, such as overeating or smoking? How is our behavior influenced by evolutionary forces; the selfish gene Sexual and aggressive drives; unfulfilled wishes, childhood traumas Fulfilling our potential; personal growth How are we alike; how are we different? The nurture part of nature vs. nurture Theorists John B.Watson Rosalie Rayner Ivan Pavlov B.F.Skinner Charles Darwin Jared Diamond Steven Pinker Sigmund Freud IV. Provide examples of the relevant enduring issues in the field.
AP Psychology Chapter 1 Notes Ms. Walker 20- Jan- 12 3 1. Nature (genes) vs. nurture (environment, home, family) the relative contributions of biology and experience; today s science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture. 2. Person-situation 3. Diversity-universality 4. Stability-change - Does our early personality stay the same? 1. Life requires both stability and change 2. This is generally a question about personality traits and developmental psychology. 3. Researchers agree that: 1. People change in childhood. A troubled adolescent often matures into a very productive adult. 2. Personality stabilizes as we age. Temperament and emotionality are fairly consistent over time. 3. We all change as a group the older you become, the more reliable, etc 5. Mind-body 6. Other possibilities is development continuous or is it done in stages? V. Match the historical figures in the field with their theories. 1. Wundt helped to define psychology as a science of the mind. 2. James thought that sensation and perception alone couldn t explain behavior. 3. Freud s theory of the unconscious was shocking at the turn of the 20th century. VI. Identify the three main stages in the historical development of psychology. 1. Prescientific Psychology 2. Psychology as a science 3. Psychology since 1920 VII. Describe the major paradigms (theories) in the field. VIII. Differentiate between the terms "race" and "ethnicity." IX. Describe and provide examples for the various research methods. X. Explain the strengths and weaknesses for the various research methods.
AP Psychology Chapter 1 Notes Ms. Walker 20- Jan- 12 4 XI. Compare and contrast the educational backgrounds from among the various clinicians.
AP Psychology Chapter 1 Notes Ms. Walker 20- Jan- 12 5 Sample questions for this chapter A. An important difference between humanistic and psychoanalytic approaches is that humanistic psychologists believe in the importance of a. Learning b. Free will c. Determinism d. Biological instincts e. Unconscious processes B. Sandy seems to be a smart student, but she has been failing in school. Sandy sees a psychologist, who says that her problems stem from internal processes such as unrealistic expectations and negative thinking. Which psychological model is the psychologist using? a. Psychoanalytic b. Humanistic c. Cognitive d. Sociobiological e. Behavioral C. The first area of psychology to be studies as a science is known as a. Psychoanalysis b. Phrenology c. Classical conditioning d. Mesmerism e. Psychophysics Carolineisinterestedinthequestionofwhetherourpersonalitycharacteristicsare determined for life by genetics or if they can be changed as a result of the experiences of our lives. Which of the enduring issues discussed in this chapter best describes Carolineʼs interests? a. mind body b. diversity universality c. nature nurture d. tastes great less filling. 2. Dakotaspendsmostofhisworktimeinhisofficehelpingclientswithadjustment problems, such as troubled marriages, and coping with career changes, such as retirement. Dakota is most likely a(n) psychologist. a. industrial b. organizational c. clinical d. counseling
AP Psychology Chapter 1 Notes Ms. Walker 20- Jan- 12 6 Field of Psychology Developmental Psychology Physiological Psychology Experimental Psychology Personality Psychology Clinical and Counseling Psychology Social Psychology Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology The New Yorker Collection, 1999, Donald Reilly from cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved. THE FIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY Description The study of how people grow and change physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially, from the prenatal period through death. Subfields include: child, adolescent, and life-span psychology. Investigates the biological basis of behavior. Subfields include neuroscience, biological psychology, and behavior genetics. Investigates basic psychological processes such as sensation and perception, memory, intelligence, learning, and motivation. Studies the differences between individuals on such traits as sociability, emotional stability, conscientiousness, and self-esteem. Applies the principles of psychology to mental health and adjustment. Clinical psychology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders while counseling psychology is more concerned with normal adjustment issues such as making difficult choices or coping with a troubled relationship. Explores how society influences the individual including such topics as interpersonal attraction, persuasion, attitude formation, obedience, conformity, and group behavior. Applies the principles of psychology to the workplace focusing on the practical issues of personnel selection and training, working conditions, workplace morale, and leadership.