AP Psychology

History and Approaches

behavioral psychologyBehavioral 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 psychologyBiological 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 psychologyEvolutionary 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.

functionalismFunctionalism 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 gang-ridden 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.