AP Psychology Full Course Exam Q&A
Introspection (Wundt) - a conscious mental and usually purposive process relying
on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts feelings. Wundt
believed that by using introspection he could determine the basic elements of
consciousness.
Behavioral School of Psychology (Skinner & Watson) - Seeks to explain animal and
human behavior entirely in terms of observable and measurable responses to
environmental stimuli. Use classical and operant conditioning
Humanist School of Psychology (Maslow, Rogers) - Focuses on the uniqueness of
human beings and their capacity for choice, growth, and health; Believe that
people have free will and are not controlled by the environment or their past
Psychoanalytic School of Psychology (Freud) - "believes that a lot of our
personality and behaviors are controlled by our unconscious; another big factor
guiding behavior is sex and aggression; Believed that we Defense Mechanisms to
protect our conscious mind
Neurobiological School of Psychology - Emphasizes that all actions, feelings, and
thoughts are associated with bodily events such as the firing of nerve cells in the
brain or the release of hormones; This includes studying the brain, hormones and
genes to explain behavior
,AP Psychology Full Course Exam Q&A
Socio-cultural School of Psychology (AKA "Cross-cultural", etc.) - Studies the
differences among cultures and the influences of culture on behavior; States that
we have a tendency to use our own culture as a standard for judging other
cultures (a term called ethnocentrism)
Evolutionary School of Psychology - theoretical approach to psychology that
attempts to explain mental and psychological traits—such as memory, perception,
or language—as adaptations, i.e., as the functional products of natural selection
or sexual selection.
Cognitive School of Psychology - Focuses on the important role of mental
processes in how people process information, develop language, solve problems
and think. Interested in how people understand, diagnose, and solve problems
Clinical Psychologist - assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral
disorders. These range from short-term crises, such as difficulties resulting from
adolescent rebellion, to more severe, chronic conditions such as schizophrenia.
Counseling psychologist - help people recognize their strengths and resources to
cope with their problems within families, marriages, and adjustment to new
,AP Psychology Full Course Exam Q&A
conditions. perform therapy, teaching, and scientific research with individuals of
all ages, families, and organizations.
Cognitive and Perceptual Psychologists - study human perception, thinking, and
memory; also study reasoning, judgment, and decision making.
Developmental Psychologist - study the psychological growth of the human being
that takes place throughout life. Until recently, the primary focus was on
childhood and adolescence, the most formative years. Recently expanded to all of
life, especially older age.
Educational Psychologist - concentrate on how effective teaching and learning
take place. They consider a variety of factors, such as human abilities, student
motivation, and the effect on the classroom of the diversity of race, ethnicity, and
culture that makes up America.
Engineering Psychologist - conduct research on how people work best with
machines. EX: how can a computer be designed to prevent fatigue and eye strain?
What arrangement of an assembly line makes production most efficient? What is
a reasonable workload?
, AP Psychology Full Course Exam Q&A
Evolutionary Psychologist - study how evolutionary principles such as mutation,
adaptation, and selective fitness influence human thought, feeling, and behavior.
Study mating, aggression, helping behavior, and communication.
Experimental Psychologist - are interested in a wide range of psychological
phenomena, including cognitive processes, comparative psychology (cross-species
comparisons), learning and conditioning. Often engage in basic research
Forensic Psychologist - apply psychological principles to legal issues. Their
expertise is often essential in court. EX: help a judge decide which parent should
have custody of a child or evaluate a defendant's mental competence to stand
trial.
Health Psychologist - specialize in how biological, psychological, and social factors
affect health and illness. They study how patients handle illness; why some people
don't follow medical advice; and the most effective ways to control pain or to
change poor health habits.
Industrial/Organizational Psychologist - apply psychology to the work place in the
interest of improving productivity and the quality of work life. Many serve as
human resources specialists, helping organizations with staffing, training, and
employee development.