AP Psychology
Unit 1: History of Psychology
History of Psychology Objectives:
Define psychology and trace its historical development.
Briefly describe the different perspectives from which psychologists examine behavior and mental processes.
Identify some of the professional and research interests of psychologists.
Identify and explain the big issues in psychology.
History of Psychology Overview
Psychology’s historical development and current activities lead us to define the field as the science of behavior and mental processes. This introduction discusses the development of psychology and the range of behaviors and mental processes being investigated by psychologists in each of the various specialty areas.
In addition, it describes the six major perspectives from which psychologists work. This is followed by a description of three major issues that cut across psychology, including the stability of our traits, the rationality of our thoughts and actions, and the relative contributions of biology and experience to intelligence, personality, and behavior. It then provides an overview of the diverse sub-fields in which psychologists conduct research and provide professional services.
History of Psychology Chapter Study Guide
What is the definition of psychology?
What two fields/areas did psychology develop from?
How would what an evolutionary psychologist studies differ from what an industrial/organizational psychologist studies?
Give an example of something each might be interested in.
What approaches did Edward Titchener and William James create?
How are they different?
What was Sigmund Freud’s contribution to the field of psychology?
How are his theories viewed today?
Damien is suffering from a fear of being around other people. Pick TWO perspectives of your choice, and explain how a psychologist from that perspective might explain Damien’s fear.
Which psychological figure do you think played the most prominent role in helping psychology develop? Why?
The three big “debates” in psychology today are: nature vs. nurture, stability vs. change, and diversity vs. universality. Which side of the nature vs. nurture issue do you believe in and why?
Key Terms
Using your own words, write a brief definition or explanation of each of the following. Feel free to be as succinct as possible as long as the definition makes sense to you. Do this after or while reading the assigned pages for class.
Perspectives of Psychology -
biological (neuroscience) perspective -
evolutionary perspective -
behavior genetics perspective -
psychoanalytic/psychodynamic perspective -
behavioral perspective -
humanistic perspective -
cognitive perspective -
social-cultural perspective -
Mary Whiton Calkins -
Charles Darwin -
Dorothea Dix -
Sigmund Freud -
G. Stanley Hall -
William James -
Ivan Pavlov -
Jean Piaget -
Carl Rogers -
B.F. Skinner -
Margaret Floy Washburn -
Edward Titchener -
Max Wertheimer -
John Locke -
John Watson -
Wilhelm Wundt -
Definition of Psychology -
Psychologists vs. Psychiatrists -
Experimental Psychologist -
Basic Research -
Applied Research -
Personality Psychologist -
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist -
Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychologist -
Forensic Psychologist -
Environmental Psychologist -
Sports Psychologist -
Nature-Nurture Issue -
Stability-Change Issue -
Diversity-Universality Issue -
