AP Psychology AMSCO Guided Notes

0.1: Concept Application

AP Psychology
AMSCO Guided Notes

AP Psychology Guided Notes

AMSCO 0.1 - Concept Application

I. Apply Psychological Perspectives, Theories, Concepts, and Research Findings

1. What is the difference between a psychological perspective and a psychological theory?

2. How do psychological concepts differ from research findings?

A. Key Terms and Overview

1. What are psychological perspectives and how do they function as lenses for understanding behavior?

2. What is the self-serving bias and how does it protect self-esteem?

3. What is the difference between logical conclusions and objective conclusions?

B. The Development of Psychology

1. Why is Wilhelm Wundt considered the father of psychology and what was his major contribution?

2. How did structuralism and functionalism differ in their approaches to understanding consciousness?

C. The Birth of Psychology as a Science

1. What was introspection and why was it unsuccessful as a research method?

2. How did William James's concept of stream of consciousness challenge structuralism?

3. What contributions did Mary Whiton Calkins and Margaret Floy Washburn make to early psychology?

4. How does Gestalt psychology differ from structuralism in examining human experience?

II. Modern Approaches to Psychology

A. Psychoanalytic Approach

1. What is the psychoanalytic approach and what role does the unconscious mind play in it?

2. How do the id, ego, and superego interact according to Freud's theory?

3. What are the main criticisms of Freud's psychoanalytic theory?

B. Behavioral Approach

1. What is the behavioral approach and why did behaviorists focus on observable behavior?

2. What is the law of effect and how does it relate to classical conditioning?

3. How did B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

4. What is the main limitation of radical behaviorism as described by Skinner?

C. Cognitive Approach

1. What is the cognitive approach and what major flaw in behaviorism did it address?

2. How does the cognitive approach differ from the behavioral approach in explaining behavior?

D. Humanistic Approach

1. What is the humanistic approach and how does it differ from psychoanalytic and behavioral approaches?

2. What is self-actualization and how does it relate to Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

3. What are the main criticisms of the humanistic approach?

E. Sociocultural Approach

1. What is the sociocultural approach and what factors does it emphasize in shaping behavior?

F. Biological Approach

1. What is the biological approach and what biological factors does it examine?

2. How have advances in brain imaging technology improved biological psychology?

G. Evolutionary Approach

1. What is the evolutionary approach and how does it extend Darwin's theory of natural selection?

2. What are examples of human behaviors that evolutionary psychologists might explain?

H. Biopsychosocial Model

1. What is the biopsychosocial model and how does it integrate multiple factors in understanding illness?

2. How does the biopsychosocial model change the way medical professionals view patients?

III. The Strengths and Limitations of Perspectives

1. Why is it important to understand that psychological perspectives have both strengths and limitations?

2. How can perspectives function as both helpful lenses and sources of blindness in psychology?

IV. Explain How Psychological Perspectives, Theories, Concepts, and Research Findings Apply to a Scenario

1. How would a behaviorist explain and address Marcus's interrupting behavior?

V. Logical Conclusions

1. What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning?

2. Why is deductive reasoning considered certain while inductive reasoning is probabilistic?

3. What is a logical conclusion and how does it relate to sound reasoning?

VI. Objective Conclusions

1. What does it mean to be objective and why is objectivity important in psychology?

2. What are the four steps required to reach an objective conclusion?

3. How can personal beliefs interfere with drawing objective conclusions?

VII. Draw Logical and Objective Conclusions About Behavior and Mental Processes

1. What makes a conclusion logical versus illogical in psychological research?

VIII. Explain How Cultural Norms, Expectations, and Circumstances Apply to Behavior and Mental Processes

A. Cultural Norms, Expectations, and Circumstances

1. What are cultural norms and how do they influence human behavior and mental processes?

2. How do cultural expectations shape individual decisions regarding education, career, and relationships?

3. How do cultural circumstances and historical contexts influence psychological traits and coping mechanisms?

B. Explain How Cultural Norms, Expectations, and Circumstances Apply to a Scenario

1. How do Lulu's cultural values of collectivism conflict with her new school's emphasis on individualism?

IX. Cognitive Biases

1. What are cognitive biases and how do they affect rational thinking and decision-making?

A. Confirmation Bias

1. What is confirmation bias and how does it affect how people seek and interpret information?

2. How can confirmation bias compromise the quality of research?

B. Hindsight Bias

1. What is hindsight bias and how does it distort memory of past events?

2. How can hindsight bias negatively affect learning and planning for future uncertainties?

C. Overconfidence Bias

1. What is overconfidence bias and how does it lead to poor decision-making?

2. How can overconfidence bias affect researchers' willingness to investigate contradictory findings?

D. Impact of Cognitive Biases

1. How do cognitive biases affect perception, decision-making, and memory in daily life?

2. What are the benefits of recognizing and limiting the influence of cognitive biases?

X. Explain How Cognitive Biases Apply to a Scenario

1. How does overconfidence bias explain Anjanie's approach to the photography contest?

XI. Applying Psychological Theories or Concepts in Inappropriate or Discriminatory Ways

1. Why is it important for psychology to address how theories can be misused in discriminatory ways?

A. Misdiagnosis and Ineffective Treatment

1. How can cultural differences in expressing psychological distress lead to misdiagnosis?

2. Why is a one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosis problematic in clinical settings?

B. Reinforcement of Stereotypes and Biases

1. How were early intelligence tests misused to reinforce racial hierarchies?

2. What are the consequences of using biased psychological assessments in educational and social policies?

C. Ethical Implications in Research

1. What ethical violations occurred in the Stanford Prison Experiment and why did they inspire change?

2. How can lack of informed consent and inadequate protection from harm compromise research ethics?

D. Cultural Insensitivity and Generalization

1. How can oversimplifying concepts like individualism versus collectivism lead to stereotyping?

2. Why is cultural competence essential in psychological practice and research?

XII. Explain Implications of Applying Psychological Concepts or Theories in Inappropriate or Discriminatory Ways

1. How did the psychologist's dismissal of Ahniya's depression as teenage mood swings represent inappropriate application of psychological theory?

2. Why are simplistic solutions inadequate for addressing complex psychological disorders like depression?

Key Terms

psychological perspectives

theories

concepts

self-serving bias

research findings

logical conclusions

objective conclusions

scenario

cultural norms

expectations

circumstances

cognitive bias

confirmation bias

hindsight bias

overconfidence bias

discriminatory