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AP Psychology: Famous Psychologists
This flashcard deck provides essential information on the most influential and frequently tested psychologists in AP Psychology. From the pioneers of early psychological thought to key figures in developmental and social psychology, mastering these individuals and their contributions is crucial for exam success. Use these cards to quickly review core concepts and theories associated with each renowned psychologist.
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Who established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, often considered the birth of modern psychology?
Wilhelm Wundt, known for structuralism and using introspection to study the mind's basic elements.
Who is considered the "father of American psychology" and advocated for functionalism, focusing on the purpose of consciousness and behavior?
William James, who wrote the influential textbook "The Principles of Psychology."
Name the Austrian physician who founded psychoanalysis, emphasizing the influence of unconscious drives, conflicts, and early childhood experiences on personality.
Sigmund Freud, known for concepts like the id, ego, superego, and psychosexual stages of development.
What Russian physiologist is famous for his experiments on classical conditioning with dogs, demonstrating how learning can occur through association?
Ivan Pavlov, whose work showed that a neutral stimulus could elicit a conditioned response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Which American behaviorist developed operant conditioning and the "Skinner Box" to study how consequences shape voluntary behaviors?
B.F. Skinner, who introduced concepts like reinforcement and punishment to explain how behaviors are learned and maintained.
This psychologist is known as the founder of behaviorism in America and conducted the controversial "Little Albert" experiment, demonstrating classical conditioning in humans.
John B. Watson, who argued that psychology should be the scientific study of observable behavior rather than mental processes.
Name the humanistic psychologist who developed client-centered therapy and emphasized concepts like unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy.
Carl Rogers, who believed that individuals have an innate tendency toward self-actualization.
Who proposed the "hierarchy of needs," suggesting that human motivation is based on fulfilling a series of needs, from basic physiological requirements to self-actualization?
Abraham Maslow, a humanistic psychologist who theorized that lower-level needs must be met before higher-level needs can be pursued.
Which Swiss psychologist is renowned for his theory of cognitive development, outlining four stages through which children construct their understanding of the world?
Jean Piaget, who described the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages.
This developmental psychologist proposed a theory of psychosocial development, describing eight stages, each with a unique crisis or challenge to be resolved throughout the lifespan.
Erik Erikson, whose stages range from "Trust vs. Mistrust" in infancy to "Integrity vs. Despair" in late adulthood.
Name the psychologist who developed a stage theory of moral development, assessing how individuals reason about ethical dilemmas.
Lawrence Kohlberg, whose stages include pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional morality.
This psychologist developed the social learning theory, emphasizing observational learning, modeling, and self-efficacy, famously demonstrated with the Bobo doll experiment.
Albert Bandura, whose work showed that people can learn new behaviors by observing others and the consequences of their actions.
What social psychologist conducted controversial experiments on obedience to authority, where participants were instructed to administer what they believed were painful electric shocks to another person?
Stanley Milgram, whose studies highlighted the power of situational factors in influencing human behavior.
Who led the Stanford Prison Experiment, investigating the psychological effects of perceived power, and how social roles can influence behavior?
Philip Zimbardo, whose experiment showed how quickly individuals conform to assigned roles, often leading to deindividuation.
This developmental psychologist is known for her "Strange Situation" experiment, which identified different types of attachment styles between infants and caregivers.
Mary Ainsworth, whose research categorized attachment into secure, anxious-ambivalent, and avoidant styles.