AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Psychology: AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6729458535psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
6729458536psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
6729458537psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
6729458538biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
6729458539evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
6729458540psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
6729458541behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
6729458542cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
6729458543humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
6729458544social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
6729458545two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
6729458546types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
6729458547descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
6729458548case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
6729458549surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
6729458550naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
6729458551correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
6729458552correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
6729458553experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
6729458554populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
6729458555sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
6729458556random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
6729458557control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
6729458558experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
6729458559independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
6729458560dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
6729458561confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
6729458562scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
6729458563theorygeneral idea being tested28
6729458564hypothesismeasurable/specific29
6729458565operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
6729458566modeappears the most31
6729458567meanaverage32
6729458568medianmiddle33
6729458569rangehighest - lowest34
6729458570standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
6729458571central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
6729458572bell curve(natural curve)37
6729458573ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
6729458574ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
6729458575sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
6729458576motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
6729458577interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
6729458578neuron43
6729458579dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
6729458580myelin sheathprotects the axon45
6729458581axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
6729458582neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
6729458583reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
6729458584excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
6729458585inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
6729458586central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
6729458587peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
6729458588somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
6729458589autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
6729458590sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
6729458591parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
6729458592neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
6729458593spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
6729458594endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
6729458595master glandpituitary gland60
6729458596brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
6729458597reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
6729458598reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
6729458599brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
6729458600thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
6729458601hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
6729458602cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
6729458603cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
6729458604amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
6729458605amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
6729458606amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
6729458607hippocampusprocess new memory72
6729458608cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
6729458609cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
6729458610association areasintegrate and interpret information75
6729458611glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
6729458612frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
6729458613parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
6729458614temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
6729458615occipital lobevision80
6729458616corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
6729458617Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
6729458618Broca's areaspeaking words83
6729458619plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
6729458620sensationwhat our senses tell us85
6729458621bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
6729458622perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
6729458623top-down processingbrain to senses88
6729458624inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
6729458625cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
6729458626change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
6729458627choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
6729458628absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
6729458629signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
6729458630JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
6729458631sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
6729458632rodsnight time97
6729458633conescolor98
6729458634parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
6729458635Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
6729458636Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
6729458637trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
6729458638frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
6729458639Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
6729458640frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
6729458641Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
6729458642Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
6729458643gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
6729458644memory of painpeaks and ends109
6729458645smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
6729458646groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
6729458647grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
6729458648make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
6729458649perception =mood + motivation114
6729458650consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
6729458651circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
6729458652circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
6729458653What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
6729458654The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
6729458655sleep stagesrelaxed stage (alpha waves) stage 1 (early sleep) (hallucinations) stage 2 (sleep spindles - bursts of activity) (sleep talk) stage 3 (transition phase) (delta waves) stage 4 (delta waves) (sleepwalk/talk + wet the bed) stage 5 (REM) (sensory-rich dreams) (paradoxical sleep)120
6729458656purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
6729458657insomniacan't sleep122
6729458658narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
6729458659sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
6729458660night terrorsprevalent in children125
6729458661sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
6729458662dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
6729458663purpose of dreaming (5 THEORIES)1. physiological function - develop/preserve neural pathways 2. Freud's wish-fulfillment (manifest/latent content) 3. activation synthesis - make sense of stimulation originating in brain 4. information processing 5. cognitive development - reflective of intelligence128
67294586641. Can hypnosis bring you back in time? 2. Can hypnosis make you do things you wouldn't normally do? 3. Can it alleviate pain? 4. What state are you in during hypnosis? 5. Who is more susceptible?1. cannot take you back in time 2. cannot make you do things you won't do 3. can alleviate pain 4. fully conscious ((IMAGINATIVE PEOPLE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE))129
6729458665depressantsslows neural pathways130
6729458666alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
6729458667barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
6729458668opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
6729458669stimulantshypes neural processing134
6729458670methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
6729458671caffeine((stimulant))136
6729458672nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
6729458673cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
6729458674hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
6729458675ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
6729458676LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
6729458677marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
6729458678learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
6729458679types of learningclassical operant observational144
6729458680famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
6729458681famous operant psychologistSkinner146
6729458682famous observational psychologistsBandura147
6729458683classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
6729458684Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
6729458685Watson's experimentwhite rat was given to Little Albert Step 1: US (noise) -> UR (cry) Step 2: NS (rat) -> US (noise) -> UR (cry) Later... CS (rat) -> CR (cry)150
6729458686generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
6729458687discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
6729458688extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
6729458689spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
6729458690operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
6729458691Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
6729458692shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
6729458693reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
6729458694punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
6729458695fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
6729458696variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
6729458697organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
6729458698fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
6729458699variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
6729458700these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
6729458701Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
6729458702criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
6729458703intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
6729458704extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
6729458705Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
6729458706famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
6729458707famous observational psychologistBandura172
6729458708mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
6729458709Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
6729458710observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
6729458711habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
6729458712examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
6729458713serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
6729458714LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
6729458715CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
6729458716glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
6729458717glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
6729458718flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
6729458719amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
6729458720cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
6729458721hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
6729458722memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
6729458723processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
6729458724encodinginformation going in189
6729458725storagekeeping information in190
6729458726retrievaltaking information out191
6729458727How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
6729458728How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
6729458729How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
6729458730How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
6729458731How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
6729458732short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
6729458733working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
6729458734working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
6729458735How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
6729458736implicit memorynaturally do201
6729458737explicit memoryneed to explain202
6729458738automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
6729458739effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
6729458740spacing effectspread out learning over time205
6729458741serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
6729458742primary effectremember the first things in a list207
6729458743recency effectremember the last things in a list208
6729458744effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
6729458745semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
6729458746if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
6729458747misinformation effectnot correct information212
6729458748imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
6729458749source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
6729458750primingassociation (setting you up)215
6729458751contextenvironment helps with memory216
6729458752state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
6729458753mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
6729458754forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
6729458755the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
6729458756proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
6729458757retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
6729458758children can't remember before age __3223
6729458759Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
6729458760prototypesgeneralize225
6729458761problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
6729458762against problem-solvingfixation227
6729458763mental setwhat has worked in the past228
6729458764functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
6729458765Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
6729458766Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
6729458767grammar is _________universal232
6729458768phonemessmallest sound unit233
6729458769morphemessmallest meaning unit234

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!