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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9847488141psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
9847488142psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
9847488143psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
9847488144biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
9847488145evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
9847488146psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
9847488147behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
9847488148cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
9847488149humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
9847488150social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
9847488151two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
9847488152types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
9847488153descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
9847488154case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
9847488155surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
9847488156naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
9847488157correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
9847488158correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
9847488159experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
9847488160populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
9847488161sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
9847488162random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
9847488163control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
9847488164experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
9847488165independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
9847488166dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
9847488167confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
9847488168scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
9847488169theorygeneral idea being tested28
9847488170hypothesismeasurable/specific29
9847488171operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
9847488172modeappears the most31
9847488173meanaverage32
9847488174medianmiddle33
9847488175rangehighest - lowest34
9847488176standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
9847488177central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
9847488178bell curve(natural curve)37
9847488179ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
9847488180ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
9847488181sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
9847488182motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
9847488183interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
9847488376neuron43
9847488184dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
9847488185myelin sheathprotects the axon45
9847488186axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
9847488187neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
9847488188reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
9847488189excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
9847488190inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
9847488191central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
9847488192peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
9847488193somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
9847488194autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
9847488195sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
9847488196parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
9847488197neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
9847488198spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
9847488199endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
9847488200master glandpituitary gland60
9847488201brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
9847488202reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
9847488203reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
9847488204brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
9847488205thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
9847488206hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
9847488207cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
9847488208cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
9847488209amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
9847488210amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
9847488211amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
9847488212hippocampusprocess new memory72
9847488213cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
9847488214cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
9847488215association areasintegrate and interpret information75
9847488216glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
9847488217frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
9847488218parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
9847488219temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
9847488220occipital lobevision80
9847488221corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
9847488222Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
9847488223Broca's areaspeaking words83
9847488224plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
9847488225sensationwhat our senses tell us85
9847488226bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
9847488227perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
9847488228top-down processingbrain to senses88
9847488229inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
9847488230cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
9847488231change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
9847488232choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
9847488233absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
9847488234signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
9847488235JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
9847488236sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
9847488237rodsnight time97
9847488238conescolor98
9847488239parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
9847488240Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
9847488241Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
9847488242trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
9847488243frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
9847488244Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
9847488245frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
9847488246Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
9847488247Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
9847488248gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
9847488249memory of painpeaks and ends109
9847488250smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
9847488251groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
9847488252grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
9847488253make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
9847488254perception =mood + motivation114
9847488255consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
9847488256circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
9847488257circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
9847488258What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
9847488259The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
9847488260sleep 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
9847488261purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
9847488262insomniacan't sleep122
9847488263narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
9847488264sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
9847488265night terrorsprevalent in children125
9847488266sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
9847488267dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
9847488268purpose 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
98474882691. 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
9847488270depressantsslows neural pathways130
9847488271alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
9847488272barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
9847488273opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
9847488274stimulantshypes neural processing134
9847488275methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
9847488276caffeine((stimulant))136
9847488277nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
9847488278cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
9847488279hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
9847488280ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
9847488281LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
9847488282marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
9847488283learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
9847488284types of learningclassical operant observational144
9847488285famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
9847488286famous operant psychologistSkinner146
9847488287famous observational psychologistsBandura147
9847488288classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
9847488289Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
9847488290Watson'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
9847488291generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
9847488292discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
9847488293extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
9847488294spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
9847488295operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
9847488296Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
9847488297shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
9847488298reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
9847488299punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
9847488300fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
9847488301variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
9847488302organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
9847488303fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
9847488304variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
9847488305these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
9847488306Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
9847488307criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
9847488308intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
9847488309extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
9847488310Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
9847488311famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
9847488312famous observational psychologistBandura172
9847488313mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
9847488314Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
9847488315observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
9847488316habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
9847488317examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
9847488318serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
9847488319LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
9847488320CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
9847488321glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
9847488322glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
9847488323flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
9847488324amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
9847488325cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
9847488326hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
9847488327memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
9847488328processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
9847488329encodinginformation going in189
9847488330storagekeeping information in190
9847488331retrievaltaking information out191
9847488332How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
9847488333How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
9847488334How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
9847488335How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
9847488336How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
9847488337short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
9847488338working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
9847488339working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
9847488340How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
9847488341implicit memorynaturally do201
9847488342explicit memoryneed to explain202
9847488343automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
9847488344effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
9847488345spacing effectspread out learning over time205
9847488346serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
9847488347primary effectremember the first things in a list207
9847488348recency effectremember the last things in a list208
9847488349effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
9847488350semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
9847488351if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
9847488352misinformation effectnot correct information212
9847488353imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
9847488354source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
9847488355primingassociation (setting you up)215
9847488356contextenvironment helps with memory216
9847488357state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
9847488358mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
9847488359forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
9847488360the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
9847488361proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
9847488362retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
9847488363children can't remember before age __3223
9847488364Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
9847488365prototypesgeneralize225
9847488366problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
9847488367against problem-solvingfixation227
9847488368mental setwhat has worked in the past228
9847488369functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
9847488370Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
9847488371Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
9847488372grammar is _________universal232
9847488373phonemessmallest sound unit233
9847488374morphemessmallest 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!