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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
10489959256psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
10489959257psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
10489959258psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
10489959259biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
10489959260evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
10489959261psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
10489959262behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
10489959263cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
10489959264humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
10489959265social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
10489959266two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
10489959267types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
10489959268descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
10489959269case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
10489959270surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
10489959271naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
10489959272correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
10489959273correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
10489959274experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
10489959275populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
10489959276sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
10489959277random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
10489959278control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
10489959279experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
10489959280independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
10489959281dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
10489959282confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
10489959283scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
10489959284theorygeneral idea being tested28
10489959285hypothesismeasurable/specific29
10489959286operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
10489959287modeappears the most31
10489959288meanaverage32
10489959289medianmiddle33
10489959290rangehighest - lowest34
10489959291standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
10489959292central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
10489959293bell curve(natural curve)37
10489959294ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
10489959295ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
10489959296sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
10489959297motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
10489959298interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
10489959490neuron43
10489959299dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
10489959300myelin sheathprotects the axon45
10489959301axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
10489959302neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
10489959303reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
10489959304excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
10489959305inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
10489959306central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
10489959307peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
10489959308somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
10489959309autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
10489959310sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
10489959311parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
10489959312neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
10489959313spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
10489959314endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
10489959315master glandpituitary gland60
10489959316brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
10489959317reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
10489959318reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
10489959319brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
10489959320thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
10489959321hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
10489959322cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
10489959323cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
10489959324amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
10489959325amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
10489959326amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
10489959327hippocampusprocess new memory72
10489959328cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
10489959329cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
10489959330association areasintegrate and interpret information75
10489959331glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
10489959332frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
10489959333parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
10489959334temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
10489959335occipital lobevision80
10489959336corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
10489959337Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
10489959338Broca's areaspeaking words83
10489959339plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
10489959340sensationwhat our senses tell us85
10489959341bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
10489959342perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
10489959343top-down processingbrain to senses88
10489959344inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
10489959345cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
10489959346change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
10489959347choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
10489959348absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
10489959349signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
10489959350JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
10489959351sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
10489959352rodsnight time97
10489959353conescolor98
10489959354parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
10489959355Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
10489959356Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
10489959357trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
10489959358frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
10489959359Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
10489959360frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
10489959361Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
10489959362Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
10489959363gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
10489959364memory of painpeaks and ends109
10489959365smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
10489959366groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
10489959367grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
10489959368make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
10489959369perception =mood + motivation114
10489959370consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
10489959371circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
10489959372circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
10489959373What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
10489959374The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
10489959375sleep 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
10489959376purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
10489959377insomniacan't sleep122
10489959378narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
10489959379sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
10489959380night terrorsprevalent in children125
10489959381sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
10489959382dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
10489959383purpose 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
104899593841. 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
10489959385depressantsslows neural pathways130
10489959386alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
10489959387barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
10489959388opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
10489959389stimulantshypes neural processing134
10489959390methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
10489959391caffeine((stimulant))136
10489959392nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
10489959393cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
10489959394hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
10489959395ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
10489959396LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
10489959397marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
10489959398learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
10489959399types of learningclassical operant observational144
10489959400famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
10489959401famous operant psychologistSkinner146
10489959402famous observational psychologistsBandura147
10489959403classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
10489959404Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
10489959405Watson'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
10489959406generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
10489959407discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
10489959408extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
10489959409spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
10489959410operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
10489959411Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
10489959412shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
10489959413reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
10489959414punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
10489959415fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
10489959416variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
10489959417organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
10489959418fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
10489959419variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
10489959420these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
10489959421Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
10489959422criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
10489959423intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
10489959424extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
10489959425Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
10489959426famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
10489959427famous observational psychologistBandura172
10489959428mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
10489959429Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
10489959430observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
10489959431habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
10489959432examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
10489959433serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
10489959434LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
10489959435CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
10489959436glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
10489959437glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
10489959438flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
10489959439amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
10489959440cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
10489959441hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
10489959442memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
10489959443processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
10489959444encodinginformation going in189
10489959445storagekeeping information in190
10489959446retrievaltaking information out191
10489959447How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
10489959448How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
10489959449How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
10489959450How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
10489959451How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
10489959452short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
10489959453working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
10489959454working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
10489959455How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
10489959456implicit memorynaturally do201
10489959457explicit memoryneed to explain202
10489959458automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
10489959459effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
10489959460spacing effectspread out learning over time205
10489959461serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
10489959462primary effectremember the first things in a list207
10489959463recency effectremember the last things in a list208
10489959464effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
10489959465semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
10489959466if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
10489959467misinformation effectnot correct information212
10489959468imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
10489959469source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
10489959470primingassociation (setting you up)215
10489959471contextenvironment helps with memory216
10489959472state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
10489959473mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
10489959474forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
10489959475the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
10489959476proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
10489959477retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
10489959478children can't remember before age __3223
10489959479Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
10489959480prototypesgeneralize225
10489959481problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
10489959482against problem-solvingfixation227
10489959483mental setwhat has worked in the past228
10489959484functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
10489959485Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
10489959486Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
10489959487grammar is _________universal232
10489959488phonemessmallest sound unit233
10489959489morphemessmallest 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!