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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
10464567436psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
10464567437psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
10464567438psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
10464567439biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
10464567440evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
10464567441psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
10464567442behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
10464567443cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
10464567444humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
10464567445social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
10464567446two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
10464567447types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
10464567448descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
10464567449case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
10464567450surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
10464567451naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
10464567452correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
10464567453correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
10464567454experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
10464567455populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
10464567456sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
10464567457random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
10464567458control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
10464567459experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
10464567460independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
10464567461dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
10464567462confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
10464567463scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
10464567464theorygeneral idea being tested28
10464567465hypothesismeasurable/specific29
10464567466operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
10464567467modeappears the most31
10464567468meanaverage32
10464567469medianmiddle33
10464567470rangehighest - lowest34
10464567471standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
10464567472central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
10464567473bell curve(natural curve)37
10464567474ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
10464567475ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
10464567476sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
10464567477motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
10464567478interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
10464567670neuron43
10464567479dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
10464567480myelin sheathprotects the axon45
10464567481axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
10464567482neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
10464567483reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
10464567484excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
10464567485inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
10464567486central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
10464567487peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
10464567488somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
10464567489autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
10464567490sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
10464567491parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
10464567492neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
10464567493spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
10464567494endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
10464567495master glandpituitary gland60
10464567496brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
10464567497reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
10464567498reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
10464567499brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
10464567500thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
10464567501hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
10464567502cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
10464567503cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
10464567504amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
10464567505amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
10464567506amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
10464567507hippocampusprocess new memory72
10464567508cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
10464567509cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
10464567510association areasintegrate and interpret information75
10464567511glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
10464567512frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
10464567513parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
10464567514temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
10464567515occipital lobevision80
10464567516corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
10464567517Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
10464567518Broca's areaspeaking words83
10464567519plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
10464567520sensationwhat our senses tell us85
10464567521bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
10464567522perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
10464567523top-down processingbrain to senses88
10464567524inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
10464567525cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
10464567526change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
10464567527choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
10464567528absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
10464567529signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
10464567530JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
10464567531sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
10464567532rodsnight time97
10464567533conescolor98
10464567534parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
10464567535Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
10464567536Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
10464567537trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
10464567538frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
10464567539Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
10464567540frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
10464567541Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
10464567542Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
10464567543gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
10464567544memory of painpeaks and ends109
10464567545smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
10464567546groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
10464567547grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
10464567548make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
10464567549perception =mood + motivation114
10464567550consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
10464567551circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
10464567552circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
10464567553What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
10464567554The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
10464567555sleep 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
10464567556purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
10464567557insomniacan't sleep122
10464567558narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
10464567559sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
10464567560night terrorsprevalent in children125
10464567561sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
10464567562dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
10464567563purpose 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
104645675641. 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
10464567565depressantsslows neural pathways130
10464567566alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
10464567567barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
10464567568opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
10464567569stimulantshypes neural processing134
10464567570methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
10464567571caffeine((stimulant))136
10464567572nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
10464567573cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
10464567574hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
10464567575ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
10464567576LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
10464567577marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
10464567578learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
10464567579types of learningclassical operant observational144
10464567580famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
10464567581famous operant psychologistSkinner146
10464567582famous observational psychologistsBandura147
10464567583classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
10464567584Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
10464567585Watson'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
10464567586generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
10464567587discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
10464567588extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
10464567589spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
10464567590operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
10464567591Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
10464567592shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
10464567593reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
10464567594punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
10464567595fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
10464567596variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
10464567597organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
10464567598fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
10464567599variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
10464567600these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
10464567601Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
10464567602criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
10464567603intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
10464567604extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
10464567605Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
10464567606famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
10464567607famous observational psychologistBandura172
10464567608mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
10464567609Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
10464567610observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
10464567611habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
10464567612examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
10464567613serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
10464567614LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
10464567615CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
10464567616glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
10464567617glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
10464567618flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
10464567619amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
10464567620cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
10464567621hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
10464567622memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
10464567623processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
10464567624encodinginformation going in189
10464567625storagekeeping information in190
10464567626retrievaltaking information out191
10464567627How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
10464567628How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
10464567629How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
10464567630How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
10464567631How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
10464567632short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
10464567633working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
10464567634working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
10464567635How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
10464567636implicit memorynaturally do201
10464567637explicit memoryneed to explain202
10464567638automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
10464567639effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
10464567640spacing effectspread out learning over time205
10464567641serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
10464567642primary effectremember the first things in a list207
10464567643recency effectremember the last things in a list208
10464567644effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
10464567645semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
10464567646if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
10464567647misinformation effectnot correct information212
10464567648imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
10464567649source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
10464567650primingassociation (setting you up)215
10464567651contextenvironment helps with memory216
10464567652state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
10464567653mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
10464567654forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
10464567655the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
10464567656proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
10464567657retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
10464567658children can't remember before age __3223
10464567659Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
10464567660prototypesgeneralize225
10464567661problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
10464567662against problem-solvingfixation227
10464567663mental setwhat has worked in the past228
10464567664functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
10464567665Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
10464567666Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
10464567667grammar is _________universal232
10464567668phonemessmallest sound unit233
10464567669morphemessmallest 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!