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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9852480867psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
9852480868psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
9852480869psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
9852480870biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
9852480871evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
9852480872psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
9852480873behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
9852480874cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
9852480875humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
9852480876social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
9852480877two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
9852480878types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
9852480879descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
9852480880case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
9852480881surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
9852480882naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
9852480883correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
9852480884correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
9852480885experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
9852480886populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
9852480887sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
9852480888random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
9852480889control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
9852480890experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
9852480891independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
9852480892dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
9852480893confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
9852480894scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
9852480895theorygeneral idea being tested28
9852480896hypothesismeasurable/specific29
9852480897operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
9852480898modeappears the most31
9852480899meanaverage32
9852480900medianmiddle33
9852480901rangehighest - lowest34
9852480902standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
9852480903central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
9852480904bell curve(natural curve)37
9852480905ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
9852480906ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
9852480907sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
9852480908motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
9852480909interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
9852481103neuron43
9852480910dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
9852480911myelin sheathprotects the axon45
9852480912axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
9852480913neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
9852480914reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
9852480915excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
9852480916inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
9852480917central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
9852480918peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
9852480919somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
9852480920autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
9852480921sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
9852480922parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
9852480923neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
9852480924spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
9852480925endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
9852480926master glandpituitary gland60
9852480927brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
9852480928reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
9852480929reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
9852480930brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
9852480931thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
9852480932hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
9852480933cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
9852480934cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
9852480935amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
9852480936amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
9852480937amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
9852480938hippocampusprocess new memory72
9852480939cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
9852480940cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
9852480941association areasintegrate and interpret information75
9852480942glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
9852480943frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
9852480944parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
9852480945temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
9852480946occipital lobevision80
9852480947corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
9852480948Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
9852480949Broca's areaspeaking words83
9852480950plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
9852480951sensationwhat our senses tell us85
9852480952bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
9852480953perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
9852480954top-down processingbrain to senses88
9852480955inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
9852480956cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
9852480957change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
9852480958choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
9852480959absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
9852480960signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
9852480961JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
9852480962sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
9852480963rodsnight time97
9852480964conescolor98
9852480965parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
9852480966Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
9852480967Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
9852480968trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
9852480969frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
9852480970Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
9852480971frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
9852480972Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
9852480973Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
9852480974gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
9852480975memory of painpeaks and ends109
9852480976smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
9852480977groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
9852480978grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
9852480979make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
9852480980perception =mood + motivation114
9852480981consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
9852480982circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
9852480983circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
9852480984What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
9852480985The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
9852480986sleep 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
9852480987purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
9852480988insomniacan't sleep122
9852480989narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
9852480990sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
9852480991night terrorsprevalent in children125
9852480992sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
9852480993dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
9852480994purpose 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
98524809951. 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
9852480996depressantsslows neural pathways130
9852480997alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
9852480998barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
9852480999opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
9852481000stimulantshypes neural processing134
9852481001methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
9852481002caffeine((stimulant))136
9852481003nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
9852481004cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
9852481005hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
9852481006ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
9852481007LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
9852481008marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
9852481009learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
9852481010types of learningclassical operant observational144
9852481011famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
9852481012famous operant psychologistSkinner146
9852481013famous observational psychologistsBandura147
9852481014classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
9852481015Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
9852481016Watson'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
9852481017generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
9852481018discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
9852481019extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
9852481020spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
9852481021operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
9852481022Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
9852481023shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
9852481024reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
9852481025punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
9852481026fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
9852481027variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
9852481028organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
9852481029fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
9852481030variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
9852481031these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
9852481032Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
9852481033criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
9852481034intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
9852481035extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
9852481036Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
9852481037famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
9852481038famous observational psychologistBandura172
9852481039mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
9852481040Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
9852481041observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
9852481042habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
9852481043examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
9852481044serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
9852481045LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
9852481046CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
9852481047glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
9852481048glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
9852481049flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
9852481050amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
9852481051cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
9852481052hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
9852481053memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
9852481054processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
9852481055encodinginformation going in189
9852481056storagekeeping information in190
9852481057retrievaltaking information out191
9852481058How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
9852481059How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
9852481060How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
9852481061How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
9852481062How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
9852481063short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
9852481064working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
9852481065working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
9852481066How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
9852481067implicit memorynaturally do201
9852481068explicit memoryneed to explain202
9852481069automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
9852481070effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
9852481071spacing effectspread out learning over time205
9852481072serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
9852481073primary effectremember the first things in a list207
9852481074recency effectremember the last things in a list208
9852481075effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
9852481076semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
9852481077if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
9852481078misinformation effectnot correct information212
9852481079imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
9852481080source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
9852481081primingassociation (setting you up)215
9852481082contextenvironment helps with memory216
9852481083state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
9852481084mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
9852481085forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
9852481086the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
9852481087proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
9852481088retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
9852481089children can't remember before age __3223
9852481090Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
9852481091prototypesgeneralize225
9852481092problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
9852481093against problem-solvingfixation227
9852481094mental setwhat has worked in the past228
9852481095functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
9852481096Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
9852481097Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
9852481098grammar is _________universal232
9852481099phonemessmallest sound unit233
9852481100morphemessmallest 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!