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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13621673094psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
13621673095psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
13621673096psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
13621673097biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
13621673098evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
13621673099psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
13621673100behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
13621673101cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
13621673102humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
13621673103social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
13621673104two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
13621673105types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
13621673106descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
13621673107case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
13621673108surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
13621673109naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
13621673110correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
13621673111correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
13621673112experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
13621673113populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
13621673114sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
13621673115random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
13621673116control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
13621673117experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
13621673118independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
13621673119dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
13621673120confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
13621673121scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
13621673122theorygeneral idea being tested28
13621673123hypothesismeasurable/specific29
13621673124operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
13621673125modeappears the most31
13621673126meanaverage32
13621673127medianmiddle33
13621673128rangehighest - lowest34
13621673129standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
13621673130central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
13621673131bell curve(natural curve)37
13621673132ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
13621673133ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
13621673134sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
13621673135motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
13621673136interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
13621673330neuron43
13621673137dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
13621673138myelin sheathprotects the axon45
13621673139axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
13621673140neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
13621673141reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
13621673142excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
13621673143inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
13621673144central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
13621673145peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
13621673146somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
13621673147autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
13621673148sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
13621673149parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
13621673150neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
13621673151spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
13621673152endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
13621673153master glandpituitary gland60
13621673154brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
13621673155reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
13621673156reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
13621673157brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
13621673158thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
13621673159hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
13621673160cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
13621673161cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
13621673162amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
13621673163amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
13621673164amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
13621673165hippocampusprocess new memory72
13621673166cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
13621673167cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
13621673168association areasintegrate and interpret information75
13621673169glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
13621673170frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
13621673171parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
13621673172temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
13621673173occipital lobevision80
13621673174corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
13621673175Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
13621673176Broca's areaspeaking words83
13621673177plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
13621673178sensationwhat our senses tell us85
13621673179bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
13621673180perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
13621673181top-down processingbrain to senses88
13621673182inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
13621673183cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
13621673184change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
13621673185choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
13621673186absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
13621673187signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
13621673188JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
13621673189sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
13621673190rodsnight time97
13621673191conescolor98
13621673192parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
13621673193Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
13621673194Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
13621673195trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
13621673196frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
13621673197Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
13621673198frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
13621673199Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
13621673200Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
13621673201gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
13621673202memory of painpeaks and ends109
13621673203smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
13621673204groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
13621673205grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
13621673206make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
13621673207perception =mood + motivation114
13621673208consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
13621673209circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
13621673210circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
13621673211What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
13621673212The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
13621673213sleep 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
13621673214purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
13621673215insomniacan't sleep122
13621673216narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
13621673217sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
13621673218night terrorsprevalent in children125
13621673219sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
13621673220dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
13621673221purpose 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
136216732221. 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
13621673223depressantsslows neural pathways130
13621673224alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
13621673225barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
13621673226opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
13621673227stimulantshypes neural processing134
13621673228methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
13621673229caffeine((stimulant))136
13621673230nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
13621673231cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
13621673232hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
13621673233ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
13621673234LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
13621673235marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
13621673236learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
13621673237types of learningclassical operant observational144
13621673238famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
13621673239famous operant psychologistSkinner146
13621673240famous observational psychologistsBandura147
13621673241classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
13621673242Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
13621673243Watson'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
13621673244generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
13621673245discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
13621673246extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
13621673247spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
13621673248operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
13621673249Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
13621673250shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
13621673251reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
13621673252punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
13621673253fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
13621673254variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
13621673255organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
13621673256fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
13621673257variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
13621673258these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
13621673259Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
13621673260criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
13621673261intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
13621673262extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
13621673263Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
13621673264famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
13621673265famous observational psychologistBandura172
13621673266mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
13621673267Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
13621673268observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
13621673269habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
13621673270examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
13621673271serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
13621673272LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
13621673273CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
13621673274glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
13621673275glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
13621673276flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
13621673277amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
13621673278cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
13621673279hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
13621673280memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
13621673281processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
13621673282encodinginformation going in189
13621673283storagekeeping information in190
13621673284retrievaltaking information out191
13621673285How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
13621673286How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
13621673287How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
13621673288How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
13621673289How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
13621673290short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
13621673291working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
13621673292working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
13621673293How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
13621673294implicit memorynaturally do201
13621673295explicit memoryneed to explain202
13621673296automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
13621673297effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
13621673298spacing effectspread out learning over time205
13621673299serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
13621673300primary effectremember the first things in a list207
13621673301recency effectremember the last things in a list208
13621673302effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
13621673303semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
13621673304if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
13621673305misinformation effectnot correct information212
13621673306imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
13621673307source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
13621673308primingassociation (setting you up)215
13621673309contextenvironment helps with memory216
13621673310state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
13621673311mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
13621673312forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
13621673313the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
13621673314proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
13621673315retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
13621673316children can't remember before age __3223
13621673317Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
13621673318prototypesgeneralize225
13621673319problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
13621673320against problem-solvingfixation227
13621673321mental setwhat has worked in the past228
13621673322functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
13621673323Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
13621673324Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
13621673325grammar is _________universal232
13621673326phonemessmallest sound unit233
13621673327morphemessmallest 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!