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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13826324605psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
13826324606psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
13826324607psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
13826324608biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
13826324609evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
13826324610psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
13826324611behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
13826324612cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
13826324613humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
13826324614social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
13826324615two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
13826324616types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
13826324617descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
13826324618case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
13826324619surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
13826324620naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
13826324621correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
13826324622correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
13826324623experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
13826324624populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
13826324625sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
13826324626random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
13826324627control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
13826324628experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
13826324629independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
13826324630dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
13826324631confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
13826324632scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
13826324633theorygeneral idea being tested28
13826324634hypothesismeasurable/specific29
13826324635operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
13826324636modeappears the most31
13826324637meanaverage32
13826324638medianmiddle33
13826324639rangehighest - lowest34
13826324640standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
13826324641central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
13826324642bell curve(natural curve)37
13826324643ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
13826324644ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
13826324645sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
13826324646motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
13826324647interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
13826324841neuron43
13826324648dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
13826324649myelin sheathprotects the axon45
13826324650axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
13826324651neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
13826324652reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
13826324653excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
13826324654inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
13826324655central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
13826324656peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
13826324657somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
13826324658autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
13826324659sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
13826324660parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
13826324661neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
13826324662spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
13826324663endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
13826324664master glandpituitary gland60
13826324665brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
13826324666reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
13826324667reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
13826324668brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
13826324669thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
13826324670hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
13826324671cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
13826324672cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
13826324673amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
13826324674amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
13826324675amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
13826324676hippocampusprocess new memory72
13826324677cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
13826324678cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
13826324679association areasintegrate and interpret information75
13826324680glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
13826324681frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
13826324682parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
13826324683temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
13826324684occipital lobevision80
13826324685corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
13826324686Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
13826324687Broca's areaspeaking words83
13826324688plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
13826324689sensationwhat our senses tell us85
13826324690bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
13826324691perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
13826324692top-down processingbrain to senses88
13826324693inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
13826324694cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
13826324695change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
13826324696choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
13826324697absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
13826324698signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
13826324699JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
13826324700sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
13826324701rodsnight time (peripheral)97
13826324702conescolor and light (center)98
13826324703parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
13826324704Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
13826324705Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
13826324706trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
13826324707frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
13826324708Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
13826324709frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
13826324710Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
13826324711Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
13826324712gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
13826324713memory of painpeaks and ends109
13826324714smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
13826324715groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
13826324716grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
13826324717make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
13826324718perception =mood + motivation114
13826324719consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
13826324720circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
13826324721circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
13826324722What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
13826324723The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
13826324724sleep 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
13826324725purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
13826324726insomniacan't sleep122
13826324727narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
13826324728sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
13826324729night terrorsprevalent in children125
13826324730sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
13826324731dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
13826324732purpose 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
138263247331. 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
13826324734depressantsslows neural pathways130
13826324735alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
13826324736barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
13826324737opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
13826324738stimulantshypes neural processing134
13826324739methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
13826324740caffeine((stimulant))136
13826324741nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
13826324742cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
13826324743hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
13826324744ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
13826324745LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
13826324746marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
13826324747learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
13826324748types of learningclassical operant observational144
13826324749famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
13826324750famous operant psychologistSkinner146
13826324751famous observational psychologistsBandura147
13826324752classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
13826324753Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
13826324754Watson'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
13826324755generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
13826324756discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
13826324757extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
13826324758spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
13826324759operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
13826324760Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
13826324761shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
13826324762reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
13826324763punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
13826324764fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
13826324765variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
13826324766organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
13826324767fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
13826324768variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
13826324769these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
13826324770Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
13826324771criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
13826324772intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
13826324773extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
13826324774Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
13826324775famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
13826324776famous observational psychologistBandura172
13826324777mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
13826324778Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
13826324779observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
13826324780habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
13826324781examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
13826324782serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
13826324783LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
13826324784CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
13826324785glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
13826324786glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
13826324787flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
13826324788amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
13826324789cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
13826324790hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
13826324791memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
13826324792processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
13826324793encodinginformation going in189
13826324794storagekeeping information in190
13826324795retrievaltaking information out191
13826324796How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
13826324797How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
13826324798How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
13826324799How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
13826324800How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
13826324801short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
13826324802working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
13826324803working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
13826324804How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
13826324805implicit memorynaturally do201
13826324806explicit memoryneed to explain202
13826324807automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
13826324808effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
13826324809spacing effectspread out learning over time205
13826324810serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
13826324811primary effectremember the first things in a list207
13826324812recency effectremember the last things in a list208
13826324813effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
13826324814semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
13826324815if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
13826324816misinformation effectnot correct information212
13826324817imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
13826324818source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
13826324819primingassociation (setting you up)215
13826324820contextenvironment helps with memory216
13826324821state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
13826324822mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
13826324823forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
13826324824the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
13826324825proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
13826324826retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
13826324827children can't remember before age __3223
13826324828Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
13826324829prototypesgeneralize225
13826324830problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
13826324831against problem-solvingfixation227
13826324832mental setwhat has worked in the past228
13826324833functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
13826324834Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
13826324835Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
13826324836grammar is _________universal232
13826324837phonemessmallest sound unit233
13826324838morphemessmallest 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!