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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13831149916psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
13831149917psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
13831149918psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
13831149919biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
13831149920evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
13831149921psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
13831149922behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
13831149923cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
13831149924humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
13831149925social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
13831149926two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
13831149927types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
13831149928descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
13831149929case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
13831149930surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
13831149931naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
13831149932correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
13831149933correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
13831149934experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
13831149935populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
13831149936sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
13831149937random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
13831149938control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
13831149939experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
13831149940independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
13831149941dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
13831149942confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
13831149943scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
13831149944theorygeneral idea being tested28
13831149945hypothesismeasurable/specific29
13831149946operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
13831149947modeappears the most31
13831149948meanaverage32
13831149949medianmiddle33
13831149950rangehighest - lowest34
13831149951standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
13831149952central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
13831149953bell curve(natural curve)37
13831149954ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
13831149955ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
13831149956sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
13831149957motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
13831149958interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
13831150150neuron43
13831149959dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
13831149960myelin sheathprotects the axon45
13831149961axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
13831149962neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
13831149963reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
13831149964excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
13831149965inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
13831149966central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
13831149967peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
13831149968somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
13831149969autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
13831149970sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
13831149971parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
13831149972neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
13831149973spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
13831149974endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
13831149975master glandpituitary gland60
13831149976brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
13831149977reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
13831149978reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
13831149979brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
13831149980thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
13831149981hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
13831149982cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
13831149983cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
13831149984amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
13831149985amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
13831149986amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
13831149987hippocampusprocess new memory72
13831149988cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
13831149989cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
13831149990association areasintegrate and interpret information75
13831149991glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
13831149992frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
13831149993parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
13831149994temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
13831149995occipital lobevision80
13831149996corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
13831149997Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
13831149998Broca's areaspeaking words83
13831149999plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
13831150000sensationwhat our senses tell us85
13831150001bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
13831150002perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
13831150003top-down processingbrain to senses88
13831150004inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
13831150005cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
13831150006change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
13831150007choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
13831150008absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
13831150009signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
13831150010JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
13831150011sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
13831150012rodsnight time97
13831150013conescolor98
13831150014parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
13831150015Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
13831150016Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
13831150017trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
13831150018frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
13831150019Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
13831150020frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
13831150021Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
13831150022Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
13831150023gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
13831150024memory of painpeaks and ends109
13831150025smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
13831150026groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
13831150027grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
13831150028make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
13831150029perception =mood + motivation114
13831150030consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
13831150031circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
13831150032circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
13831150033What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
13831150034The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
13831150035sleep 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
13831150036purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
13831150037insomniacan't sleep122
13831150038narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
13831150039sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
13831150040night terrorsprevalent in children125
13831150041sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
13831150042dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
13831150043purpose 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
138311500441. 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
13831150045depressantsslows neural pathways130
13831150046alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
13831150047barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
13831150048opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
13831150049stimulantshypes neural processing134
13831150050methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
13831150051caffeine((stimulant))136
13831150052nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
13831150053cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
13831150054hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
13831150055ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
13831150056LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
13831150057marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
13831150058learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
13831150059types of learningclassical operant observational144
13831150060famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
13831150061famous operant psychologistSkinner146
13831150062famous observational psychologistsBandura147
13831150063classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
13831150064Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
13831150065Watson'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
13831150066generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
13831150067discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
13831150068extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
13831150069spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
13831150070operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
13831150071Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
13831150072shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
13831150073reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
13831150074punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
13831150075fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
13831150076variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
13831150077organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
13831150078fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
13831150079variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
13831150080these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
13831150081Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
13831150082criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
13831150083intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
13831150084extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
13831150085Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
13831150086famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
13831150087famous observational psychologistBandura172
13831150088mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
13831150089Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
13831150090observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
13831150091habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
13831150092examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
13831150093serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
13831150094LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
13831150095CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
13831150096glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
13831150097glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
13831150098flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
13831150099amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
13831150100cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
13831150101hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
13831150102memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
13831150103processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
13831150104encodinginformation going in189
13831150105storagekeeping information in190
13831150106retrievaltaking information out191
13831150107How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
13831150108How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
13831150109How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
13831150110How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
13831150111How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
13831150112short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
13831150113working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
13831150114working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
13831150115How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
13831150116implicit memorynaturally do201
13831150117explicit memoryneed to explain202
13831150118automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
13831150119effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
13831150120spacing effectspread out learning over time205
13831150121serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
13831150122primary effectremember the first things in a list207
13831150123recency effectremember the last things in a list208
13831150124effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
13831150125semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
13831150126if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
13831150127misinformation effectnot correct information212
13831150128imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
13831150129source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
13831150130primingassociation (setting you up)215
13831150131contextenvironment helps with memory216
13831150132state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
13831150133mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
13831150134forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
13831150135the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
13831150136proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
13831150137retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
13831150138children can't remember before age __3223
13831150139Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
13831150140prototypesgeneralize225
13831150141problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
13831150142against problem-solvingfixation227
13831150143mental setwhat has worked in the past228
13831150144functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
13831150145Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
13831150146Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
13831150147grammar is _________universal232
13831150148phonemessmallest sound unit233
13831150149morphemessmallest 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!