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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13766372947psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
13766372948psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
13766372949psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
13766372950biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
13766372951evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
13766372952psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
13766372953behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
13766372954cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
13766372955humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
13766372956social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
13766372957two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
13766372958types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
13766372959descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
13766372960case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
13766372961surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
13766372962naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
13766372963correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
13766372964correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
13766372965experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
13766372966populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
13766372967sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
13766372968random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
13766372969control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
13766372970experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
13766372971independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
13766372972dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
13766372973confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
13766372974scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
13766372975theorygeneral idea being tested28
13766372976hypothesismeasurable/specific29
13766372977operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
13766372978modeappears the most31
13766372979meanaverage32
13766372980medianmiddle33
13766372981rangehighest - lowest34
13766372982standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
13766372983central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
13766372984bell curve(natural curve)37
13766372985ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
13766372986ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
13766372987sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
13766372988motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
13766372989interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
13766373183neuron43
13766372990dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
13766372991myelin sheathprotects the axon45
13766372992axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
13766372993neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
13766372994reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
13766372995excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
13766372996inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
13766372997central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
13766372998peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
13766372999somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
13766373000autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
13766373001sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
13766373002parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
13766373003neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
13766373004spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
13766373005endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
13766373006master glandpituitary gland60
13766373007brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
13766373008reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
13766373009reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
13766373010brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
13766373011thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
13766373012hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
13766373013cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
13766373014cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
13766373015amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
13766373016amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
13766373017amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
13766373018hippocampusprocess new memory72
13766373019cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
13766373020cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
13766373021association areasintegrate and interpret information75
13766373022glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
13766373023frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
13766373024parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
13766373025temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
13766373026occipital lobevision80
13766373027corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
13766373028Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
13766373029Broca's areaspeaking words83
13766373030plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
13766373031sensationwhat our senses tell us85
13766373032bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
13766373033perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
13766373034top-down processingbrain to senses88
13766373035inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
13766373036cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
13766373037change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
13766373038choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
13766373039absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
13766373040signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
13766373041JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
13766373042sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
13766373043rodsnight time97
13766373044conescolor98
13766373045parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
13766373046Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
13766373047Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
13766373048trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
13766373049frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
13766373050Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
13766373051frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
13766373052Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
13766373053Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
13766373054gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
13766373055memory of painpeaks and ends109
13766373056smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
13766373057groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
13766373058grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
13766373059make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
13766373060perception =mood + motivation114
13766373061consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
13766373062circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
13766373063circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
13766373064What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
13766373065The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
13766373066sleep 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
13766373067purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
13766373068insomniacan't sleep122
13766373069narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
13766373070sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
13766373071night terrorsprevalent in children125
13766373072sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
13766373073dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
13766373074purpose 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
137663730751. 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
13766373076depressantsslows neural pathways130
13766373077alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
13766373078barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
13766373079opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
13766373080stimulantshypes neural processing134
13766373081methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
13766373082caffeine((stimulant))136
13766373083nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
13766373084cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
13766373085hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
13766373086ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
13766373087LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
13766373088marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
13766373089learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
13766373090types of learningclassical operant observational144
13766373091famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
13766373092famous operant psychologistSkinner146
13766373093famous observational psychologistsBandura147
13766373094classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
13766373095Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
13766373096Watson'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
13766373097generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
13766373098discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
13766373099extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
13766373100spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
13766373101operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
13766373102Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
13766373103shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
13766373104reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
13766373105punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
13766373106fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
13766373107variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
13766373108organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
13766373109fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
13766373110variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
13766373111these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
13766373112Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
13766373113criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
13766373114intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
13766373115extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
13766373116Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
13766373117famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
13766373118famous observational psychologistBandura172
13766373119mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
13766373120Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
13766373121observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
13766373122habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
13766373123examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
13766373124serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
13766373125LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
13766373126CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
13766373127glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
13766373128glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
13766373129flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
13766373130amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
13766373131cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
13766373132hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
13766373133memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
13766373134processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
13766373135encodinginformation going in189
13766373136storagekeeping information in190
13766373137retrievaltaking information out191
13766373138How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
13766373139How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
13766373140How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
13766373141How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
13766373142How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
13766373143short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
13766373144working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
13766373145working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
13766373146How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
13766373147implicit memorynaturally do201
13766373148explicit memoryneed to explain202
13766373149automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
13766373150effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
13766373151spacing effectspread out learning over time205
13766373152serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
13766373153primary effectremember the first things in a list207
13766373154recency effectremember the last things in a list208
13766373155effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
13766373156semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
13766373157if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
13766373158misinformation effectnot correct information212
13766373159imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
13766373160source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
13766373161primingassociation (setting you up)215
13766373162contextenvironment helps with memory216
13766373163state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
13766373164mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
13766373165forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
13766373166the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
13766373167proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
13766373168retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
13766373169children can't remember before age __3223
13766373170Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
13766373171prototypesgeneralize225
13766373172problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
13766373173against problem-solvingfixation227
13766373174mental setwhat has worked in the past228
13766373175functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
13766373176Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
13766373177Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
13766373178grammar is _________universal232
13766373179phonemessmallest sound unit233
13766373180morphemessmallest 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!