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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13931738354psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
13931738355psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
13931738356psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
13931738357biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
13931738358evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
13931738359psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
13931738360behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
13931738361cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
13931738362humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
13931738363social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
13931738364two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
13931738365types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
13931738366descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
13931738367case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
13931738368surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
13931738369naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
13931738370correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
13931738371correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
13931738372experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
13931738373populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
13931738374sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
13931738375random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
13931738376control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
13931738377experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
13931738378independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
13931738379dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
13931738380confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
13931738381scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
13931738382theorygeneral idea being tested28
13931738383hypothesismeasurable/specific29
13931738384operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
13931738385modeappears the most31
13931738386meanaverage32
13931738387medianmiddle33
13931738388rangehighest - lowest34
13931738389standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
13931738390central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
13931738391bell curve(natural curve)37
13931738392ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
13931738393ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
13931738394sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
13931738395motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
13931738396interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
13931738588neuron43
13931738397dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
13931738398myelin sheathprotects the axon45
13931738399axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
13931738400neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
13931738401reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
13931738402excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
13931738403inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
13931738404central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
13931738405peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
13931738406somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
13931738407autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
13931738408sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
13931738409parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
13931738410neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
13931738411spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
13931738412endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
13931738413master glandpituitary gland60
13931738414brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
13931738415reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
13931738416reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
13931738417brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
13931738418thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
13931738419hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
13931738420cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
13931738421cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
13931738422amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
13931738423amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
13931738424amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
13931738425hippocampusprocess new memory72
13931738426cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
13931738427cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
13931738428association areasintegrate and interpret information75
13931738429glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
13931738430frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
13931738431parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
13931738432temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
13931738433occipital lobevision80
13931738434corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
13931738435Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
13931738436Broca's areaspeaking words83
13931738437plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
13931738438sensationwhat our senses tell us85
13931738439bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
13931738440perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
13931738441top-down processingbrain to senses88
13931738442inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
13931738443cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
13931738444change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
13931738445choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
13931738446absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
13931738447signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
13931738448JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
13931738449sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
13931738450rodsnight time97
13931738451conescolor98
13931738452parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
13931738453Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
13931738454Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
13931738455trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
13931738456frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
13931738457Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
13931738458frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
13931738459Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
13931738460Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
13931738461gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
13931738462memory of painpeaks and ends109
13931738463smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
13931738464groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
13931738465grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
13931738466make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
13931738467perception =mood + motivation114
13931738468consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
13931738469circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
13931738470circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
13931738471What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
13931738472The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
13931738473sleep 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
13931738474purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
13931738475insomniacan't sleep122
13931738476narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
13931738477sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
13931738478night terrorsprevalent in children125
13931738479sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
13931738480dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
13931738481purpose 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
139317384821. 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
13931738483depressantsslows neural pathways130
13931738484alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
13931738485barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
13931738486opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
13931738487stimulantshypes neural processing134
13931738488methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
13931738489caffeine((stimulant))136
13931738490nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
13931738491cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
13931738492hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
13931738493ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
13931738494LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
13931738495marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
13931738496learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
13931738497types of learningclassical operant observational144
13931738498famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
13931738499famous operant psychologistSkinner146
13931738500famous observational psychologistsBandura147
13931738501classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
13931738502Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
13931738503Watson'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
13931738504generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
13931738505discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
13931738506extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
13931738507spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
13931738508operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
13931738509Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
13931738510shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
13931738511reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
13931738512punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
13931738513fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
13931738514variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
13931738515organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
13931738516fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
13931738517variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
13931738518these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
13931738519Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
13931738520criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
13931738521intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
13931738522extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
13931738523Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
13931738524famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
13931738525famous observational psychologistBandura172
13931738526mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
13931738527Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
13931738528observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
13931738529habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
13931738530examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
13931738531serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
13931738532LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
13931738533CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
13931738534glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
13931738535glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
13931738536flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
13931738537amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
13931738538cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
13931738539hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
13931738540memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
13931738541processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
13931738542encodinginformation going in189
13931738543storagekeeping information in190
13931738544retrievaltaking information out191
13931738545How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
13931738546How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
13931738547How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
13931738548How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
13931738549How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
13931738550short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
13931738551working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
13931738552working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
13931738553How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
13931738554implicit memorynaturally do201
13931738555explicit memoryneed to explain202
13931738556automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
13931738557effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
13931738558spacing effectspread out learning over time205
13931738559serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
13931738560primary effectremember the first things in a list207
13931738561recency effectremember the last things in a list208
13931738562effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
13931738563semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
13931738564if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
13931738565misinformation effectnot correct information212
13931738566imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
13931738567source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
13931738568primingassociation (setting you up)215
13931738569contextenvironment helps with memory216
13931738570state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
13931738571mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
13931738572forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
13931738573the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
13931738574proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
13931738575retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
13931738576children can't remember before age __3223
13931738577Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
13931738578prototypesgeneralize225
13931738579problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
13931738580against problem-solvingfixation227
13931738581mental setwhat has worked in the past228
13931738582functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
13931738583Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
13931738584Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
13931738585grammar is _________universal232
13931738586phonemessmallest sound unit233
13931738587morphemessmallest 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!