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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
14777757896psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
14777757897psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
14777757898psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
14777757899biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
14777757900evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
14777757901psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
14777757902behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
14777757903cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
14777757904humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
14777757905social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
14777757906two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
14777757907types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
14777757908descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
14777757909case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
14777757910surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
14777757911naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
14777757912correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
14777757913correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
14777757914experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
14777757915populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
14777757916sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
14777757917random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
14777757918control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
14777757919experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
14777757920independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
14777757921dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
14777757922confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
14777757923scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
14777757924theorygeneral idea being tested28
14777757925hypothesismeasurable/specific29
14777757926operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
14777757927modeappears the most31
14777757928meanaverage32
14777757929medianmiddle33
14777757930rangehighest - lowest34
14777757931standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
14777757932central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
14777757933bell curve(natural curve)37
14777757934ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
14777757935ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
14777757936sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
14777757937motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
14777757938interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
14777758130neuron43
14777757939dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
14777757940myelin sheathprotects the axon45
14777757941axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
14777757942neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
14777757943reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
14777757944excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
14777757945inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
14777757946central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
14777757947peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
14777757948somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
14777757949autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
14777757950sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
14777757951parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
14777757952neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
14777757953spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
14777757954endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
14777757955master glandpituitary gland60
14777757956brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
14777757957reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
14777757958reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
14777757959brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
14777757960thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
14777757961hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
14777757962cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
14777757963cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
14777757964amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
14777757965amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
14777757966amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
14777757967hippocampusprocess new memory72
14777757968cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
14777757969cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
14777757970association areasintegrate and interpret information75
14777757971glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
14777757972frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
14777757973parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
14777757974temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
14777757975occipital lobevision80
14777757976corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
14777757977Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
14777757978Broca's areaspeaking words83
14777757979plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
14777757980sensationwhat our senses tell us85
14777757981bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
14777757982perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
14777757983top-down processingbrain to senses88
14777757984inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
14777757985cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
14777757986change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
14777757987choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
14777757988absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
14777757989signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
14777757990JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
14777757991sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
14777757992rodsnight time97
14777757993conescolor98
14777757994parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
14777757995Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
14777757996Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
14777757997trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
14777757998frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
14777757999Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
14777758000frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
14777758001Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
14777758002Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
14777758003gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
14777758004memory of painpeaks and ends109
14777758005smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
14777758006groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
14777758007grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
14777758008make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
14777758009perception =mood + motivation114
14777758010consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
14777758011circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
14777758012circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
14777758013What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
14777758014The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
14777758015sleep 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
14777758016purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
14777758017insomniacan't sleep122
14777758018narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
14777758019sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
14777758020night terrorsprevalent in children125
14777758021sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
14777758022dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
14777758023purpose 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
147777580241. 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
14777758025depressantsslows neural pathways130
14777758026alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
14777758027barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
14777758028opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
14777758029stimulantshypes neural processing134
14777758030methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
14777758031caffeine((stimulant))136
14777758032nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
14777758033cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
14777758034hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
14777758035ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
14777758036LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
14777758037marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
14777758038learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
14777758039types of learningclassical operant observational144
14777758040famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
14777758041famous operant psychologistSkinner146
14777758042famous observational psychologistsBandura147
14777758043classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
14777758044Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
14777758045Watson'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
14777758046generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
14777758047discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
14777758048extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
14777758049spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
14777758050operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
14777758051Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
14777758052shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
14777758053reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
14777758054punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
14777758055fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
14777758056variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
14777758057organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
14777758058fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
14777758059variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
14777758060these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
14777758061Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
14777758062criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
14777758063intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
14777758064extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
14777758065Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
14777758066famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
14777758067famous observational psychologistBandura172
14777758068mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
14777758069Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
14777758070observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
14777758071habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
14777758072examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
14777758073serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
14777758074LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
14777758075CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
14777758076glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
14777758077glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
14777758078flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
14777758079amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
14777758080cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
14777758081hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
14777758082memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
14777758083processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
14777758084encodinginformation going in189
14777758085storagekeeping information in190
14777758086retrievaltaking information out191
14777758087How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
14777758088How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
14777758089How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
14777758090How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
14777758091How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
14777758092short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
14777758093working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
14777758094working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
14777758095How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
14777758096implicit memorynaturally do201
14777758097explicit memoryneed to explain202
14777758098automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
14777758099effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
14777758100spacing effectspread out learning over time205
14777758101serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
14777758102primary effectremember the first things in a list207
14777758103recency effectremember the last things in a list208
14777758104effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
14777758105semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
14777758106if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
14777758107misinformation effectnot correct information212
14777758108imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
14777758109source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
14777758110primingassociation (setting you up)215
14777758111contextenvironment helps with memory216
14777758112state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
14777758113mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
14777758114forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
14777758115the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
14777758116proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
14777758117retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
14777758118children can't remember before age __3223
14777758119Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
14777758120prototypesgeneralize225
14777758121problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
14777758122against problem-solvingfixation227
14777758123mental setwhat has worked in the past228
14777758124functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
14777758125Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
14777758126Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
14777758127grammar is _________universal232
14777758128phonemessmallest sound unit233
14777758129morphemessmallest 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!