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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13893291780psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
13893291781psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
13893291782psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
13893291783biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
13893291784evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
13893291785psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
13893291786behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
13893291787cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
13893291788humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
13893291789social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
13893291790two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
13893291791types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
13893291792descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
13893291793case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
13893291794surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
13893291795naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
13893291796correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
13893291797correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
13893291798experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
13893291799populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
13893291800sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
13893291801random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
13893291802control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
13893291803experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
13893291804independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
13893291805dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
13893291806confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
13893291807scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
13893291808theorygeneral idea being tested28
13893291809hypothesismeasurable/specific29
13893291810operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
13893291811modeappears the most31
13893291812meanaverage32
13893291813medianmiddle33
13893291814rangehighest - lowest34
13893291815standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
13893291816central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
13893291817bell curve(natural curve)37
13893291818ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
13893291819ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
13893291820sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
13893291821motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
13893291822interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
13893292014neuron43
13893291823dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
13893291824myelin sheathprotects the axon45
13893291825axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
13893291826neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
13893291827reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
13893291828excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
13893291829inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
13893291830central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
13893291831peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
13893291832somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
13893291833autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
13893291834sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
13893291835parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
13893291836neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
13893291837spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
13893291838endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
13893291839master glandpituitary gland60
13893291840brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
13893291841reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
13893291842reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
13893291843brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
13893291844thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
13893291845hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
13893291846cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
13893291847cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
13893291848amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
13893291849amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
13893291850amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
13893291851hippocampusprocess new memory72
13893291852cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
13893291853cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
13893291854association areasintegrate and interpret information75
13893291855glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
13893291856frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
13893291857parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
13893291858temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
13893291859occipital lobevision80
13893291860corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
13893291861Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
13893291862Broca's areaspeaking words83
13893291863plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
13893291864sensationwhat our senses tell us85
13893291865bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
13893291866perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
13893291867top-down processingbrain to senses88
13893291868inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
13893291869cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
13893291870change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
13893291871choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
13893291872absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
13893291873signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
13893291874JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
13893291875sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
13893291876rodsnight time97
13893291877conescolor98
13893291878parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
13893291879Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
13893291880Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
13893291881trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
13893291882frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
13893291883Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
13893291884frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
13893291885Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
13893291886Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
13893291887gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
13893291888memory of painpeaks and ends109
13893291889smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
13893291890groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
13893291891grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
13893291892make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
13893291893perception =mood + motivation114
13893291894consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
13893291895circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
13893291896circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
13893291897What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
13893291898The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
13893291899sleep 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
13893291900purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
13893291901insomniacan't sleep122
13893291902narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
13893291903sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
13893291904night terrorsprevalent in children125
13893291905sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
13893291906dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
13893291907purpose 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
138932919081. 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
13893291909depressantsslows neural pathways130
13893291910alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
13893291911barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
13893291912opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
13893291913stimulantshypes neural processing134
13893291914methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
13893291915caffeine((stimulant))136
13893291916nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
13893291917cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
13893291918hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
13893291919ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
13893291920LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
13893291921marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
13893291922learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
13893291923types of learningclassical operant observational144
13893291924famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
13893291925famous operant psychologistSkinner146
13893291926famous observational psychologistsBandura147
13893291927classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
13893291928Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
13893291929Watson'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
13893291930generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
13893291931discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
13893291932extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
13893291933spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
13893291934operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
13893291935Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
13893291936shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
13893291937reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
13893291938punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
13893291939fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
13893291940variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
13893291941organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
13893291942fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
13893291943variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
13893291944these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
13893291945Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
13893291946criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
13893291947intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
13893291948extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
13893291949Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
13893291950famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
13893291951famous observational psychologistBandura172
13893291952mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
13893291953Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
13893291954observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
13893291955habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
13893291956examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
13893291957serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
13893291958LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
13893291959CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
13893291960glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
13893291961glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
13893291962flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
13893291963amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
13893291964cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
13893291965hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
13893291966memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
13893291967processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
13893291968encodinginformation going in189
13893291969storagekeeping information in190
13893291970retrievaltaking information out191
13893291971How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
13893291972How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
13893291973How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
13893291974How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
13893291975How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
13893291976short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
13893291977working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
13893291978working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
13893291979How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
13893291980implicit memorynaturally do201
13893291981explicit memoryneed to explain202
13893291982automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
13893291983effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
13893291984spacing effectspread out learning over time205
13893291985serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
13893291986primary effectremember the first things in a list207
13893291987recency effectremember the last things in a list208
13893291988effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
13893291989semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
13893291990if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
13893291991misinformation effectnot correct information212
13893291992imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
13893291993source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
13893291994primingassociation (setting you up)215
13893291995contextenvironment helps with memory216
13893291996state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
13893291997mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
13893291998forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
13893291999the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
13893292000proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
13893292001retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
13893292002children can't remember before age __3223
13893292003Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
13893292004prototypesgeneralize225
13893292005problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
13893292006against problem-solvingfixation227
13893292007mental setwhat has worked in the past228
13893292008functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
13893292009Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
13893292010Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
13893292011grammar is _________universal232
13893292012phonemessmallest sound unit233
13893292013morphemessmallest 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!