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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9711344778psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
9711344779psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
9711344780psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
9711344781biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
9711344782evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
9711344783psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
9711344784behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
9711344785cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
9711344786humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
9711344787social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
9711344788two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
9711344789types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
9711344790descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
9711344791case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
9711344792surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
9711344793naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
9711344794correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
9711344795correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
9711344796experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
9711344797populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
9711344798sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
9711344799random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
9711344800control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
9711344801experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
9711344802independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
9711344803dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
9711344804confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
9711344805scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
9711344806theorygeneral idea being tested28
9711344807hypothesismeasurable/specific29
9711344808operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
9711344809modeappears the most31
9711344810meanaverage32
9711344811medianmiddle33
9711344812rangehighest - lowest34
9711344813standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
9711344814central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
9711344815bell curve(natural curve)37
9711344816ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
9711344817ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
9711344818sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
9711344819motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
9711344820interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
9711345013neuron43
9711344821dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
9711344822myelin sheathprotects the axon45
9711344823axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
9711344824neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
9711344825reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
9711344826excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
9711344827inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
9711344828central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
9711344829peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
9711344830somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
9711344831autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
9711344832sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
9711344833parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
9711344834neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
9711344835spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
9711344836endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
9711344837master glandpituitary gland60
9711344838brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
9711344839reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
9711344840reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
9711344841brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
9711344842thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
9711344843hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
9711344844cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
9711344845cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
9711344846amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
9711344847amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
9711344848amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
9711344849hippocampusprocess new memory72
9711344850cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
9711344851cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
9711344852association areasintegrate and interpret information75
9711344853glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
9711344854frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
9711344855parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
9711344856temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
9711344857occipital lobevision80
9711344858corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
9711344859Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
9711344860Broca's areaspeaking words83
9711344861plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
9711344862sensationwhat our senses tell us85
9711344863bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
9711344864perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
9711344865top-down processingbrain to senses88
9711344866inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
9711344867cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
9711344868change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
9711344869choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
9711344870absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
9711344871signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
9711344872JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
9711344873sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
9711344874rodsnight time97
9711344875conescolor98
9711344876parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
9711344877Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
9711344878Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
9711344879trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
9711344880frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
9711344881Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
9711344882frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
9711344883Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
9711344884Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
9711344885gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
9711344886memory of painpeaks and ends109
9711344887smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
9711344888groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
9711344889grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
9711344890make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
9711344891perception =mood + motivation114
9711344892consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
9711344893circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
9711344894circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
9711344895What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
9711344896The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
9711344897sleep 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
9711344898purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
9711344899insomniacan't sleep122
9711344900narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
9711344901sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
9711344902night terrorsprevalent in children125
9711344903sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
9711344904dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
9711344905purpose 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
97113449061. 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
9711344907depressantsslows neural pathways130
9711344908alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
9711344909barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
9711344910opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
9711344911stimulantshypes neural processing134
9711344912methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
9711344913caffeine((stimulant))136
9711344914nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
9711344915cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
9711344916hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
9711344917ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
9711344918LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
9711344919marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
9711344920learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
9711344921types of learningclassical operant observational144
9711344922famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
9711344923famous operant psychologistSkinner146
9711344924famous observational psychologistsBandura147
9711344925classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
9711344926Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
9711344927Watson'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
9711344928generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
9711344929discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
9711344930extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
9711344931spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
9711344932operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
9711344933Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
9711344934shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
9711344935reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
9711344936punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
9711344937fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
9711344938variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
9711344939organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
9711344940fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
9711344941variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
9711344942these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
9711344943Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
9711344944criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
9711344945intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
9711344946extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
9711344947Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
9711344948famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
9711344949famous observational psychologistBandura172
9711344950mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
9711344951Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
9711344952observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
9711344953habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
9711344954examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
9711344955serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
9711344956LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
9711344957CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
9711344958glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
9711344959glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
9711344960flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
9711344961amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
9711344962cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
9711344963hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
9711344964memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
9711344965processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
9711344966encodinginformation going in189
9711344967storagekeeping information in190
9711344968retrievaltaking information out191
9711344969How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
9711344970How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
9711344971How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
9711344972How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
9711344973How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
9711344974short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
9711344975working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
9711344976working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
9711344977How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
9711344978implicit memorynaturally do201
9711344979explicit memoryneed to explain202
9711344980automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
9711344981effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
9711344982spacing effectspread out learning over time205
9711344983serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
9711344984primary effectremember the first things in a list207
9711344985recency effectremember the last things in a list208
9711344986effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
9711344987semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
9711344988if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
9711344989misinformation effectnot correct information212
9711344990imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
9711344991source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
9711344992primingassociation (setting you up)215
9711344993contextenvironment helps with memory216
9711344994state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
9711344995mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
9711344996forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
9711344997the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
9711344998proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
9711344999retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
9711345000children can't remember before age __3223
9711345001Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
9711345002prototypesgeneralize225
9711345003problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
9711345004against problem-solvingfixation227
9711345005mental setwhat has worked in the past228
9711345006functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
9711345007Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
9711345008Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
9711345009grammar is _________universal232
9711345010phonemessmallest sound unit233
9711345011morphemessmallest 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!