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

AP Psychology AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9819383507psychologythe study of behavior and mental processes0
9819383508psychology's biggest questionWhich is more important in determining behavior, nature or nurture?1
9819383509psychology's three levels of analysisbiopsychosocial approach (looks at the biological, psychological, and social-cultural approaches together)2
9819383510biological approachgenetics, close-relatives, body functions3
9819383511evolutionary approachspecies - helped with survival (ancestors)4
9819383512psychodynamic approach(Freud) subconscious, repressed feelings, unfulfilled wishes5
9819383513behavioral approachlearning (classical and operant) observed6
9819383514cognitive approachthinking affects behavior7
9819383515humanistic approachbecoming a better human (behavior, acceptance)8
9819383516social-cultural approachcultural, family, environment9
9819383517two reasons of why experiments are importanthindsight bias + overconfidence10
9819383518types of research methodsdescriptive, correlational, and experimental11
9819383519descriptive methodscase study survey naturalistic observation (DON'T SHOW CAUSE/EFFECT)12
9819383520case studystudies one person in depth may not be typical of population13
9819383521surveystudies lots of people not in depth14
9819383522naturalistic observationobserve + write facts without interference15
9819383523correlational methodshows relation, but not cause/effect scatterplots show research16
9819383524correlation coefficient+ 1.0 (both increase) 0 (no correlation - 1.0 (one increases, other decreases)17
9819383525experimental methoddoes show cause and effect18
9819383526populationtype of people who are going to be used in experiment19
9819383527sampleactual people who will be used (randomness reduces bias)20
9819383528random assignmentchance selection between experimental and control groups21
9819383529control groupnot receiving experimental treatment receives placebo22
9819383530experimental groupreceiving treatment/drug23
9819383531independent variabledrug/procedure/treatment24
9819383532dependent variableoutcome of using the drug/treatment25
9819383533confounding variablecan affect dependent variable beyond experiment's control26
9819383534scientific methodtheory hypothesis operational definition revision27
9819383535theorygeneral idea being tested28
9819383536hypothesismeasurable/specific29
9819383537operational definitionprocedures that explain components30
9819383538modeappears the most31
9819383539meanaverage32
9819383540medianmiddle33
9819383541rangehighest - lowest34
9819383542standard deviationhow scores vary around the mean35
9819383543central tendencysingle score that represents the whole36
9819383544bell curve(natural curve)37
9819383545ethics of testing on animalsneed to be treated humanly basically similar to humans38
9819383546ethics of testing on humansconsent debriefing no unnecessary discomfort/pain confidentiality39
9819383547sensory neuronstravel from sensory receptors to brain40
9819383548motor neuronstravel from brain to "motor" workings41
9819383549interneurons(in brain and spinal cord) connecting motor and sensory neurons42
9819383845neuron43
9819383550dendritesreceive messages from other neurons44
9819383551myelin sheathprotects the axon45
9819383552axonwhere charges travel from cell body to axon terminal46
9819383553neurotransmitterschemical messengers47
9819383554reuptakeextra neurotransmitters are taken back48
9819383555excitatory charge"Let's do it!"49
9819383556inhibitory charge"Let's not do it!"50
9819383557central nervous systembrain and spinal cord51
9819383558peripheral nervous systemsomatic nervous system autonomic nervous system52
9819383559somatic nervous systemvoluntary movements53
9819383560autonomic nervous systeminvoluntary movements (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems)54
9819383561sympathetic nervous systemarousing55
9819383562parasympathetic nervous systemcalming56
9819383563neural networksmore connections form with greater use others fall away if not used57
9819383564spinal cordexpressway of information bypasses brain when reflexes involved58
9819383565endocrine systemslow uses hormones in the blood system59
9819383566master glandpituitary gland60
9819383567brainstemextension of the spinal cord responsible for automatic survival61
9819383568reticular formation (if stimulated)sleeping subject wakes up62
9819383569reticular formation (if damaged)coma63
9819383570brainstem (if severed)still move (without purpose)64
9819383571thalamussensory switchboard (does not process smell)65
9819383572hypothalamusbasic behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex, blood chemistry)66
9819383573cerebellumnonverbal memory, judge time, balance emotions, coordinate movements67
9819383574cerebellum (if damaged)difficulty walking and coordinating68
9819383575amygdalaaggression, fear, and memory associated with these emotions69
9819383576amygdala (if lesioned)subject is mellow70
9819383577amygdala (if stimulated)aggressive71
9819383578hippocampusprocess new memory72
9819383579cerebrumtwo large hemispheres perceiving, thinking, and processing73
9819383580cerebral cortexonly in higher life forms74
9819383581association areasintegrate and interpret information75
9819383582glial cellsprovide nutrients to myelin sheath marks intelligence higher proportion of glial cells to neurons76
9819383583frontal lobejudgement, personality, processing (Phineas Gage accident)77
9819383584parietal lobemath and spatial reasoning78
9819383585temporal lobeaudition and recognizing faces79
9819383586occipital lobevision80
9819383587corpus callosumsplit in the brain to stop hyper-communication (eliminate epileptic seizures)81
9819383588Wernicke's areainterprets auditory and hearing82
9819383589Broca's areaspeaking words83
9819383590plasticityability to adapt if damaged84
9819383591sensationwhat our senses tell us85
9819383592bottom-up processingsenses to brain86
9819383593perceptionwhat our brain tells us to do with that information87
9819383594top-down processingbrain to senses88
9819383595inattentional blindnessfail to "gorilla" because attention is elsewhere89
9819383596cocktail party effecteven with tons of stimuli, we are able to pick out our name, etc.90
9819383597change blindnessgiving directions and person is changed and we don't notice91
9819383598choice blindnesswhen defending the choice we make, we fail to notice choice was changed92
9819383599absolute thresholdminimum stimulation needed in order to notice 50% of the time93
9819383600signal detection theorywe notice what is more important to us (rather hear a baby crying)94
9819383601JND (just noticeable difference)(Weber's law) difference between different stimuli noticed in proportion95
9819383602sensory adaptationtired of noticing (Brain says, "Been there, done that. Next?"96
9819383603rodsnight time97
9819383604conescolor98
9819383605parallel processingnotice color, form, depth, movement, etc.99
9819383606Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory3 corresponding color receptors (RGB)100
9819383607Hering's opponent-process theoryafter image in opposite colors (RG, YB, WB)101
9819383608trichromatic + opponent-processYoung-Helmholtz -> color stimuli Hering -> en route to cortex102
9819383609frequency we hear mosthuman voice103
9819383610Helmoltz (hearing)we hear different pitches in different places in basilar membrane (high pitches)104
9819383611frequency theoryimpulse frequency (low pitches)105
9819383612Helmholtz + frequency theorymiddle pitches106
9819383613Skin feels what?warmth, cold, pressure, pain107
9819383614gate-control theorysmall fibers - pain large fibers - other senses108
9819383615memory of painpeaks and ends109
9819383616smellclose to memory section (not in thalamus)110
9819383617groupingGestalt make sense of pieces create a whole111
9819383618grouping groupsproximity similarity continuity connectedness closure112
9819383619make assumptions of placementhigher - farther smaller - farther blocking - closer, in front113
9819383620perception =mood + motivation114
9819383621consciousnessawareness of ourselves and the environment115
9819383622circadian rhythmdaily biological clock and regular cycle (sleep and awake)116
9819383623circadian rhythm pattern- activated by light - light sensitive retinal proteins signal brains SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) - pineal gland decreases melatonin117
9819383624What messes with circadian rhythm?artificial light118
9819383625The whole sleep cycle lasts how long?90 minutes119
9819383626sleep 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
9819383627purpose of sleep1. recuperation - repair neurons and allow unused neural connections to wither 2. making memories 3. body growth (children sleep more)121
9819383628insomniacan't sleep122
9819383629narcolepsyfall asleep anywhere at anytime123
9819383630sleep apneastop breathing in sleep124
9819383631night terrorsprevalent in children125
9819383632sleepwalking/sleeptalkinghereditary - prevalent in children126
9819383633dreaming (3)1. vivid bizarre intense sensory experiences 2. carry fear/survival issues - vestiges of ancestors' survival ideas 2. replay previous day's experiences/worries127
9819383634purpose 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
98193836351. 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
9819383636depressantsslows neural pathways130
9819383637alcohol((depressant)) disrupts memory formation (REM) lowers inhibition expectancy effect131
9819383638barbituates (tranquilizers)((depressant)) reduce anxiety132
9819383639opiates((depressant)) pleasure reduce anxiety/pain133
9819383640stimulantshypes neural processing134
9819383641methamphetamine((stimulant)) heightens energy euphoria affects dopamine135
9819383642caffeine((stimulant))136
9819383643nicotine((stimulant)) CNS releases neurotransmitters calm anxiety reduce pain affects (nor)epinephrine and dopamine137
9819383644cocaine((stimulant)) euphoria affects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine138
9819383645hallucinogenexcites neural activity139
9819383646ecstasy((hallucinogen)) reuptake is blocked affects dopamine and serotonin140
9819383647LSD((hallucinogen)) affects sensory/emotional "trip" (+/-) affects serotonin141
9819383648marijuana((hallucinogen)) amplify sensory experience disrupts memory formation142
9819383649learningorganism changing behavior due to experience (association of events)143
9819383650types of learningclassical operant observational144
9819383651famous classical psychologistsPavlov and Watson145
9819383652famous operant psychologistSkinner146
9819383653famous observational psychologistsBandura147
9819383654classical conditioningoutside stimulus148
9819383655Pavlov's experimentStep 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation) Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation) Later... CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)149
9819383656Watson'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
9819383657generalizationany small, white fluffy creature will make Albert cry now151
9819383658discriminateany large, white fluffy creature won't make Albert cry152
9819383659extinctionstop "treating" with conditioned response153
9819383660spontaneous recoverybring stimulus back after a while154
9819383661operant conditioningcontrol by organism155
9819383662Skinner's experimentoperant chamber / Skinner box (lead to shaping)156
9819383663shapingget animal closer to doing what you want them to do157
9819383664reinforcerswant to continue behavior (positive reinforcement: give money to do laundry) (negative reinforcement: do to avoid nagging)158
9819383665punishmentswant to stop behavior (positive reinforcement: smack) (negative reinforcement: take away phone)159
9819383666fixed ratiohappens a certain number of times (Starbucks punch card)160
9819383667variable ratiohappens an unpredictable number of times (winning the lottery)161
9819383668organism must do these (2 times)fixed ratio and variable ratio162
9819383669fixed intervalhappens at a certain time (mailman comes to the house at 10:00 AM)163
9819383670variable intervalhappens at any time (receive texts from friends)164
9819383671these things happen regardless (2 times)fixed interval and variable interval165
9819383672Which (fixed/variable) conditions better?variable166
9819383673criticisms of Skinnerdoesn't take into account intrinsic motivation167
9819383674intrinsic motivationdoing something for yourself, not the reward168
9819383675extrinsic motivationdoing something for reward169
9819383676Skinner's legacyuse it personally, at school, and at work170
9819383677famous observational experimentBandura's Bobo doll171
9819383678famous observational psychologistBandura172
9819383679mirror neurons"feel" what is observed happens in higher order animals173
9819383680Bobo doll experiment legacyviolent video games/movies desensitize us see good: do good see evil: do evil174
9819383681observational learningbiological behaviors work best175
9819383682habituationget used to it -> stop reacting176
9819383683examples for observational learninglectures and reading177
9819383684serotonin involved with memoryspeeds the connection between neurons178
9819383685LTP((long-term potentiation)) strengthens potential neural forming (associated with speed)179
9819383686CREBprotein that can switch genes on/off with memory and connection of memories180
9819383687glutamate involved with memoryneurotransmitter that enhances LTP181
9819383688glucose involved with memoryreleased during strong emotions ((signaling important event to be remembered))182
9819383689flashbulb memorytype of memory remembered because it was an important/quick moment183
9819383690amygdala (memory)boosts activity of proteins in memory-forming areas to fight/flight184
9819383691cerebellum (memory)forms and stores implicit memories ((classical conditioning))185
9819383692hippocampus (memory)active during sleep (forming memories) ((information "moves" after 48 hours))186
9819383693memorylearning over time contains information that can be retrieved187
9819383694processing stagesencoding -> storage -> retrieval188
9819383695encodinginformation going in189
9819383696storagekeeping information in190
9819383697retrievaltaking information out191
9819383698How long is sensory memory stored?seconds192
9819383699How long is short-term memory stored?less than a minute193
9819383700How many bits of information is stored in short-term memory?7194
9819383701How many chunks of information is stored in short-term memory?4195
9819383702How many seconds of words is stored in short-term memory?2196
9819383703short term memory goes to ______________working memory197
9819383704working memorymake a connection and process information to mean something198
9819383705working memory goes to _________________long-term memory199
9819383706How much is stored in long-term memory?LIMITLESS200
9819383707implicit memorynaturally do201
9819383708explicit memoryneed to explain202
9819383709automatic processingspace, time, frequency, well-learned information203
9819383710effortful processingprocessing that requires effort204
9819383711spacing effectspread out learning over time205
9819383712serial position effectprimary/recency effect206
9819383713primary effectremember the first things in a list207
9819383714recency effectremember the last things in a list208
9819383715effortful processing (4 things)1. recency effect 2. spacing effect 3. testing effect 4. serial position effect209
9819383716semantic encoding (1) meaning (2) how tomake meaning out of something --- chunk, hierarchy, or connect to you210
9819383717if we can't remember a memory...1. change memory to suit us 2. fill in the blanks with logical story211
9819383718misinformation effectnot correct information212
9819383719imagination inflationimagine or visualize something that isn't real213
9819383720source amnesiawhat is the truth? (is it a dream, story, memory, etc.?)214
9819383721primingassociation (setting you up)215
9819383722contextenvironment helps with memory216
9819383723state-dependencyyou may remember something if you go back to the state you were in (go back to high)217
9819383724mood-congruencyemotion will bring back similar emotional memories218
9819383725forgetting curveforget after 5 days forget after 5 years219
9819383726the forgetting curve was created byEbbinghaus220
9819383727proactive interferenceold information interferes with the new221
9819383728retroactive interferencenew information interferes with the old222
9819383729children can't remember before age __3223
9819383730Loftusconnected to abuse cases/childhood224
9819383731prototypesgeneralize225
9819383732problem-solving (4)trial + error algorithms heuristic (representative + availability) insight - "AHA!"226
9819383733against problem-solvingfixation227
9819383734mental setwhat has worked in the past228
9819383735functional fixednessonly way to do this is with this229
9819383736Chomsky (nature or nurture?)"born with language" (nature)230
9819383737Skinner (nature or nurture?)language is learned (nurture)231
9819383738grammar is _________universal232
9819383739phonemessmallest sound unit233
9819383740morphemessmallest 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!