AP Psych shower curtain (FULL REVIEW)

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Independent Variable (IV)

The type of model the child observes (aggressive vs. non-aggressive behavior toward the doll).

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Dependent Variable (DV)

The level of aggressive behavior the child exhibits toward the doll.

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Method

Laboratory Experiment.

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Sampling/Assignment - Random Sampling

No (Bandura used children from the Stanford University Nursery).

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Sampling/Assignment - Random Assignment

Yes (children were randomly assigned to different groups to ensure existing aggression levels didn't bias the results).

Types of data - Quantitative Data

Deals with numbers and things that can be measured objectively.

Types of data - Qualitative Data

Deals with descriptions and meanings that cannot be measured by numbers.

Informed Consent

Participants must be told enough about the study to choose if they want to join.

Protection from Harm

Researchers must ensure participants are not put at significant physical or psychological risk.

Confidentiality

Individual data must be kept private and anonymous.

Debriefing

After the study, researchers must explain the true purpose and any deception used.

Bell curve

A graph depicting the normal distribution of a dataset.

Skewed distribution

A distribution that is not symmetrical and is distorted to one side.

Nature vs. Nurture debate

The debate whether genetics (nature) or environment (nurture) more significantly influence behavior and traits.

Evolutionary perspective’s view of psychology

Behaviors like phobias, food preferences, and mating rituals are seen as 'adaptive' traits.

Divisions of Nervous System

Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that controls reflex actions.

Resting Potential

The neuron is 'charged', with more sodium outside and potassium inside.

Threshold

The minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

All-or-Nothing Response

A neuron either fires completely or not at all.

Depolarization

Sodium channels open, making the inside of the cell positive.

Refractory Period

The phase where the neuron cannot fire again until it resets its ion balance.

Reuptake

The process where the sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitters from the synapse.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter associated with reward, pleasure, and motor movement.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation, hunger, and sleep.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter associated with alertness and arousal.

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory.

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter that calms down neuronal activity.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters involved in pain control and euphoria.

Substance P

Neurotransmitter that sends pain messages to the brain.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter associated with muscle action, learning, and memory.

Adrenaline

Hormone that increases heart rate and triggers the 'fight or flight' response.

Leptin

Hormone that signals satiety and regulates long-term energy.

Ghrelin

Hormone that signals hunger.

Melatonin

Hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Oxytocin

Hormone involved in bonding, trust, and social connection.

Depressants

Substances that slow CNS activity and reduce inhibitions.

Stimulants

Substances that speed up CNS activity and increase heart rate.

Hallucinogens

Substances that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images without input.

Hindbrain

Part of the brain that controls life-sustaining functions.

Medulla

Brain structure responsible for breathing and heart rate.

Pons

Brain structure that regulates sleep and facial expressions.

Cerebellum

Brain structure that coordinates balance and fine motor movements.

Midbrain

Part of the brain that controls arousal and consciousness.

Frontal Lobe

Lobe responsible for executive functions, planning, and personality.

Parietal Lobe

Lobe responsible for spatial sense and touch.

Occipital Lobe

Lobe responsible for visual processing.

Temporal Lobe

Lobe responsible for auditory processing.

Circadian Rhythm

Our internal 24-hour biological clock.

Disruptions of Circadian Rhythm

Jet Lag and Shift Work can disrupt the body's internal clock.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

Theory that dreams arise from the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural firing.

Consolidation Theory

Theory that sleep helps process the day's experiences and solidify memories.

Restoration Theory

Theory that sleep allows the body to repair and rejuvenate itself.

Memory Consolidation

Neural process of stabilizing a memory trace after initial acquisition.

Insomnia

Persistent problems falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

Sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A disorder where a person acts out their dreams.

Sleep Apnea

Temporary cessations of breathing during sleep.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking, typically occurring during deep sleep.

Absolute Threshold

Minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

Difference Threshold (JND)

Minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection.

Sensory Interaction

The principle that one sense may influence another.

Eye - Lens

Focuses light onto the retina.

Eye - Pupil

The opening that allows light to enter the eye.

Eye - Iris

The muscle that controls the size of the pupil.

Eye - Cornea

The protective outer layer of the eye that bends light.

Eye - Blind Spot

The area where the optic nerve leaves the eye, lacking receptors.

Eye - Retina

The back of the eye containing photoreceptors.

Eye - Fovea

The center of the retina responsible for sharp vision.

Color Theories - Opponent-process theory

The visual system processes colors in pairs.

Color Theories - Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

The retina has three types of color receptors: Red, Green, and Blue.

Pitch Theories - Place Theory

We hear pitch based on where sound waves trigger activity in the cochlea.

Pitch Theories - Frequency Theory

The brain reads pitch from the frequency of neural impulses.

Pitch Theories - Volley Principle

Neurons fire in rapid succession to achieve higher frequencies.

Hearing Loss - Sensorineural

Hearing loss due to damage to hair cells or auditory nerve.

Hearing Loss - Conduction

Hearing loss due to damage to the mechanical system of the ear.

Olfaction (smell)

Perception of odors and chemicals.

Gustation (taste)

Perception of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami flavors.

Touch

Perception of pressure, pain, and temperature.

Vestibular sense

Sense of balance and body orientation.

Kinesthetic sense

Sense of position of body parts.

Bottom-up processing

Processing that builds from sensory input to the whole.

Top-down processing

Processing that uses prior knowledge and expectations.

Gestalt Principle - Closure

Filling in gaps to create a complete object.

Gestalt Principle - Figure-Ground

Organizing a visual field into objects (figures) that stand out from their background (ground).

Gestalt Principle - Proximity

Grouping nearby figures together.

Gestalt Principle - Similarity

Grouping similar figures together.

Depth cues - Monocular

Cues that require one eye for depth perception.

Depth cues - Binocular

Cues that require two eyes for depth perception.

Stroboscopic motion

Illusion of motion created by a series of images shown in rapid succession.

Phi phenomenon

Illusion of movement when stationary lights blink on and off in succession.

Autokinetic effect

Perceived motion of a still light in a dark environment.

Change Blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment.

Inattentive Blindness

Failing to see visible objects when attention is directed elsewhere.

Cocktail Party effect

Ability to focus auditory attention on a specific stimulus while filtering out other stimuli.

Selective attention

Focusing on specific, relevant stimuli while ignoring others.

Perceptual set

Expectation influences perception.

Schema

Mental framework that helps organize and interpret information.

Assimilation

Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adapting current understandings to incorporate new information.