AP Psych All Vocab

24 character strengths and virtues

a system used to organize positive human qualities into broader categories such as wisdom, courage, and justice.

Absolute Threshold

the weakest amount of stimulation that can still be noticed half the time.

Accommodation

adjusting existing mental ideas or, in vision, changing the shape of the eye’s lens to focus clearly.

Achievement Motivation

the internal drive to meet goals, succeed, and perform at a high standard.

Achievement Test

an assessment meant to measure knowledge or skills already learned.

Acquisition

the beginning phase of learning when a connection or behavior starts to develop and strengthen.

Action Potential

a rapid electrical signal that travels through a neuron to transmit information.

Active Listening

a communication technique involving careful attention, reflection, and clarification to show understanding.

actor-observer bias

the tendency to explain our own actions using outside situations while explaining others’ actions using personality traits.

Acute Schizophrenia

a form of schizophrenia that appears suddenly, often after stress, and usually has a better chance of recovery.

adaptation-level phenomenon

the tendency to judge experiences compared to what has become normal from past experiences.

addiction

compulsive engagement in a substance or behavior despite harmful effects.

adolescence

the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood marked by increasing independence.

aerobic exercise

continuous physical activity that improves heart and lung functioning while reducing stress.

affiliation need

the desire to connect with others and belong to a social group.

aggression

behavior intended to hurt someone physically or emotionally.

agonist

a substance that increases or imitates the effects of a neurotransmitter.

agoraphobia

intense fear of situations where escape or help might feel difficult during panic or loss of control.

algorithm

a step-by-step problem-solving procedure that guarantees a solution if followed correctly.

all-or-none response

the principle that a neuron either fires completely or not at all.

alpha waves

slower brain activity linked with relaxed wakefulness.

altruism

helping others without expecting personal gain.

amygdala

a small brain structure strongly involved in processing emotions such as fear and aggression.

androgyny

showing a blend of traits traditionally associated with both masculinity and femininity.

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder involving severe food restriction, distorted body image, and dangerously low body weight.

antagonist

a substance that blocks or reduces the action of a neurotransmitter.

anterograde amnesia

the inability to create new long-term memories after an injury or event.

antianxiety drugs

medications used to reduce feelings of fear, nervousness, or agitation.

antidepressant drugs

medications designed to improve mood and treat disorders related to depression or anxiety.

antipsychotic drugs

medications used to manage severe disturbances in thinking and perception.

antisocial behavior

actions that are harmful, disruptive, or damaging to others or society.

antisocial personality disorder

a disorder marked by disregard for others’ rights, lack of guilt, and often manipulative or aggressive behavior.

anxiety disorders

psychological disorders involving overwhelming fear, worry, or nervousness that interferes with daily life.

aphasia

difficulty using or understanding language caused by brain damage.

approach and avoidance motives

drives that push individuals either toward desired outcomes or away from unwanted ones.

aptitude test

an assessment intended to predict future ability or performance.

asexual

experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others.

assimilation

interpreting new information using existing mental frameworks.

association areas

regions of the brain involved in complex thinking, memory, language, and learning rather than direct sensory or motor functions.

associative learning

learning that occurs when connections are formed between events, behaviors, or stimuli.

attachment

a strong emotional bond, especially between children and caregivers.

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

a disorder involving persistent problems with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity.

attitudes

feelings or beliefs that influence reactions toward people, objects, or events.

attribution theory

the idea that people explain behavior by linking it either to personality traits or outside situations.

audition

the process or sense of hearing.

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

a developmental disorder involving challenges with communication, social interaction, and flexible behavior patterns.

autokinetic effect

the false perception that a stationary point of light is moving in darkness.

automatic processing

the unconscious encoding of routine or familiar information.

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

the division of the nervous system that controls involuntary body functions such as heartbeat and digestion.

availability heuristic

estimating how common or likely something is based on how easily examples come to mind.

aversive conditioning

a learning method that pairs an unwanted behavior with an unpleasant experience to reduce the behavior.

axon

the long part of a neuron that carries messages away from the cell body.

babbling stage

an early language stage in which infants begin making repetitive speechlike sounds.

barbiturates

depressant drugs that slow nervous system activity and can impair thinking and memory.

basal metabolic rate

the amount of energy the body uses while at rest.

basic trust

Erikson’s idea that infants develop confidence that the world is dependable when caregivers are responsive.

behavior feedback effect

the tendency for actions to influence emotions, thoughts, and future behavior.

behavior genetics

the study of how heredity and environment influence behavior.

behavior therapy

treatment that applies learning principles to change unwanted actions.

behavioral approach

a perspective emphasizing how learning shapes personality and behavior.

behaviorism

the view that psychology should focus on observable behavior rather than internal mental processes.

belief perseverance

holding onto beliefs even after the supporting evidence has been disproven.

Big Five factors

five broad dimensions commonly used to describe personality traits.

binocular cue

a depth perception clue that requires both eyes working together.

biological psychology

the study of how biological processes influence behavior and mental activity.

biomedical therapy

treatments that directly affect the body’s physical processes, often through medication or medical procedures.

biopsychosocial approach

an approach that explains behavior using biological, psychological, and social influences together.

bipolar disorders

mood disorders involving shifts between depressive lows and periods of unusually elevated energy or mood.

bipolar I disorder

a severe type of bipolar disorder involving intense manic episodes.

bipolar II disorder

a milder form of bipolar disorder involving depression and less extreme elevated moods.

blind spot

the area of the retina where the optic nerve exits and no visual receptors are present.

blindsight

the ability to respond to visual information without consciously seeing it.

bottom-up processing

perception that begins with sensory input and builds toward interpretation in the brain.

brainstem

the lower brain region responsible for automatic survival functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

broaden-and-build theory

the idea that positive emotions expand thinking and help develop long-term resilience and skills.

Broca’s area

a region of the frontal lobe important for producing speech.

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder involving binge eating followed by behaviors intended to prevent weight gain.

burnout

emotional, physical, or mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or overload.

bystander effect

the reduced likelihood of helping someone when other people are also present.

case study

an in-depth investigation of a person or small group used to gain broader insights.

catharsis

the theory that expressing aggressive feelings reduces aggressive impulses.

Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory

a theory describing intelligence as a combination of general ability and specific cognitive skills.

cell body

the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus and maintains the cell’s functioning.

central executive

the working memory component responsible for directing attention and coordinating mental tasks.

central nervous system (CNS)

the body system made up of the brain and spinal cord.

central route persuasion

attitude change that occurs through careful evaluation of arguments and evidence.

cerebellum

the brain structure involved in coordination, balance, and certain forms of learning.

cerebral cortex

the outer layer of the brain responsible for advanced thinking, perception, and voluntary movement.

change blindness

failing to notice visible changes in the environment.

character strengths and virtues

a framework for identifying and grouping positive personal qualities.

chronic schizophrenia

a long-lasting form of schizophrenia with symptoms that typically worsen over time.

chunking

grouping information into meaningful units to improve memory.

circadian rhythm

the body’s internal 24-hour cycle regulating sleep, alertness, and other functions.

classical conditioning

learning through association when one stimulus comes to predict another.

cochlea

the spiral-shaped inner ear structure that transforms sound vibrations into neural signals.

cochlear implant

a device that sends electrical signals to the auditory nerve to aid hearing.

cognition

all mental activities involved in thinking, learning, remembering, and problem-solving.

cognitive dissonance theory

the idea that people feel discomfort when beliefs and actions conflict, motivating them to reduce the inconsistency.

cognitive learning

acquiring knowledge through observation, experience, or thinking rather than direct conditioning.

cognitive map

a mental representation of the arrangement of an environment.