AP Psychology — Unit 2

Perception

The process by which individuals interpret and organize sensory information to understand their environment. It involves recognizing, organizing, and making sense of sensory input.

Visual perceptual processes

Involves the interpretation and organization of visual stimuli to help individuals understand their environment.

Cognition

The mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding.

Sensory Memory

Brief storage of sensory information, lasting only a few seconds, allowing for quick evaluations of incoming stimuli.

Short-term Memory

Limited capacity for holding information temporarily (typically 7 ± 2 items). Essential for immediate cognitive tasks and problem-solving.

Long-term Memory

Permanent storage for information that can last from minutes to a lifetime.

Explicit Memory (Declarative)

Facts and experiences that one can consciously recall.

Implicit Memory (Non-declarative)

Skills and conditioned responses that are performed without conscious thought.

Working Memory

A limited capacity system that temporarily holds and manipulates information for cognitive tasks such as reasoning and comprehension.

Information Processing Model

Describes how information is processed through three stages—Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval.

Encoding

Transforming sensory input into a form that can be stored.

Storage

The maintenance of information over time, categorizing it appropriately within the brain's systems.

Retrieval

Accessing stored information when needed, essential for effective memory recall.

Decay Theory

Suggests that memories fade over time if they are not accessed.

Interference Theory

Proposes that other information can disrupt the retrieval of memories, either proactively (old affects new) or retroactively (new affects old).

Forgetting Curve

A graph that depicts the decline of memory retention over time.

Cognitive Biases

Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.

Confirmation Bias

A tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms existing preconceptions.

Functional Fixedness

Limits problem-solving by constraining individuals to think of objects only in their conventional roles.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb used to make decisions.

Schema

Mental frameworks for organizing information.