AP Psychology - Review: Intelligence, Testing, & Individual Differences

This set of flashcards covers vocabulary terms and key concepts related to intelligence, testing, and individual differences in psychology.

Definition of Intelligence

A complex and abstract concept encompassing various abilities like learning, problem-solving, and adaptation.

Reify Intelligence

To treat the abstract concept of intelligence as a concrete entity, often oversimplifying it into a single score.

Spearman's Theory

Suggests that intelligence is a single general mental ability.

Multidimensionality

The argument against intelligence as a single capacity, indicating it consists of multiple domains.

Gardner's Theory of Intelligence

Proposes multiple distinct intelligences, such as musical, kinesthetic, and interpersonal.

Sternberg's Triarchic Theory

Views intelligence as a combination of analytical, creative, and practical abilities.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own and others' emotions.

Self-awareness (Emotional Intelligence)

The ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions and their impact on behavior.

Self-regulation (Emotional Intelligence)

The ability to manage one's emotions and reactions in a productive way.

Empathy

The capacity to understand the emotions and perspectives of others.

Social Skills

The ability to build and maintain positive relationships and influence others.

Frontal Lobe Functions

Involved in complex thinking, planning, and problem-solving.

Aptitude Tests

Tests designed to measure a person's potential for learning specific tasks.

Achievement Tests

Tests that measure knowledge and skills acquired through instruction.

Standardizing Psychological Tests

Ensures fairness and consistency in testing by using uniform administration and scoring.

Normal Curve

A model describing the distribution of scores, where most scores cluster around the mean.

Reliability of a Test

The consistency and stability of results obtained from a test over time.

Validity of a Test

The extent to which a test accurately measures the psychological concept it claims to measure.

Heritability of Intelligence

Refers to the proportion of variation in intelligence scores attributable to genetic factors.

Content Validity

The extent to which a test samples the behavior it is supposed to measure.

Predictive Validity

The success with which a test forecasts the behavior it intends to predict.

Growth Mindset

The belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning from experiences.

Fixed Mindset

The belief that abilities and intelligence are static and unchangeable.

Intellectual Disability

Typically defined by an IQ score of 70 or lower, indicating limitations in intellectual functioning.

Giftedness

Typically defined by an IQ score of 130 or higher, indicating high cognitive ability.

Flynn Effect

The observed steady increase in intelligence scores over the last 60 years.

Practical Intelligence

The ability to solve everyday problems using common sense and experience.

Savant Syndrome

A condition of limited mental ability but exceptional specific skill.

Crystallized Intelligence

Accumulated knowledge and verbal skills over time.

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to reason quickly and abstractly.

Standardization

Defining uniform testing procedures and scores by comparison with a pretested group.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

The concept that a belief influences behavior in such a way that it makes the belief come true.

Test-Retest Reliability

A measure of consistency of test results over time.

Criterion Validity

How well a test correlates with an external standard considered accurate.

Mental Age

The chronological age that corresponds to a specific level of performance.

WAIS

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, a widely used intelligence test.

Binet-Simon Scale

The first intelligence test developed by Alfred Binet.

Galton's Contribution

Founder of psychometrics; believed intelligence was largely hereditary.

Thurstone's Theory

Developed the theory of primary mental abilities.

Wechsler's Contribution

Developed widely used intelligence tests like the WAIS and WISC.

Sternberg's Contribution

Known for his theories on intelligence and creativity, particularly the triarchic theory.

Gardner's Contribution

Best known for the theory of multiple intelligences.

Spearman's g Factor

A factor that underlies specific mental abilities measured by intelligence tests.

Down Syndrome

A condition of intellectual disability caused by an extra chromosome 21.