Theories to know for AP Psych

Opponent-Process Theory

Explains afterimages and color vision as opposing pairs (e.g., black/white, yellow/blue, green/red); activation of one color inhibits its opposite.

Frequency Theory

Suggests that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, enabling us to sense pitch.

Place Theory

Posits that perception of pitch is based on the place along the basilar membrane that is stimulated.

Gate-Control Theory

Explains how the nervous system blocks or allows pain signals to pass to the brain; 'gates' in the spinal cord can be opened or closed by neural activity.

Drive-Reduction Theory

Physiological needs create aroused tension (drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need; aim is to maintain homeostasis.

James-Lange Theory

Emotions arise from awareness of specific bodily responses to emotion-arousing stimuli; the sequence is Stimulus → Physiological Response → Emotion.

Cannon-Bard Theory

Emotion-arousing stimuli trigger physiological responses and subjective experience of emotion simultaneously.

Two-Factor Theory (Schachter-Singer)

To experience emotion, one must be aroused and cognitively label the arousal.