AP PSYCH U0: AMSCO Vocab

Psychoanalytic Approach

focuses on unconscious drives, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts to explain behavior.

Behavioral Approach

studies observable behavior and emphasizes the role of learning and environment.

Cognitive Approach

examines internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

Humanistic Approach

examines internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

Sociocultural Approach

focuses on how culture, social norms, and environment influence behavior and mental processes.

Biological Approach

explores how genetics, brain structures, and neurotransmitters influence behavior.

Evolutionary Approach

explains behavior in terms of natural selection and survival advantages.

Biopsychosocial Approach

integrates biological, psychological, and social factors to understand behavior.

Cultural Norms

shared expectations and rules guiding behavior of people within social groups.

Cognitive Bias

systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in judgment and decision-making.

Confirmation Bias

tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's beliefs.

Hindsight Bias

tendency to believe, after an outcome, that one would have predicted it ("I knew it all along").

Overconfidence Bias

tendency to overestimate one's knowledge, predictions, or abilities.

Qualitative Data

non-numerical data collection methods like interviews and open-ended questions to understand meaning.

Quantitative Data

involves collecting numerical data and statistical analysis to understand phenomena.

Experimental Methodology

research method involving controlled conditions to determine cause and effect.

Independent Variable

the factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

the outcome or effect that is measured in an experiment.

Random Assignment

assigning participants to experimental or control groups by chance to reduce bias.

Case Study

in-depth analysis of a single individual or group to explore uncommon phenomena.

Correlational Study

measures the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.

Positive Correlation

a relationship where two variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

a relationship where one variable increases as the other decreases.

Meta-Analysis

statistical technique combining results from multiple studies to identify patterns.

Naturalistic Observation

observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

Hypothesis

a testable prediction or educated guess about the relationship between variables.

Representative Sample

a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population being studied.

Sampling Bias

when a sample does NOT accurately represent the population.

Random Sampling

every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Convenience Sampling

using a sample that is easy to access rather than random.

Placebo Effect

when participants experience changes due to their expectations rather than the treatment.

Single Blind Study

participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.

Double Blind Study

neither participants nor researchers know who is in the experimental or control group.

Experimenter Bias

when a researcher's expectations influence the outcome of a study.

Third Variable Problem

a situation where an outside variable influences both variables in a study, creating a false correlation.

Self-Reporting Bias

participants may misrepresent themselves when answering surveys or interviews.

Social Desirability Bias

participants may misrepresent themselves when answering surveys or interviews.