AP psych unit 5

relearning

learning something for the second time; often faster than the first

encoding

process of getting info into the memory system

retrieval

process of recovering or recalling info from memory storage

recognition

retrieving memory w the aid of one or more cues

recall

retrieving memory w/o cues

parallel processing

processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously

ex; driving a car while talking otp and listening to music

dual processing

information is processed simultaneously on sperate conscious and unconscious tracks

working memory

active processing of incoming auditory and visual info; everything you’re currently thinking ab

explicit memory

conscious memory of facts and events that one can consciously know and declare

effortful processing

encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

implicit memory

unconscious and automatic memory - includes procedural memory

ex; remembering how to ride a bike after not riding one for awhile

echoic memory

momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; sounds and words can be recovered within 3-4 seconds if attention is elsewhere

chunking

organizing info into familiar, manageable units

ex; organizing info into main topics

spacing effect

long term retention is better achieved by using distributed practice rather than massed study

testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving info

shallow processing

encoding on a basic lvl, requires v little elaboration and focuses on superficial traits

deep processing

encoding based on meaning (semantic)

semantic memory

explicit memory of facts and general knowledge

ex; remembering state capitals

episodic memory

explicit memory of personally experienced events

ex; first time going to the beach

flash bulb memory

clear, sustained memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

long term potentiation (LTP)

increase in a cells firing potential after a brief, rapid stimulation.

priming

activation of certain associations, thus predisposing ones perception, memory, or response

ex; saying the word yellow and thinking of lemons or bananas

encoding specificity principle

idea that cues and contexts related to a memory will be most effective in helping us recall it

mood congruent memory

tendency to recall experiences consistent with ones mood

ex; you’re mad and you think ab and event that made you mad

serial position effect

tendency to recall the last and first items on a list

anterograde amnesia

inability to form new memories

retrograde amnesia

inability to retrieve old memories

infantile amnesia

inability to remember things before the age of 2-4

proactive interference

old info interferes with the recall of new info

retroactive interference

learning new info interferes with recalling old info

misinformation effect

when misleading info distorts ones memory of an event

ex; did you see the broken light vs. did you see a broken light

source amnesia (misattribution)

inability to remember where or hoe a memory was acquired

convergent thinking

narrowing down available problem solutions to determine the single best solution

ex; eliminating answers on a test

divergent thinking

expanding the # of possible solutions; creative thinking

heuristic

quick judgements usually based on experience to solve a problem; doesn’t garuntee a solution

ex; jigglying your car keys to start your car

availability heuristic

making decisions based off of what comes to mind easily

representative heuristic

making a decision by comparing it to how well it represents a prototype

ex; racial profiling in criminal investigations

confirmation bias

tendency to search for info that supports our opinions & ignore info that contradicts us

fixation

inability to see a problem from a new perspective

mental set

tendency to stick to what is familiar/ what has worked in the past

belief perseverence

holding onto our beliefs in the face of contradictory concrete evidence

anchoring bias

tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of info you encounter

framing

the way a problem is presented to someone

phoneme

smallest distinctive sound unit in language

telegraphic speech

early stage in speech where child talks like a telegram; “go car”

morpheme

smallest unit that carries meaning in language

linguistic determinism

idea that language controls that way we think and interpret the world around us

linguistic influence

weaker form of linguistic relativity; the idea that language affects thought

linguistic relativity

the less similar two languages are, the more diverse the conceptualization of the world will be

general intelligence

g factor; ability of individuals to solve complex problems

factor analysis

statistical method that identifies common causes of variance in diff tests

ex; people who get high scores on a test of verbal ability, are also good at other tests that require verbal ability

savant syndrome

a condition in which a person is otherwise limited in mental ability, has an exceptional specific skill

ex; piano guy in the one ep of house

mental age

level of performance typically associated w children of a certain chronological age

stanford binet test

widely used american revision of binets original intelligence test

wechsler adult intelligence scale

most widely used intelligence test; measures IQ

cohort

a group of people sharing a common characteristic

crystalized intelligence

accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; increases w age

fluid intelligence

our ability to reason speedily and abstractly; decreases w adulthood

stereotype threat

self confirming concern that one will be evaluated on a negative stereotype

internal reliability

whether the test is consistent within itself; measured by using split half method

external reliability

whether the test us consistent from one use to another