Psychology Lecture Notes Review

Practice flashcards based on key concepts from psychology lecture notes.

Sensation vs. Perception

Sensation is the process of detecting stimuli from the environment, while perception is the brain’s interpretation of these sensory signals.

Transduction

The process of converting physical stimuli into neural signals that the brain can process.

Absolute Threshold

The minimum stimulus intensity required for detection 50% of the time.

Weber’s Law

States that the just noticeable difference (JND) is proportional to the magnitude of the original stimulus.

Bottom-up Processing

Processing that begins with raw sensory input before interpretation.

Top-down Processing

Processing influenced by prior experiences, expectations, and context.

Signal Detection Theory

Explains how we detect signals amid background noise factoring in expectations and experience.

Selective Attention

Focusing on one stimulus while ignoring others.

Depth Cues

Visual information from both binocular (retinal disparity) and monocular (linear perspective) cues.

Perceptual Constancy

Recognizing an object as the same despite changes in lighting or angle.

Classical Conditioning

A form of learning where two stimuli are repeatedly paired to elicit a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that automatically triggers a response without prior learning.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

A form of learning where behaviors are reinforced or punished based on their consequences.

Reinforcement

Increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Punishment

Decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing and imitating others.

Insight Learning

A sudden understanding of a problem's solution without trial-and-error.

Memory Encoding

The process of getting information into memory.

Retrieval

Accessing stored information from memory.

Explicit Memory

Intentionally recalled memories, such as facts or events.

Implicit Memory

Unconsciously retrieved memories, such as skills.

Misinformation Effect

False memories created by misleading information encountered post-event.

Cognitive Biases

Heuristics that can lead to errors in judgment.

Growth Mindset

The belief that abilities can be developed.

Fixed Mindset

The belief that abilities are static and unchangeable.