AP PSYCH TEST

cognitive bias

jumping to conclusions your brain based off of personal experiences that might not be accurate

hindsight bias

believing that you knew the result from the beginning after finding out the result

overconfidence

believing that you know more than you really do

perceived order in random events

people seek patterns to comfort themselves in a world that it out of their control

scientific method

an experimental process that psychological scientists use to test their theories

theory

an explanation using organized observations

hypothesis

predictions that are tested in theories

operational definitions

carefully worded reports to replicated the original report. used to avoid bias

replicate

repeating original results in a study to check for new observations or common results

confounding variables

other factors in an experiment besides the independent and dependent variable that can affect the outcomes of the experiment

experiment

a way to research certain things by controlling one group and manipulating the other

independent variable

the factor in an experiment that is being manipulated to study and form observations

dependent variable

the factor in an experiment that’s outcome is being studied based on the independent variable

population

the group of people could get studied in an experiment

sample

the group within the population that is studied in the research

random sample

randomly selecting people in society to be part of an experiment

random assignment

randomly assigning people to different experimental groups to receive the most accurate results in an experiment

control group

the group within the experiment that does not change (constant)

experimental group

the group within the experiment that changes to experiment and manipulate the data to find new observations

single bind

when those who are being experimented on are unknowing of the comparison between two factors

double bind

when those who are being experimented on and those who are administering the experiment are unknowing of the comparison between two factors

naturalistic observation

observing subjects in their natural environment

survey

administered to collect data about opinions, attitudes, and reported behaviors (self-report)

case study

studying one person/group by following the history of the event rather than experimenting

meta-analysis

compares the results of multiple studies to get a more reliable conclusion

longitudinal study

one group of subjects is studied over a longer period of time

cross-sectional

studies data from multiple different groups of people at one point in time

validity

the extent to which a test/study measures what it’s supposed to measure

placebo

fake treatment to the control group so they get the placebo effect

correlational

when two things have a similar relationship (observed. does not=causation)

positive correlation

two things up (positive) (more study=better grades)

negative correlation

one up, one down (more daydream=worse grades)

Institutional Review Boards

reviews all research with human participants to make sure there are minimal risks when being researched (contract, debrief, etc.)

descriptive statistics

mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, normal distribution (summarize and describe data)

mean

average (all numbers/number of numbers)

median

middle number

mode

most common number

range

difference between the highest and lowest number

standard deviation

distance average data set is from the mean

inferential statistics

used to check if results are reliable or chance

statistical significance

a research finding is unlikely to have occurred due to random chance or error, but rather indicates a "real" effect or difference

heredity/nature

innate; inborn; present at birth; part of the organism's biological heritage

environment/nurture

every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

evolutionary perspective

perspective that focuses on the biological bases of universal mental characteristics that all humans share

natural selection

The driving force behind evolution, by which the environment "selects" the fittest organisms.

eugenics

the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics

twin studies

a common method of investigating whether nature or nurture affects behavior

family studies

researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble one another on a specific trait

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord. directs mental and basic life processes

brain

The mass of nerve tissue that is the main control center of the nervous system (directs mental processes and maintains life)

spinal cord

Nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between the body and brain

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

somatic nervous system (SNS)

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles (voluntary)

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms. (involuntary)

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. receives and sends electrochemical info throughout brain and body

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons. 90% of brain cells.

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

all-or-nothing principle

either the neuron fires or it doesn't. stronger stimulus will cause a cell to fire quicker. various neurons transmit at diff speeds

depolarization

once the action of potential occurs, the # of positive ions exceeds the # of negative ions in this segment and the segment temporarily becomes positively charged

refractory period

a brief time after the firing of the axon in which the axon cannot fire again bc the neuron has not yet returned to resting potential

resting potential

a state in which the interior of the neuron contains a greater # of negativity charged ions than does the area outside the cell

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

multiple sclerosis

myelin sheath destruction. disruptions in nerve impulse conduction

myasthenia gravis

a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction and produces serious weakness of voluntary muscles

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

dopamine

produces sensations of pleasure and reward

serotonin

regulates sleep, dreaming, mood, pain, aggression, appetite, and sexual behavior

norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation

glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in learning and memory

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in neurons of the central nervous system

endorphins

"morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

substance P

A neurotransmitter that is involved in the transmission of pain messages to the brain.

acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

adrenaline (epinephrine)

A hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress

leptin

A hormone produced by adipose (fat) cells that acts as a satiety factor in regulating appetite.

gherlin

hormone produced by your stomach when your hungry

melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness (circadian rhythms)

oxytocin

A hormone released by the posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding as well as social bonding and emotional connections in relationships ("love hormone")

agonists

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

antagonists

drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

reuptake inhibitor

substance that interferes with the transport of released neurotransmitter molecules back into the presynaptic terminal

stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

caffeine

a mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and several other plant-based substances

cocaine

a powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

alchohol

causes CNS to relax. sedation/loss of consciousness

heroin

narcotic drug derived from opium that is extremely addictive (depressive)

hallucinogens

psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

marijuana

A plant whose leaves, buds, and flowers are usually smoked for their intoxicating effects

opioids

Any drug or agent with actions similar to morphine.

tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences