AP Psych Hard Terms

Actor/Observer Bias

People tend to attribute their own behavior to situational factors, but attribute others' behavior to dispositional factors.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overestimating the influence of dispositional factors and underestimating the influence of situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

Tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors to maintain self-esteem.

Implicit Attitudes

Our unconscious or unacknowledged evaluations individuals hold about others

Incentive Theory

Behavior is directed by external rewards and punishments.

Reciprocal Determinism

Concept by Albert Bandura that suggests an interaction between individual, behavior, and environment.

Conscientiousness

Organization and dependability. Part of the “Big Five”.

Agreeableness

Compassion and cooperativeness. Part of the “Big Five”.

Neuroticism

Emotional instability and negative emotions.. Part of the “Big Five”.

Openness

Creativity and willingness to try new things. Part of the “Big 5”

Extraversion

Sociability and enthusiasm.Part of the “Big 5”.

Study of Social Roles

Zombardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment

Study of Conformity

Asch’s Line Study

Study of Obedience

Milgram's Shock Experiment

Relative Deprivation

Perception of being deprived of something one feels entitled to, often based on social comparisons. Think they have less value, wealth, or status.

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

Sensory and motor neurons that communicate with CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the PNS. Automatic functions like breathing and digestion.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS. Voluntary movements, like waving at a friend.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of ANS which is part of the PNS. Fight or Flight

Parasympathetic nervous System

Part of ANS which is part of the PNS. Calms you down after a stressful event.

Neuron

Nerve Cell that transmits signals in the nervous system, including sensory and motor functions.

Gilal Cell

“Glue”, protect and supports Neurons.

Reflex Arc

Kne-jerk response, no need for brain involvement.

Sensory Neurons

Part of the PNS. Collect incoming info from receptors to brain and spinal cord.

Motor Neurons

Part of the PNS. Transmit signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands.

Interneurons

connect sensory and motor neurons.

Refractory period

Charging neuron that is unresponsive to other stimul.

Resting Potential

Neuron that is not currently in use and has a negative electric charge.

Reuptake

neurotransmitter reabsorption.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical released in the synaptic gap by neurons.

Dendrites

Receive incoming signals from other neurons. Part of the cell body (Soma).

Soma

Cell body that houses the neurons nucleus.

Axon

connect soma to terminal endings. release action potential.

Myelin Sheath

gilal cells that protect, speed up, and insulate axon.

Terminals

Send signals to next neuron.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Major Inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory

Dopamine

reward and movement neurotransmitter

Serotonin

Mood and emotion neurotransmitter

ACh (acetylcholine)

learning and memory neurotransmitter.

Adrenaline/epinephrine

hormone and neurotransmitter involved in fight-or-flight response.

Leptin

hormone that regulates appetite and energy balance.

Ghrelin

hormone that stimulates appetite and signals hunger.

Melatonin

hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Oxytocin

love hormone

Brainstem