AP Psychology Terms

Every term you need to know to pass your AP Psychology exam!

Structuralism

Approach: Use introspection to determine the underlying structures of the mind

Introspection

Act of looking inward to examine mental experience

Fundamentalism

Approach: Analyze the purpose of behavior

Charles Darwin

Person: Natural selection and evolution

William Wundt

Person: Father of modern psychology

Basic Research

A research to increase knowledge

Applied Research

A research to help people

Independent Variable

Variable manipulated by the researcher

Experimental Group

Group that receives the treatment

Control Group

Group that receives the placebo

Placebo Effect

Shows behaviors associated with the experimental group when having received the placebo

Double-Blind

An experiment where neither the participant or the experimenter are aware of which condition people are assigned to

Dependent Variable

The measured variable in an experiment

Operational Definition

The clear, precise, and typically quantifiable definition of your variables; allows replication

Confound Variable

An error or flaw of the study

Random Assignment

Assigns participants to either the control or experimental group at random; minimizes bias, increases the chance of equal representation

Random Sample

The method for choosing participants; minimizes bias

Validity

Accurate results

Reliability

Same results every time

Positive Correlation

A relationship in which variables increase and decrease together

Negative Correlation

A relationship in which as one variable increases, the other decreases

Illusory Correlation

The belief of a correlation that doesn’t exist

Mean

Measure of Central Tendency: Average

Median

Measure of Central Tendency: Middle #

Mode

Measure of Central Tendency: Occurs the most often

Statistical Significance

Results are not due to chance

Confidentiality

Ethical Guideline (APA): Names are kept secret

Informed Consent

Ethical Guideline (APA): Must agree to be part of the study

Debriefing

Ethical Guideline (APA): Must be told the true purpose of the study; done after deception

Dendrite

Neuron: Receives incoming signals

Myelin Sheath

Neuron: Speeds up the signal down the axon; protects the axon

Synapse

Neuron: The gap between neurons

Action Potential

Sends an electrical charge down the axon

All or None Law

Action Potential: The stimulus must trigger the AP past its threshold, but doesn’t increase the intensity of the response

Sensory Neuron

Neuron that receives signals

Motor Neuron

Neuron that sends signals

Interneurons

The cells in the spinal cord responsible for reflex loop

Central Nervous System

Nervous System: Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Nervous System: Everything other than the brain and the spinal cord

Somatic Nervous System

Nervous System: Voluntary movement

Automatic Nervous System

Nervous System: Involuntary movement (heart, lungs, etc.)

Sympathetic Nervous System

Nervous System: Arouses the body for fight/flight

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Nervous System: Established homeostasis after a sympathetic response (generally inhibits)

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released in the synaptic gap; received by neurons

GABA

Neurotransmitter: Major inhibitor

Glutamate

Neurotransmitter: Major exciter

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter: Reward and movement

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter: Moods and emotion

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter: Memory

Epinephrine & Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter: Sympathetic nervous system arousal

Endorphins

Neurotransmitter: Pain control

Oxytocin

Neurotransmitter: Love and bonding

Agonist

A drug that mimics a neurotransmitter

Antagonist

A drug that blocks a neurotransmitter

Reuptake

When unused neurotransmitters are taken back up into the sending neuron

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Block reuptake; treatment for depression

Hindbrain

Brain: The oldest part of the brain

Cerebellum

Brain: Movement/balance

Medulla

Brain: Vital organs

Pons

Brain: Sleep/arousal

Reticular Formation

Brain: Alertness

Limbic System

Brain: Amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus

Amygdala

Brain: Emotions, fear

Hippocampus

Brain: Memory

Hypothalamus

Brain: Reward/pleasure center; eating behaviors; link to endocrine system

Thalamus

Brain: Relay center for all senses but smell

Cerebral Cortex

Brain: Outer portion of the brain; higher order thought processes

Occipital Lobe

Brain: Located in the back of the head; vision

Frontal Lobe

Brain: Decision making, planning, judgement, movement, personality

Parietal Lobe

Brain: Located on the top of the head; sensations

Temporal Lobe

Brain: located on the sides of the head; hearing; face recognition

Somatosensory Cortex

Brain: Map of our sensory receptors; in parietal lobe

Motor Cortex

Brain: Map of our motor receptors; located in frontal lobe

Broca’s Area

Aphasia: Inability to produce speech

Wernicke’s Area

Aphasia: Inability to comprehend speech

Corpus Callosum

Brain: Bundle of nerves that connects the 2 hemispheres; leads to “split-brain patients”

Plasticity

The brain can “heal” itself

Endocrine System

Sends hormones throughout the body

Pituitary Gland

Endocrine System: Controlled by the hypothalamus; releases growth hormones

Adrenal Glands

Endocrine System: Related to the sympathetic nervous system; releases adrenaline

EEG

Brain Imaging: Brain activity; not specific

CT/MRI

Brain Imaging: Shows structures

PET

Brain Imaging: Glucose shows Brain activity

Lesion

Brain damage

Absolute Threshold

The detection of a signal 50% of the time

Difference Threshold/Just Noticeable Difference

The detection of a difference in two stimuli

Weber’s Law

Two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum proportion

Sensory Adaptation

The diminished sensitivity as a result of constant stimulation

Perceptual Set

The tendency to see something as part of a group

Inattentional Blindness

The failure to notice something added because you’re so focused on another task

Change Blindness

The failure to notice a change in a scene

Cocktail Party Effect

You notice your name across the room when its spoken, when you weren’t previously paying attention

Cornea

Vision: Protects the eye

Pupil

Vision: Controls the amount of light entering the eye

Iris

Vision: The colored part of the eye

Lens

Vision: Focuses the light on the retina

Fovea

Vision: The area of best vision

Rods

Vision: Black/white; dim light

Cones

Vision: Color; bright light

Bipolar Cells

Vision: Connects rods/cones and ganglion cells