AP Psychology Exam Review Flashcards

This set of flashcards encompasses key terms, definitions, and concepts from the AP Psychology course, designed to aid in exam preparation.

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes.

Structuralism

An early school of thought that used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.

Functionalism

A school of thought that explored how mental and behavioral processes function.

Wilhelm Wundt

Considered the father of psychology; founded a psychological laboratory in 1878.

Edward Titchener

One of Wundt's students; associated with the ideas of Structuralism.

Introspection

The examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings.

William James

A psychologist known for discussing Functionalism and authoring a significant psychology text.

Mary Whiton Calkins

The first woman to complete all Ph.D. requirements in psychology but was denied the degree due to gender.

Margaret Floy Washburn

The first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology and wrote 'The Animal Mind'.

Sigmund Freud

Pioneered the psychoanalytical/psychodynamic approach focusing on the unconscious mind.

Psychodynamic approach

Studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior.

John B. Watson

Founder of behaviorism, emphasized observable behavior.

Behaviorism

The view that psychology should study observable behavior without reference to mental processes.

Classical Conditioning

Learning to associate two stimuli, resulting in a learned response.

Operant Conditioning

Learning where behavior is strengthened or weakened by reinforcement or punishment.

Humanistic Psychology

A perspective that emphasizes human growth and potential.

Nature-Nurture Issue

The longstanding debate over the relative contributions of biology and experience to human development.

Natural Selection

Darwin's theory that traits beneficial for survival are passed on to future generations.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Integration of biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors in understanding behavior.

Cognitive Psychology

The study of mental activities such as thinking, knowing, and remembering.

Developmental Psychology

The study of psychological growth and change throughout the lifespan.

Cognitive Development

Piaget's theory of how children develop cognitive skills through stages.

Schema

A mental framework that organizes and interprets information.

Assimilation

Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adapting schemas to incorporate new experiences.

Erik Erikson

Psychologist known for his theory of psychosocial development consisting of eight stages.

Mary Ainsworth

Known for her work on attachment styles in children.

Temperament

A person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that we act to reduce discomfort when our thoughts are inconsistent.

Self-Actualization

The realization of one's potential, self-fulfillment, and seeking personal growth.

Unconditional Positive Regard

An attitude of total acceptance toward another person.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A psychotherapy that teaches patients to change negative thought patterns.

Albert Bandura

Known for his social learning theory and the concept of self-efficacy.

Sociocultural Perspective

The psychological perspective that examines the influence of social and cultural factors.

Psychotherapy

Treatment involving psychological techniques; interactions between therapist and patient.

Carl Rogers

Developed client-centered therapy; emphasized empathic listening.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's therapeutic technique for treating psychological disorders by analyzing unconscious conflicts.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and protect self-esteem.

Attribution Theory

A theory describing how people explain their own and others' behaviors.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to underestimate situational influences and overestimate dispositional influences.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to others.

Illusory Correlation

The perception of a relationship where none exists.

Groupthink

When desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives.

Bystander Effect

The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help in emergencies when others are present.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A psychological theory that ranks human needs in a hierarchy.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of one's environment.

Confirmatory Bias

The tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter linked to motivation, pleasure, and reward.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter critical for learning and memory.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a chemical synapse.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A biomedical therapy for severe depression involving electrical stimulation.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depression by affecting neurotransmitter levels.

Psychopharmacology

The study of the effects of drugs on mind and behavior.

Altruism

Selfless concern for the welfare of others.

Social Facilitation

Improved performance on tasks in the presence of others.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals in a group to exert less effort than when alone.

Stress

The process of perceiving and responding to perceived threats.

General Adaptation Syndrome

The three-stage response the body has to stress: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Prejudice

An unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members.

Discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members.

Ingroup Bias

The tendency to favor one's own group.

Scapegoat Theory

The theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame.

Self-Efficacy

One's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations.

Cognitive Therapy

A therapy that teaches individuals to challenge and modify negative thoughts.

Behavior Therapy

A therapeutic approach that focuses on modifying harmful behaviors.

Exposure Therapy

A behavioral treatment for phobias that involves exposure to the feared object.

Token Economy

A behavioral therapy where individuals earn tokens for desired behaviors.

Misinformation Effect

When misleading information affects people's memory of an event.

Long-Term Memory

The relatively permanent storage of information.

Working Memory

An active processing system that keeps memory available for use.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious retention of information; automatic skills.

Explicit Memory

Memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know.

Episodic Memory

The recollection of specific events, situations, and experiences.

Semantic Memory

The encoding of meanings and concepts.

Flashbulb Memory

A clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event.

Amnesia

Loss of memory, can be retrograde or anterograde.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions.

Savant Syndrome

A condition where a person with a developmental disorder has one or more exceptional abilities.

Reliability

The consistency of a test in measuring what it intends to measure.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

A measure of a person's intelligence as compared to the population.

Aptitude Test

A test designed to predict a person's future performance.

Achievement Test

A test designed to assess what a person has learned.

Cognitive Dissonance

The tension that arises when one holds contradictory beliefs or actions.

Observer Effect

When individuals modify their behavior in response to being observed.

Social Identity

Part of a person's self-concept derived from perceived membership in social groups.

Nonverbal Communication

Communication without words, such as body language and gestures.

Cognitive Processing

Mental operations involved in obtaining knowledge and understanding.

Social Role

Expected behavior patterns associated with particular social statuses.

Role Conflict

Tension arising from competing demands of different roles.

Cognitive Bias

Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.

Critical Thinking

The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

Peer Pressure

Influence from members of one's peer group.

Psychological Resilience

The ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis.

Coping Mechanism

Strategies used to manage stress and difficult emotions.

Stress Management

Techniques and therapies that help people control their levels of stress.

Biofeedback

A technique that teaches individuals to control physiological processes.

Positive Psychology

The scientific study of human strengths and virtues.