AP Psychology Summer Assignment Vocabulary

A set of 25 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Modules 1.1, 3.3a-c, and 5.2a-b of the AP Psychology Summer Assignment reading worksheets.

Nature-Nurture Debate

The argument over whether humans are born with their character and intelligence versus gaining them through life experiences.

Evolutionary Psychology

A branch of psychology that focuses on how humans are alike through our shared biology.

Behavior Genetics

A field of study that explores how humans are different because of our unique environments.

Mutation

Errors in gene replication.

Identical Twins

Twins that develop from a single egg and a single sperm.

Fraternal Twins

Twins that develop from two separate eggs and two separate sperm.

Epigenetics

The study of the molecular mechanisms through which environments trigger gene activity via chemical switches that can be passed down to offspring.

Gender

The attitudes, feelings, and behaviors associated with specific genders, differing from biologically influenced sex characteristics.

Primary Sex Characteristics

The body structures that make sexual reproduction possible, specifically reproductive organs and external genitalia.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Nonreproductive sexual traits, such as female breasts and hips, male facial hair, and pubic and underarm hair.

Gender Role

The societal norms and expectations designated for each gender.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that we gain our gender identity during childhood and assimilate to stereotypical roles presented by society.

Androgyny

A condition where a person mixes both gender roles into their life in a way that fits for them.

Gender Schema

A cognitive framework that helps organize characteristics of each gender to help individuals find a healthy balance and establish their own identity.

Transgender

A term describing a person going through a process to switch to the opposite gender identity.

Asexual

Having no sexual attraction towards others.

Social Script

A model created by society specifying how an individual should act in certain situations.

Sexual Orientation

Who someone is attracted to and how they will interact with them.

Erotic Plasticity

A concept described by Baumeister indicating that women have more fluctuating sexual desire than men.

Older-Brother Effect

The phenomenon where a mother's immune system may react differently with each male pregnancy, affecting prenatal brain development related to sexual orientation.

Subjective Well-Being

A person's self-reported happiness and life satisfaction.

Positive Psychology

The school of psychology focused on identifying strengths and virtues that help people live happy, meaningful, and resilient lives.

Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon

The tendency for people in a good mood to be more helpful, generous, and kind.

Adaptation-Level Principle

The principle explaining that people judge experiences by comparing them to their previous experiences or expectations.

Relative Deprivation

The perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself, leading to dissatisfaction even if one's situation has not changed.