First Half of AP Psychology Unit 0

What is Psychology?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

What does the scientific approach in psychology emphasize?

Proving ideas with facts instead of guessing.

What are the core steps of the scientific method in psychology?

Observe, Hypothesize, Test, Analyze, Share.

What is Hindsight Bias?

The psychological urge to believe one knew an outcome all along after it has occurred.

Give an example of Hindsight Bias.

After Runner A wins a race, one believes they knew all along that Runner A would win.

What is Overconfidence?

The tendency to overestimate one's abilities, leading to ignoring potential dangers.

What is an example of Overconfidence?

Underestimating the time needed to complete a project, believing it will take only 2 hours when it actually takes 5.

What does it mean to perceive order in random events?

The brain looks for patterns or explanations in random events.

Provide an example of perceiving order in random events.

Believing lucky socks caused a good grade after wearing them for a test.

What is Confirmation Bias?

The habit of only trusting information that confirms one's initial guess while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Give an example of Confirmation Bias.

After waking up with a sore throat, one only searches for Strep Throat symptoms, ignoring other possibilities.

What are Psychological Perspectives?

Different approaches used by psychologists to understand mental health issues and human behavior.

What is the Evolutionary Perspective?

The study of how human behavior and mental processes as survival traits helped our ancestors survive and reproduce.

What is an example of a survival mechanism in the Evolutionary Perspective?

Fear of the dark, which helped ancestors avoid predators at night.

What does the Biological Perspective focus on?

The connection between the brain, body, nervous system, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genes.

Provide an example of the Biological Perspective.

Drinking coffee leads to increased energy by blocking chemicals that cause tiredness.

What is the Psychodynamic Perspective?

The study of how unconscious thoughts and past experiences influence current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Give an example scenario illustrating the Psychodynamic Perspective.

Mark struggles with dating due to childhood experiences of inconsistent love, leading to a fear of closeness.

What does the Behavioral Perspective study?

Visible behaviors and how they are influenced by the environment, rewards, and punishments.

Explain the role of rewards in the Behavioral Perspective.

Behaviors that are rewarded are more likely to be repeated.

Provide an example of the Behavioral Perspective.

A student studies, receives positive feedback and a good grade, making them more likely to study again.

What does the Humanistic Perspective focus on?

Free will, personal growth, and reaching one's full potential.

What is self-actualization?

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential, often considered as personal growth.

What is the main focus of the Cognitive Perspective?

Internal thoughts and interpretations that drive behavior and feelings.

How can changing thoughts affect feelings and behavior?

Changing thoughts can lead to different feelings and behaviors, as illustrated by the speech example.

What does the Social-Cultural Perspective study?

How social groups and cultural influences shape thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

What is the Biopsychosocial Perspective?

A study of how biological, psychological, and social factors influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

What is a theory in psychological research?

A well-tested explanation for why something happens, developed from observations and research.

What is a hypothesis?

A specific testable prediction based on a theory.

What does 'falsifiable' mean in the context of a hypothesis?

It means that the hypothesis can be proven false if not supported by evidence.

What is an operational definition?

A detailed description of how a variable will be measured or manipulated in a study.

What is the purpose of replication in research?

To conduct the study again to see if the same results are obtained.

What is a random sample?

A sample where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

What is a representative sample?

A sample that reflects the demographics or characteristics of the population being studied.

What is a convenience sample?

A sample selected based on ease and accessibility, which may introduce bias.

What is peer review in psychological research?

Submitting research findings to experts for feedback before publication.

What is the experimental methodology?

A method that determines cause and effect by manipulating one variable and measuring its effect on another.

What are the advantages of experimental methodologies?

They allow psychologists to know whether a changed variable had a direct impact on results.

What are the disadvantages of experimental methodologies?

Controlled environments may not reflect real-world situations, and some variables cannot be ethically tested.

What are non-experimental methodologies?

Methods used to observe and describe behaviors without manipulating variables.

What is a case study?

An in-depth examination of one individual or group, often in unique situations that cannot be replicated.

What is naturalistic observation?

Observing and recording behaviors that occur naturally without interference.

What is a correlational study?

A study that determines if there is a relationship between variables without manipulation.

What does 'correlation does not equal causation' mean?

It means that just because two variables are related does not mean one causes the other.

What is meta-analysis?

A statistical measure that combines data from multiple studies to produce a single conclusion.

What is quantitative data?

Numerical values representing counts or quantities.

What is qualitative data?

In-depth, open-ended narrative data that provides depth of understanding.

What are Likert scales?

Rating scales that allow participants to select responses that can be quantified.

What is self-report bias?

When participants give inaccurate answers due to misunderstanding or forgetfulness.

What is social desirability bias?

When participants answer questions in a way that makes them look better or more socially acceptable.