AP Psychology Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from AP Psychology.

psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes.

nature-nurture issue

The controversy over the contributions that genes and experience make to psychological traits.

natural selection

The principle that traits promoting reproduction and survival are likely to be passed on.

neuroscience

The perspective dealing with how the body and brain create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences.

evolutionary

The perspective that examines how nature selects traits promoting gene perpetuation.

behavior genetics

The study of how genes and environment effect individual differences.

psychodynamic

The perspective considering how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts.

behavioral

The perspective focusing on observable responses and how they are learned.

cognitive

The perspective dealing with how information is encoded, processed, stored, and retrieved.

social-cultural

The perspective that examines how behavior and thinking vary across cultures.

basic research

Pure science aimed at increasing scientific knowledge.

applied research

Scientific study aimed at solving practical problems.

clinical psychology

The branch studying, assessing, and treating people with psychological disorders.

psychiatry

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders, incorporating medical treatment.

hindsight bias

The tendency to believe an outcome was predictable after learning it.

critical thinking

Thinking that evaluates arguments and conclusions rather than accepting them blindly.

theory

An explanation using principles that organizes and predicts observations.

hypothesis

A testable prediction often implied by a theory.

operational definition

A statement of procedures used to define research variables.

replication

Repeating a study to see if findings generalize to other participants and situations.

case study

An observation technique studying one person in depth to reveal universal principles.

survey

A technique for obtaining self-reported attitudes or behaviors by questioning a sample.

false consensus effect

The tendency to overestimate how much others share our beliefs and behaviors.

population

All cases in a group from which samples may be drawn.

random sample

A sample fairly representing a population, giving each member an equal chance.

naturalistic observation

Observing behavior in natural situations without control.

correlation coefficient

A statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together.

scatterplot

A cluster of dots representing values of two variables, indicating direction and strength of correlation.

illusory correlation

The perception of a relationship where none exists.

experiment

A method where factors are manipulated to observe effects on behavior.

placebo

An inert substance or condition used to compare against an active agent.

double-blind procedure

An experimental procedure where both participants and staff are unaware of treatment allocation.

placebo effect

Behavioral effects caused by a placebo.

experimental condition

The condition in an experiment exposing participants to the treatment.

control condition

The condition contrasting with the experimental condition for comparison.

random assignment

Assigning participants by chance to minimize preexisting differences.

independent variable

The factor that is manipulated in an experiment.

dependent variable

The factor that is measured in response to manipulations.

mode

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution.

mean

The arithmetic average of a distribution.

median

The middle score in a distribution.

range

The difference between the highest and lowest scores.

standard deviation

A measure of how much scores vary around the mean.

statistical significance

A criterion for rejecting the assumption of no differences.

culture

Behaviors, ideas, and traditions shared by a group and transmitted across generations.

Biological psychology

The study of links between biology and behavior.

Neuron

The building block of the nervous system.

Dendrite

Branches of a neuron designed to receive and transmit information.

Axon

The part of the neuron that transports messages to muscles and glands.

Action potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

Myelin sheath

A fatty layer encasing neuron fibers to increase transmission speed.

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Synapse

The junction between sending and receiving neurons.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers traversing synaptic gaps between neurons.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter triggering muscle contraction.

Endorphins

Natural neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

Nervous system

The body's electrochemical communication system.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Sensory and motor neurons connecting CNS to the body.

Nerves

Neural cables containing axons connecting CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

Sensory neurons

Neurons carrying incoming sensory information to the CNS.

Interneurons

CNS neurons that intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Motor neurons

Neurons carrying outgoing information from CNS to muscles and glands.

Somatic nervous system

The PNS division controlling skeletal muscles.

Autonomic nervous system

The PNS part controlling glands and internal organs.

Sympathetic nervous system

The division arousing the body in stressful situations.

Parasympathetic nervous system

The division calms the body and conserves energy.

Reflex

An automatic response to a sensory stimulus.

Neural networks

Interconnected neurons that can learn from experience.

Phrenology

A discredited theory that bumps on the skull relate to mental abilities.

lesion

Tissue destruction, particularly in the brain.

EEG (electroencephalogram)

A recording of electrical activity across the brain's surface.

CT (computed tomography)

A series of x-ray photographs combined to show a slice through the body.

PET (positron emission tomography)

A display of brain activity based on glucose consumption.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A technique producing images to see different soft tissues in the brain.

brainstem

The central core of the brain responsible for automatic survival functions.

medulla

The base of the brainstem controlling heartbeat and breathing.

reticular formation

A nerve network in the brainstem controlling arousal.

thalamus

The sensory switchboard directing messages to sensory receiving areas.

cerebellum

The brain region aiding coordination and balance.

limbic system

A neural structure associated with emotions and drives.

amygdala

Neural clusters linked to emotion within the limbic system.

hypothalamus

A structure directing maintenance activities and governing the endocrine system.

cerebral cortex

The ultimate control and information-processing center of the brain.

glial cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

frontal lobes

Part of the cerebral cortex involved in speaking, muscle movements, and judgement.

parietal lobes

Part of the cerebral cortex involved in sensations.

occipital lobes

Part of the cerebral cortex that includes visual processing areas.

temporal lobes

Part of the cerebral cortex including the auditory areas.

motor cortex

The area controlling voluntary movements at the rear of the frontal lobes.

sensory cortex

The area processing body sensations in the front of the parietal lobes.

association areas

Cerebral cortex areas involved in higher mental functions beyond primary senses.

aphasia

Impairment of language typically due to left hemisphere damage.

Broca's Area

Frontal lobe area directing muscle movements for speech.

Wernicke's area

Area involved in language comprehension and expression.

plasticity

The brain's capacity for modification, particularly after damage.

corpus callosum

The large neural fiber band connecting the two brain hemispheres.

split brain

A condition resulting from cutting the corpus callosum.

endocrine system

The body's chemical communication system involving hormones.

hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands affecting tissue.