AP PSYCH unit2

Perception: Interpretation of sensory information.

Bottom-Up Processing: Processing based on incoming data.

Top-Down Processing: Processing influenced by prior knowledge.

Schemas: Mental frameworks organizing information.

Perceptual Set: Expectations influencing perception.

Attention: Focusing mental resources on stimuli.

Selective Attention: Focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

Cocktail Party Effect: Ability to focus on one voice in a crowd.

Inattentional Blindness: Failing to see visible objects when focused elsewhere.

Change Blindness: Failure to notice changes in the environment.

Gestalt Psychology: Perception as organized wholes, not parts.

Closure: Filling in gaps to perceive a complete image.

Figure and Ground: Distinguishing objects (figure) from background.

Grouping: Organizing stimuli based on patterns.

Proximity: Grouping nearby objects together.

Similarity: Grouping similar objects together.

Depth Perception

Depth Perception: Ability to perceive three dimensions.

Visual Cliff: Experiment testing depth perception in infants.

Binocular Cues: Depth cues using both eyes.

Convergence: Eyes turning inward for close objects.

Retinal Disparity: Difference between images in each eye.

Monocular Cues: Depth cues using one eye.

Relative Clarity: Hazy objects appear farther away.

Relative Size: Smaller objects perceived as farther.

Texture Gradient: Closer objects have more detail.

Linear Perspective: Parallel lines appear to converge with distance.

Interposition: Closer objects block farther ones.

Perceptual Constancies

Perceptual Constancies: Perceiving objects as stable despite changes.

Color Constancy: Perceiving consistent color despite lighting.

Perceptual Adaptation: Adjusting to changed sensory input.

Apparent Motion: Perception of motion where none exists.

Stroboscopic Movement: Perception of motion in rapid image sequence.

Phi Phenomenon: Illusion of movement with blinking lights.

Autokinetic Effect: Stationary light appears to move in darkness.

Cognition and Thinking

Cognition: Mental processes like thinking and memory.

Metacognition: Thinking about your thinking.

Concept: Mental category for grouping objects.

Prototype: Best example of a category.

Schema: Framework for organizing concepts.

Assimilation: Fitting new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation: Altering schemas for new information.

Executive Functions: Cognitive control processes like planning.

Algorithm: Step-by-step problem-solving method.

Heuristic: Shortcut for solving problems quickly.

Representativeness Heuristic: Judging based on resemblance to a category.

Availability Heuristic: Judging based on readily available examples.

Mental Set: Sticking to familiar problem-solving approaches.

Priming: Activating associations in memory.

Framing: Presenting information to influence decisions.

Nudge: Subtle environmental cues influencing behavior.

Gambler’s Fallacy: Belief that past events influence future probability.

Sunk-Cost Fallacy: Continuing a lost cause due to prior investment.

Functional Fixedness: Seeing objects only in their usual use.

Insight: Sudden solution realization.

Confirmation Bias: Favoring information that supports beliefs.

Fixation: Inability to see problems from new perspectives.

Intuition: Fast, automatic reasoning.

Overconfidence: Overestimating knowledge or ability.

Belief Perseverance: Clinging to beliefs despite contrary evidence.

Creativity: Ability to generate novel ideas.

Divergent Thinking: Generating multiple solutions.

Convergent Thinking: Narrowing to a single solution.

Memory

Memory: Persistence of learning over time.

Explicit Memory: Conscious memory of facts/events.

Episodic Memory: Memory of personal experiences.

Semantic Memory: Memory of facts and concepts.

Implicit Memory: Unconscious memory of skills.

Procedural Memory: Memory of how to perform tasks.

Prospective Memory: Remembering future tasks.

Neurogenesis: Creation of new neurons.

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): Strengthening of synaptic connections.

Working Memory: Temporary processing of information.

Visuospatial Sketchpad: Visual and spatial working memory.

Long-Term Memory: Storage of information over time.

Multi-Store Model: Memory model with sensory, short-term, and long-term stages.

Sensory Memory: Brief memory of sensory input.

Central Executive: Directs working memory tasks.

Phonological Loop: Verbal and auditory working memory.

Iconic Memory: Brief visual memory.

Echoic Memory: Brief auditory memory.

Shallow Processing: Encoding based on surface features.

Deep Processing: Encoding based on meaning.

Automatic Processing: Unconscious encoding of information.

Effortful Processing: Deliberate encoding requiring effort.

Encoding: Processing information into memory.

Storing: Retaining encoded information.

Retrieval: Accessing stored information.

Structural Processing: Encoding based on appearance.

Phonemic Processing: Encoding based on sound.

Semantic Processing: Encoding based on meaning.

Mnemonic Devices: Memory aids using associations or patterns.

Method of Loci: Associating items with specific locations.

Chunking: Grouping information into manageable units.

Categories: Grouping related items together.

Hierarchies: Organizing information into nested levels.

The Spacing Effect: Better retention with distributed practice.