Ap psych

What are cultural norms?

Shared rules and guidelines within a community that dictate appropriate and acceptable behaviors in society.

What is a positive correlation?

A positive correlation means that as one variable increases, the other also increases.

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to seek out information that aligns with our point of view.

What does the correlation coefficient indicate?

It represents the strength and direction of a correlation between two variables.

What is an experimental group?

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or manipulation.

What is the purpose of a control group?

To provide a baseline to compare the effects of the treatment in the experimental group.

What is the function of glial cells?

Support and protect neurons.

What is the difference between reliability and validity in research?

Reliability refers to consistent results over time, while validity refers to accurately measuring what is intended.

What is the nature vs. nurture debate in psychology?

It concerns whether human behavior is determined by genetics (nature) or environment and experience (nurture).

What is neurogenesis?

The creation of new neurons.

What is a reflex arc?

The neural pathway involved in an automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus.

What does action potential refer to in neurons?

The electrical charge that travels down the axon when a neuron fires.

What is the role of neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that transmit signals across the synapse between neurons.

What is the definition of perception?

The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information.

What are monosynaptic reflexes?

Reflexes involving only one synapse between a sensory and a motor neuron.

What does the term 'placebo effect' refer to?

The phenomenon where participants experience changes simply because they believe they are receiving a treatment.

What is sensory adaptation?

When sensory receptor cells are constantly stimulated, leading to a loss of sensitivity to stimuli.

What is the difference between absolute threshold and difference threshold?

Absolute threshold is the minimum energy needed to produce a sensation, while difference threshold is the smallest difference between two stimuli that can be detected.

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

To connect the two brain hemispheres and facilitate communication between them.

What is the fight or flight response?

The body's physiological reaction to perceived harmful events, attacks, or threats.

What are the stages of NREM sleep?

NREM sleep includes three stages: NREM-1, NREM-2, and NREM-3, each with different characteristics.

What are the primary hormones released by the adrenal glands?

Adrenaline, which increases heart rate and prepares the body for action.

What is the significance of a twin study in psychology?

To understand the influence of genetics versus environment on behavior and traits.

What is meant by 'executive function' in cognitive psychology?

Skills used to manage tasks like planning, problem-solving, and adapting to new situations.

What characterizes REM sleep?

Rapid eye movement sleep is where most dreams occur, and the brain is highly active.

What does cognitive dissonance refer to?

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs or values.

What is an example of a confounding variable?

Any factor that might influence the outcome of an experiment, complicating the establishment of a cause-and-effect relationship.

What is the significance of a scatterplot?

A graphical representation of the relationship between two variables that reveals the type and strength of correlation.