UNIT 2 AP PSYCH EXAM

Perceptual set

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.

Selective attention

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus; also known as the cocktail party effect.

Inattentional blindness

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.

Change blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment. Ex. The bearded man not noticing that the man giving directions was replaced by someone else after the board passed by

Gestalt

An organized whole; emphasizes our tendency to integrate pieces of information into a meaningful whole.

Visual Capture

When competing with the other senses, vision usually wins; we naturally put more attention into vision.

Figure-ground

The organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).

Similarity

We group similar figures together.

Closure

We fill in gaps to create a complete, whole object.

Depth perception

The ability to see objects in three dimensions and judge distance.

Visual cliff

A laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals.

Retinal disparity

A binocular cue for perceiving depth based on comparing images from the retinas in two eyes.

Relative height

We perceive objects higher in our field of vision as farther away.

Phi Phenomenon

An illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession.

Autokinetic effect

Illusory movement of a still spot of light in a dark room.

Flashbulb memory

A clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event.

Semantic memory

Fact-based information, such as objects and places.

Procedural memory

How-to memory, like tying shoes.

Episodic memory

Memories of certain events, like vacations or birthdays.

Prospective memory

Remembering not to forget to do something.

Explicit memory

Memories of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and declare.

Implicit memory

Procedural memory that is independent of conscious recollection.

Encoding

The processing of information into the memory system.

Storage

The retention of encoded information over time.

Retrieval

The process of getting information out of memory storage.

Automatic processing

Unconscious encoding of incidental information.

Semantic encoding

The encoding of meaning, including the meaning of words.

Self-referent processing

Encoding based on how it relates to you.

Rehearsal

The conscious repetition of information.

Spacing effect

The tendency for distributed study to yield better long-term retention.

Serial position effect

Our tendency to recall best the first and last items in a list.

Mnemonics

Memory aids, especially techniques using vivid imagery.

Method of Loci

A mnemonic that helps remember things by placing them in a familiar place.

Hierarchies

Breaking concepts down from broad to specific.

Chunking

Organizing items into familiar, manageable units.

Acronym

A type of chunking made out of the first letters of items to be remembered.

Sensory memory

A quick, fleeting memory activated by the five senses.

Short-term/working memory

Activated memory that holds a few items for a brief time.

Long-term memory

The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system.

Working memory

Focuses on conscious processing of incoming information and retrieval from long-term memory.

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

An increase in a synapse's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation.

Recall

A measure of memory requiring retrieval of earlier learned information.

Recognition

A measure of memory needing to identify previously learned items.

Priming

The activation of particular associations in memory.

Retrieval cues

Anchor points used to access information later.

Mood-congruent memory

The tendency to recall experiences consistent with one's current mood.

State-dependent memory

Recallability linked to the state in which something was learned.

Retrograde amnesia

Inability to remember anything after specific brain injury or accident.

Anterograde amnesia

Inability to form new memories after specific brain injury or accident.

Source amnesia

Attributing an event to the wrong source.

Proactive interference

Disruptive effect of prior learning on recall of new information.

Retroactive interference

Disruptive effect of new learning on recall of old information.

Misattribution

Confusing the source of information.

Cognition

All mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Concepts

A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people.

Hierarchies

Breaking things down from broad to specific.

Prototypes

A mental image of the best example of a category.

Schemas

An organized mental framework about a particular topic, event, or idea.

Algorithm

A logical, step-by-step procedure to solve a specific problem.

Heuristic

A general rule of thumb used to reduce possible solutions.

Functional fixedness

Thinking of an object as functioning only in its usual way.

Availability heuristic

Judging likelihood based on readily available personal experiences.

Representative heuristic

Judging likelihood based on how well something matches a typical example.

Framing

Posing a question or phrasing to persuade thoughts.

Belief perseverance

Holding onto a belief even after being discredited.

Overconfidence bias

The tendency to be more confident than correct.

Exaggerated fear

Being overly fearful to the point of a phobia.

Intelligence

The ability to learn from experience and solve problems.

Fluid intelligence

Intelligence that includes reasoning abilities and memory, declining with age.

Crystallized intelligence

Intelligence based on life experiences, increasing with age.

Analytical intelligence

The ability to analyze, evaluate, judge, and compare.

Creative intelligence

The ability to come up with new ideas and use divergent thinking.

Practical intelligence

The ability to deal with everyday life skills.

Multiple intelligences

Independent intelligences beyond traditional school smarts.

Emotional intelligence

The ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions.

Mental age

The age at which someone is mentally, not chronologically.

Intelligence quotient

The formula used to determine intelligence scores.

WAIS test

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the most widely used intelligence test today.

Aptitude tests

Tests used to predict future performance.

Achievement tests

Tests used to measure what was learned.

Standardization

The process of establishing norms for a test based on a bell curve.

Reliability

The consistency of a test.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to.

Nature vs Nurture views of intelligence

Intelligence is based on both genetic and environmental factors.

Stereotype threat

A self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype.