AP Psychology Unit 5

working memory

a newer understanding of short-term memory

automatic processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well

visual encoding

the encoding of picture images

acoustic encoding

the encoding of sound, especially the sound of words

semantic encoding

the encoding of meaning, including the meaning of words

imagery

mental pictures; a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially when combined with semantic encoding

iconic memory

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture

echoic memory

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds

long

term potentiation (LTP)

flashbulb memory

a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

implicit memory

retention independent of conscious recollection (also called non-declarative or procedural memory.)

explicit memory

memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and "declare" (also called declarative memory)

hippocampus

a neural center that is located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage

priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response

proactive interference

the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information

retroactive interference

the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information

general intelligence (g)

a general intelligence factor that according to Spearman and others underlies specific mental abilities and is therefore measured by every task on an intelligence test

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, musical/rhythmic, logical/mathematical, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic

achievement test

a test designed to assess what a person has learned

aptitude test

a test designed to predict a person's future performance; aptitude is the capacity to learn

standardization

defining uniform testing procedures and meaningful scores by comparison with the performance of a pretested group (Representative sample) to form a normal distribution or bell curve

The Flynn Effect

intelligence scores have risen throughout the last 100 years or so (due to environment)

reliability

when a test yields consistent results

validity

the extent to which a test measures what it is supposed to measure

z

score

stereotype threat

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

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

this theory holds that there are three types of intelligence: analytic intelligence, practical intelligence, and creativity

algorithm

a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem

heuristic

a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently

functional fixedness

the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions

mental set

a tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past

representativeness heuristic

judging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to match particular prototypes; may lead one to ignore other relevant information

availability heuristic

estimating the likelihood of events based on how readily instances come to mind (perhaps because of their vividness); we presume such events are common

framing

the way an issue is posed

belief bias

the tendency for one's preexisting beliefs to distort logical reasoning, sometimes by making invalid conclusions seem valid, or valid conclusions seem invalid

B.F. Skinner

argued that we learn language through modeling, reinforcement, and association

Noam Chomsky

theorist who believed that humans have an inborn or "native" propensity to develop language