Psychology paper 1 practice

All key terms you need to know for Paper 1 SL and HL

Multi-Store Model (MSM)

By Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968)

• Argues that memory consists of separate locations

• Each memory store operate in a single uniform way

Multi-Store Model (MSM)

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths:

• Experimental research and biological case studies to support model

• Has historical importance and more research was based on this model

Limitations:

• Oversimplified and assumes each store works independently

• Several times where STM doesn’t enter LTM

• Doesn’t explain memory distortions

Schema theory

Suggests that all knowledge is stored in _______ and influence process/remember new information.

Schema

Mental representations derived from prior experiences

Schema theory

Limitations & Strengths

Strengths:

• Strong empirical evidence

• Explains memory distortion

• Has wide applicability

Limitations:

• Low construct validity: Cannot directly be observed/difficult to measure

• Limited predictive power: cannot predict what an individual will remember

Working Memory Model (WMM)

• Suggested by Baddeley & Hitch (1974)

• Suggests that STM is not a single store but consists of a number of different stores

Assimilation

Fitting new processes into existing mental schemas

Accommodation

Modifying existing schemas/creating new ones to fit new contradictory information

Dual Process Model

A cognitive psychological framework proposing that human thinking, decision making and reasoning function through 2 different systems. (System I and System II)

System I

An automatic, intuitive, and effortless way of thinking. Often employs heuristics. This “fast” mode of thinking allows for efficient processing but is prone to errors.

System II

Slower, conscious, & rational mode of thinking. Requires more effort and thinks carefully about all possible ways we could interpret a situation and eliminates possibilities based on sensory information until we arrive at a solution. Allows us to analyze the world around us carefully.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts that involve focusing on 1 aspect of a complex problem and ignoring others.

Reconstructive memory

A theory that memory isn’t a passive recording of events, but an active process of rebuilding memories using schemas, beliefs, and expectations.

The misinformation effect

The phenomenon where a persons recall of episodic memories become less accurate because of exposure to incorrect information post-event.

Flashbulb memory

Proposed by Brown and Kulik (1977).

A highly detailed vivid “snapshot” of a moment when a surprising and emotionally arousing event happens.

Cultural norms

A set of behaviors/beliefs shared by members of a society/group of people

Individualism vs Collectivism

the degree at which people integrate into groups.

Individualistic cultures are more likely to focus on individual achievements and experiences unlike collectivistic cultures where they focus on the group.

Long vs short term orientation

A cultures attitude towards the future or connection to the past

cultural dimensions

the values of a society that affect behavior

Enculturation

Maintaining and learning of the behaviors and norms in our own culture

Acculturation

adapting and adjusting to a new culture

Salience

Becoming more aware about a part of 1s identity

Acculturative stress

A battle between acculturation and enculturation causing stress

social categorization

process of categorising people into groups based on similar characteristics (ingroups and outgroups)

Social comparison

Comparing your ingroups to your outgroups

Social Identity theory

A person not just a personal self but multiple that corresponds to group membership

Social Cognitive Theory

Assumes that we learn behaviors through observational learning

4 components of social cognitive theory

Attention: learning a behavior through attention

Retention: remembering behavior to reproduce

Motivation: must want to replicate behavior

Potential: must be physically and mentally able to carry out behavior

Self-efficacy

Ones belief in ones ability to successfully carry out a task

Stereotyping

a social perception of an individual in terms of group membership or physical attributes

Illusory correlation

Seeing a correlation in 2 variables when there is none

Stereotype threat

When 1 is in a situation where there is a threat of being judged or fear of doing something that aligns with a stereotype

Localisation

Theory that specific parts of the brain are responsible for specific behaviors

lateralization

How specific mental processes are more dominant in 1 hemisphere of the brain

Plasticity

The brains ability to reogranize its structure and function based on its environmental demands

Neural networks

Interconnected group of neurons that form complex pathways

Neural pruning

when the brain removes unused synaptic connections between neurons to optimize cognitive efficiency

Memory consolidation

how the brain changes STM to LTM

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter that regulates memory, muscle movement, learning and attention.

Antagonist (scopolamine)

A substance binding to receptors, blocking the effects of the neurotransmitters by inhibiting receptor sites

Inheritance

transmission of genetic, behavioural, and physical traits from parent to offspring

Family studies

Incidence of behavior over a number of generations

Concordance

The presence of same traits between a twin pair