Everything

Psychology

The scientific study of mind, brain, and behavior.

Cognitive Psychology

Focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, and decision-making.

Neuroscience

The study of the nervous system and its influence on behavior and cognitive functions.

Biological Psychology

Examines the relationship between biological processes and psychological phenomena.

Developmental Psychology

Studies the psychological changes that occur throughout a person’s lifespan.

Social Psychology

Explores how individuals influence and are influenced by others.

Organizational Psychology

Focuses on behavior in professional settings and the effects of organizations.

Evolutionary Psychology

Examines psychological traits as evolved adaptations.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach to research based on observation, experimentation, and hypothesis.

Falsification

The principle that a theory must be testable and able to be proved false.

Critical Thinking

The ability to analyze and evaluate an argument or concept based on reasoning.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure or test over time.

Validity

The extent to which a measure accurately reflects what it is intended to measure.

Cranial Capacity & Intelligence

Historical misconception linking skull size to intellectual ability.

Morton's Measure

Linked cranial capacity to intelligence but conflated size with body dimensions.

Judgments about Data

Assessing the reliability and validity of evidence in research.

Correlation vs Causation

The distinction that correlation does not imply that one event causes another.

Statistical Significance

The probability that the observed difference or relationship is not due to chance.

Random Sampling

A sampling method that ensures every individual has an equal chance of being selected.

Experimental Design

A plan for assigning participants to conditions and manipulating variables in research.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome or response that is measured in an experiment.

Bias in Research

Systematic errors that can affect the outcome of a study.

Placebo Effect

The phenomenon where participants experience changes due to their expectations rather than the treatment.

Double-Blind Study

An experimental procedure where neither participants nor experimenters know who is receiving the treatment.

Operational Definition

Defining a variable in terms of how it is measured or manipulated.

Paradigm

A set of beliefs and practices that shape how scientists approach their work.

Behavioral Paradigm

Focuses on observable behaviors and environmental influences.

Cognitive Paradigm

Centers on mental processes and how they influence behavior.

Biological Paradigm

Examines the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental processes.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for executive functions, such as reasoning and problem-solving.

Parietal Lobe

Involved in processing sensory information and spatial awareness.

Occipital Lobe

Primarily responsible for visual processing.

Temporal Lobe

Involved in auditory processing and memory.

Amygdala

A brain structure involved in emotion regulation, particularly fear and arousal.

Hippocampus

Critical for the formation of new memories and spatial navigation.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing communication between them.

Broca's Area

A region in the frontal lobe associated with speech production.

Wernicke's Area

A region in the temporal lobe associated with language comprehension.

Phineas Gage

A case study demonstrating the connection between brain regions and personality.

Homunculus

A representation of the body in the brain, indicating sensory and motor functions.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with reward and movement.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter linked to mood regulation.

Action Potential

The electrical signal that travels along the axon of a neuron.

Resting Potential

The state of a neuron when it is not actively firing an action potential.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons.

Reuptake Pump

Mechanism that clears neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft back into the presynaptic neuron.

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

A persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity.

Hebb’s Law

The principle that neurons that fire together wire together.

Environmental Enrichment

An enhanced positive experience, which promotes neural growth and cognitive enhancements.

Evolutionary Psychology

Focuses on how natural selection has shaped human psychology.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting beliefs or values.

Heuristic

A mental shortcut that allows for problem-solving and decision-making.

Availability Heuristic

Estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory.

Representativeness Heuristic

Making judgments based on how closely something resembles a typical case.

Framing Effect

The influence of presentation on decision-making.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs.

Anchoring Bias

Relying too heavily on the first piece of information encountered.

Self-fulfilling Prophecy

When an expectation brings about consequences that confirm that expectation.

Attentional Bias

The tendency to attend to certain stimuli over others.

Sensory Adaptation

Decreased sensitivity to a stimulus after prolonged exposure.

Selective Attention

The process of focusing on a specific object in the environment for a certain period.

Perception

The process by which sensory information is organized and interpreted.

Visual Illusions

Perceptions that misrepresent physical stimuli.

Depth Perception

The ability to perceive the world in three dimensions.

Gestalt Principles

Theory of visual perception that emphasizes holistic processing.

Top-Down Processing

Processing influenced by previous experience or expectations.

Bottom-Up Processing

Processing that begins with the sensory input.

Signal Detection Theory

A framework used to measure the ability to differentiate between information-bearing patterns and random noise.

Cognitive Load

The total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory.

Working Memory

A system for temporarily holding and manipulating information.

Long-Term Memory

A component of the memory system that is responsible for storing information for long periods.

Episodic Memory

A type of declarative memory that involves the recollection of specific events.

Procedural Memory

A type of implicit memory that involves learning how to perform tasks.

Semantic Memory

A type of explicit memory that involves knowledge about the world.

Memory Reconsolidation

The process where retrieved memories are recalled and then stored again.

Neuropsychological Assessment

An evaluation method designed to assess cognitive functioning.

Multi-Store Model of Memory

A model that describes memory as composed of sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

Selective Forgetting

The process of selectively retaining or discarding information.

Cognitive Bias Modification

A treatment approach designed to alter biased thinking.

Problem Solving

The mental process of finding a solution to difficult or complex issues.

Heuristics

Simple rules or mental shortcuts that ease the cognitive load of making a decision.

Insight

The sudden realization of a problem's solution.

Introspection

The examination of one's conscious thoughts and feelings.