AP PSYCH MIDTERM

Humanism

Focuses on personal growth, self-actualization, and free will; emphasizes love, acceptance, and personal potential.

Psychodynamic perspective

Emphasizes unconscious drives, conflicts, and early childhood experiences.

Behavioral perspective

Focuses on observable behavior learned through reinforcement or punishment.

Socio-Cultural perspective

Studies how culture, environment, and social interactions influence behavior.

Cognitive perspective

Examines how we think, process, store, and retrieve information.

Biological perspective

Examines brain structures, genetics, and chemicals to explain behavior.

Evolutionary perspective

Considers how natural selection shapes behaviors that aid survival.

Case Study

An in-depth study of an individual or small group to reveal universal principles.

Experiment

Manipulating variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Longitudinal Study

Follows the same subjects over a long period to track changes.

Cross-Sectional Study

Compares different groups at one point in time.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables.

Positive Correlation

Both variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

One variable increases as the other decreases.

Amygdala

Controls emotions like fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

Processes and stores new memories.

Medulla

Regulates breathing, heart rate, and vital functions.

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis; regulates hunger, thirst, and temperature.

Cerebral Cortex

Outer brain layer responsible for higher-level thinking and processing.

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance, posture, and fine motor movements.

Pons

Assists in sleep and communication between brain regions.

Thalamus

Relays sensory information to other brain areas.

Frontal Lobe

Controls decision-making, problem-solving, and movement.

Broca’s Area

Allows speech production; damage can lead to Broca’s aphasia.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Activates the 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Restores calm; establishes the 'rest and digest' state.

Stimulants

Increase brain activity (e.g., caffeine, amphetamines).

Depressants

Slow down brain and body functions (e.g., alcohol, tranquilizers).

Sleep Cycle

Alternates between NREM and REM stages, lasting approximately 90 minutes.

Hormones

Chemical messengers released by glands that regulate body processes.

Endocrine System

A network of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Pituitary Gland

The 'Master Gland' that controls growth and other endocrine glands.

Dopamine

Influences movement, pleasure, and learning.

Serotonin

Affects mood, sleep, and appetite.

Acetylcholine

Enables muscle action and memory.

Endorphins

Reduce pain and produce pleasure; natural painkillers.

Nature

Traits influenced by genetics and biology.

Nurture

Environment and experience shape behavior and traits.

Semicircular Canals

Structures in the ear responsible for balance.

Photoreceptor Cells

Cells in the retina that detect light.

Gustation

Sense of taste.

Vestibular Sense

Sense of balance and spatial orientation.

Kinesthetic Sense

Awareness of body movement and positioning.

Audition

Sense of hearing.

Monocular Cues

 Linear Perspective: Parallel lines appear to converge with distance. Relative Size: Closer objects appear larger than distant ones. Texture Gradient: Details are clearer up close and blur with distance.

Encoding

Processing information into a usable form for memory.

Storage

Maintaining information over time.

Retrieval

Accessing stored memories.

Functional Fixedness

Inability to see a new use for an object.

Divergent Thinking

Generating creative solutions or multiple answers.

Growth Mindset

Belief that abilities can develop through effort.

Fixed Mindset

Belief that abilities are unchangeable.

Mental/Perceptual Set

perceive or interpret information in a specific way based on past experiences, expectations, and context

Heuristics

Simple thinking strategies for efficient decision-making.

Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences

a theory proposed by Howard Gardner that suggests intelligence is not a single entity, but rather a combination of different types of intelligence including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic; essentially, people can excel in various ways beyond just traditional academic measures

Spearmen’s G Factor

Refers to the concept of a general intelligence factor ("g") proposed by psychologist Charles Spearman, which suggests that a single underlying mental ability influences performance across various cognitive tasks, meaning someone with high general intelligence will tend to perform well in most intellectual areas, not just one specific domain; essentially, it's the idea of a "general mental ability" that underlies all cognitive skills.

Memory Interference

a memory phenomenon that occurs when new or old information makes it difficult to recall or learn other information.