AP Psych Final

Psychology

The study of human thought processes and human behavior.

Nature vs Nurture

Nature is our inherited genetic structure, while nurture refers to our learning and experiences from media, parents, peers, etc.

Industrial organizational psychology

Applies psychological concepts in the workplace to increase productivity.

Educational psychology

Studies the different influences on teaching and learning.

Developmental psychology

Studies the ways in which we change or stay the same from birth to death.

Human factors psychology

Studies interactions of humans and machines and designs machines that are user-friendly.

Psychiatry

Field that has medical training and can prescribe medication.

Criminal psychology

Studies the minds and behavior of criminals, analyzing crime scenes.

Cognitive neuroscience

Studies the brain and how it affects cognitive function like attention, focus, and memory.

Counseling psychology

Assists people with problems of normal life such as family, work, and marriage.

Clinical psychology

Treats people with psychological disorders.

Research psychology

Formulates questions and designs research studies.

Psychometrics

Analyzes statistical data from psychological research studies.

Biological perspective

Studies our brains, hormones, neurotransmitters, viewing us as 'bodies.'

Humanistic perspective

Studies our goals, purpose, progress, and healthy relationships, viewing us as 'potential.'

Evolutionary perspective

Studies adaptations, survival mechanisms, and evolution, viewing us as 'another animal.'

Behavioral/learning perspective

Studies our learned behaviors and conditioned responses, viewing us as 'programmed robots.'

Psychodynamic perspective

Studies our unconscious mind, traumas, past experiences, and dreams.

Socio-cultural perspective

Studies our social groups, conformity, relationships, and obedience to authority.

Biopsychosocial perspective

Studies a combination of our brains, minds, and social environments.

Cognitive perspective

(Definition not provided in notes, consider adding a definition or leaving this blank.)

Hindsight bias

The tendency to perceive past events as having been more predictable than they were.

Overconfidence

Excess of confidence in one’s ability or judgment that is not justified.

Survey

Research method that uses lists of questions filled out by people to assess attitudes or opinions.

Case study

Research method that uses in-depth and detailed examination of a single subject or case.

Interview

Research method that asks participants specific questions face-to-face and records their answers.

Experiment

Investigation finding relations between cause and effect by isolating variables.

Correlation study

Research method that assesses the relationship among two or more variables.

Naturalistic observation

Research method that observes participants in their natural environment.

Population

All the people belonging to the group being studied.

Sample

The group drawn from the population to participate in the study.

Representative sample

A sample that accurately represents the population due to its variety.

Sampling bias

A flawed sampling process that results in an unrepresentative sample.

Social desirability bias

When participants don’t answer survey questions honestly due to fear of judgment.

Ecological validity

The realism of how a design matches the user's real context.

Demand characteristics

Cues that indicate research objectives to participants, leading to changed behavior.

Conformity effects

When people in a focus group agree with the ideas of a member.

Positive correlation

Both variables move up and down together.

Negative correlation

Variables move in opposite directions.

Correlation coefficient

Shows how strong the relationship is between two variables.

Scatterplot

Visual representation of a relationship or association between two variables.

Directionality problem

We know two variables are related, but we don’t know what’s causing it.

Third variable problem

A third variable that affects/causes correlation.

Illusory correlation

A 'fake' correlation caused by a third variable.

Likert scale

A rating scale used to measure survey participants' opinions or attitudes.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for further investigation.

Null hypothesis

The opposite of the hypothesis.

Random sampling

Anyone from the target population has a chance to be in the study.

Dependent variable

The variable that is being measured.

Independent variable

The variable that is changed between the control group and the experimental group.

Control group

The group not exposed to the independent variable.

Experimental group

The group being manipulated by the independent variable.

Double blind procedure

Neither the researcher nor the participants know who is in the control or experimental group.

Placebo

An inactive substance that is given like an active drug.

Placebo effect

A treatment that appears real but is designed to have no therapeutic benefit.

Mode

The most commonly occurring value in a data set.

Median

The middle value when data is organized from lowest to highest.

Normal bell curve

Theoretical curve showing the frequency of occurrence of events.

Bimodal distribution

A data set containing two distinctly different populations.

Statistical significance/effect size

Determines how much effect the independent variable had.

Informed consent

Participants must be told the nature of the study.

Debriefing

True aims and purposes must be revealed after the study.

Ethical guidelines

Professional recommendations for psychologists to follow in research.

Longitudinal study

Researchers repeatedly examine the same individuals to detect changes.

Cross-sectional study

Research involving different groups of people who share relevant variables.

Confirmation bias

Only paying attention to information that reinforces already held beliefs.

Meta-analysis

Combines results from multiple studies on a similar research question.

Peer review

A system for evaluating the quality of scholarly work before publication.

Neuron

Nerve cells.

Sensory neurons

Carry messages from body parts to your brain and spinal cord.

Motor neurons

Sends instructions to body parts.

Interneurons

Receive signals from the peripheral nervous system.

Glial cells

Support neurons, create brain blood barrier, and balance neurotransmission.

Neural transmission

Process of transferring a brain signal from one neuron to another.

Dendrite

Receives messages from other neurons.

Axon

Passes along messages to other neurons.

Myelin sheath

Insulates axons of neurons and speeds up their impulses.

Multiple sclerosis

Occurs when myelin sheaths dissolve, affecting communication to muscles.

Synapse

The gap between neurons where neurotransmission occurs.

Action potential

The electrical impulse that fires down the axon of a neuron.

Resting potential

When a neuron has negative ions, but not yet positive ions.

Excitatory neurotransmitters

Start or increase a neuron’s potential to fire.

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Stop or decrease a neuron’s potential to fire.

Antagonists

Medications that block neurotransmitters by binding to receptors.

Agonists

Medications that mimic neurotransmitters and trick the neuron into firing.

Reuptake

The process in which neurotransmitters are recycled after firing.

Peripheral nervous system

Connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Somatic nervous system

Controls voluntary movement of muscles.

Autonomic nervous system

Controls visceral and unconscious functions.

Sympathetic nervous system

Controls the body's fight or flight response.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Calms the body after stress.

Serotonin

Affects mood; low levels can lead to depression.

Dopamine

Controls pleasure and reward; imbalances can cause disorders.

Hormones

Chemical substances acting as messengers within the body.

Adrenaline

Increases strength and energy in response to stress.

Melatonin

Regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Psychoactive drugs

Substances that affect mental processes.

Stimulants

Excite neural activity and arouse bodily functions.

Depressants

Calm neural activity and slow body functions.

Hallucinogens

Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images.