Barron's AP Psychology Flash Cards

These flashcards cover key concepts from Barron's AP Psychology study material.

Introspection

What technique did Wilhelm Wundt use to train subjects?

William James

Who published The Principles of Psychology?

Dividing human thought and behavior into discrete structures.

What did Max Wertheimer argue against in psychology?

What is the primary focus of psychoanalytic therapy?

Examining the unconscious mind through techniques like dream analysis.

Margaret Floy Washburn

Who was the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology?

What did John Watson advocate for in psychology?

Limiting psychology to observable phenomena.

Classical conditioning.

What concept is Ivan Pavlov known for developing?

What did B.F. Skinner expand upon in behaviorism?

The ideas of reinforcement and punishment.

Which perspective stresses individual choice and free will?

Humanist Perspective.

What is the focus of the Psychoanalytic Perspective?

The role of the unconscious mind.

How do Biopsychologists explain human behavior?

Through biological processes.

What do Evolutionary psychologists study?

Human thoughts and actions in terms of natural selection.

What do Behaviorists focus on?

Observable behaviors and the conditions affecting them.

What is examined in the Cognitive Perspective?

How we interpret, process, and remember environmental events.

What do Social-Cultural psychologists study?

The influence of culture on thoughts and behaviors.

What is hindsight bias?

The tendency to think one knew something all along after it has happened.

What is Applied Research?

Research conducted to solve practical problems.

What does Basic Research aim to explore?

Questions that interest psychologists but are not intended for immediate applications.

What is a Hypothesis?

A statement expressing a relationship between two variables.

What does a Theory aim to do?

Explain a phenomenon and allow generation of testable hypotheses.

What does Validity in research refer to?

Accuracy in measuring what it is intended to measure.

What is Reliability in research?

Consistency in results upon repeat testing.

What does Sampling refer to in research?

The process of selecting participants for a study.

What is a Confounding Variable?

A variable that could affect the dependent variable other than the independent variable.

What is the purpose of random assignment in experiments?

To limit confounding variables between control and experimental groups.

What is the Double-Blind Procedure?

Neither participants nor researchers know who is receiving the treatment.

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

Changes in behavior when subjects know they are being observed.

What does a Correlation measure?

The relationship between two variables.

What is a Scatter Plot?

A graph showing the relationship between two variables.

What is the purpose of the Survey Method?

To gather opinions or attitudes through questionnaires.

What is Naturalistic Observation?

Observing subjects in their natural environments without interference.

What type of research is a Case Study?

In-depth examination of a single participant or small group.

What are Descriptive Statistics?

Ways of summarizing data, typically through measures of central tendency.

What is the Normal Curve?

A bell-shaped curve representing normally distributed data.

What are Inferential Statistics?

Statistics that help determine if findings can be generalized to a larger population.

What is the APA's Ethical Guidelines for Human Research?

Guidelines for ethical treatment in research including informed consent and confidentiality.

What is a Neuron?

A neural cell that transmits messages within the nervous system.

What is the function of Dendrites?

To receive messages from other neurons.

What does the Myelin Sheath do?

Speeds up neural impulses along the axon.

What are Neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

What is the Synapse?

The space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of another.

What is the Action Potential?

An electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron.

What is the All-or-none Principle?

A neuron either fires completely or not at all.

What do Excitatory Neurotransmitters do?

Encourage the next neuron to fire.

What do Inhibitory Neurotransmitters do?

Prevent the next neuron from firing.

What is Acetylcholine associated with?

Motor movement, and its deficiency is linked to Alzheimer's disease.

What is the role of Dopamine?

Associated with motor movement and alertness; its imbalance relates to Parkinson's and schizophrenia.

What does the Central Nervous System consist of?

The brain and spinal cord.

What does the Peripheral Nervous System include?

All nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.

What does the Somatic Nervous System control?

Voluntary muscle movements.

What does the Autonomic Nervous System control?

Involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion.

What is the function of the Hypothalamus?

Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and other metabolic functions.

What is the Cerebral Cortex?

The outer layer of the brain associated with higher brain function.

What area of the brain is responsible for language production?

Broca's Area.

What does the Wernicke's Area control?

Language comprehension.

What is the main focus of Evolutionary Psychology?

Survival advantages of certain psychological traits.

What are the two dimensions of emotion according to the James-Lange Theory?

Physiological changes and cognitive awareness.

What is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

A pyramid of human needs ranging from basic (physiological) to higher-level needs (self-actualization).

What is the significance of the Stanford-Binet IQ Test?

Measures intelligence; developed by Alfred Binet and Louis Terman.

What is the premise of cognitive therapies?

Locate psychological problems in the way people think.

What does the term Attribution Theory refer to?

How people determine the cause of behavior.

What is the placebo effect?

The phenomenon where patients improve simply because they believe they are receiving treatment.

What is the purpose of the DSM?

To classify and diagnose psychological disorders.

What is Cognitive Dissonance?

The mental tension experienced when one's beliefs conflict with their actions.

What is the main characteristic of Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Disregard for the feelings and rights of others.

What are the main types of intelligence according to Sternberg's Triarchic Theory?

Analytic, Creative, and Practical intelligence.

What does the Flynt Effect refer to?

The observed increase in IQ scores over time.

What are primary drives?

Biological needs, like hunger and thirst.

What are secondary drives?

Learned drives, such as the desire for money to buy food.

What is Systematic Desensitization?

A behavioral therapy technique that gradually exposes a person to the feared object to reduce anxiety.

What is the function of Antidepressants?

To treat mood disorders by increasing serotonin levels.