Psychology and Memory Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering research methods, psychological perspectives, memory processes, types of memory, and forgetting mechanisms based on lecture notes.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables that change together, though it cannot be said that one causes the other.

Causation

A relationship where a change in one variable directly creates or causes a change in another variable.

Theory

A broad explanation supported by evidence that generates predictions that can be tested.

Psychology

A science that uses systematic, evidence-based methods to study behavior and mental processes.

Scientific Method

A systematic research process consisting of seven steps: 1. Question, 2. Hypothesis, 3. Test, 4. Collecting data, 5. Analyze, 6. Conclusion, 7. Replicate (retry).

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or tested, such as hours of student sleep.

Dependent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is measured to assess the outcome, such as a test score.

Operational Definition

A statement that tells how a researcher defined or measured something in a study.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in the real world without manipulating it.

Case Study

An intensive investigation of a single subject or topic.

Self-Report Bias

A phenomenon where people provide incorrect information about themselves due to personal perception, misunderstanding, or poor memory.

Debriefing

An ethical requirement in research where researchers explain what happened during the study to the participants.

Encoding

The memory process of getting information into your memory system.

Storage

The memory process of maintaining information over time.

Retrieval

The memory process of accessing stored information when you need it.

Encoding Failure

A cause of forgetting where you cannot retrieve something because it was not meaningfully encoded in the first place.

Decay

A process where memories become harder to remember over time because they are not used or visited.

Proactive Interference

Interference where past or old information interferes with learning or retrieving new information.

Retroactive Interference

Interference where recent or new information interferes with retrieving old information.

Retrieval Failure

Occurs when stored information is available in memory but difficult to access without the right retrieval cue.

Sensory Memory

Brief storage of information received by the senses.

Iconic Memory

Visual sensory memory.

Echoic Memory

Auditory sensory memory.

Short-Term Memory

Memory system that temporarily holds a limited amount of information.

Working Memory

Memory system that temporarily holds and actively works with information.

Chunking

Grouping separate pieces of information into larger, meaningful units to aid memory.

Recognition

Identifying information that you have encountered before.

Recall

Producing information from memory without being shown the answer.

Flashbulb Memory

A vivid memory associated with an emotionally significant event.

Hippocampus

Brain structure involved in long-term memory formation and new, explicit memories.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Psychological perspective focusing on how early experiences and unconscious conflicts contribute to anxiety.

Behavioral Perspective

Psychological perspective focusing on how behavior is learned through experiences, rewards, punishment, and the environment.

Cognitive Perspective

Psychological perspective focusing on how thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, memories, and expectations influence behavior and emotions.

Humanistic Perspective

Psychological perspective focusing on free will, personal growth, self-concept, and reaching one's potential.

Biological Perspective

Psychological perspective focusing on how the brain, nervous system, genetics, and hormones influence behavior and mental processes.

Socio-Cultural Perspective

Psychological perspective focusing on how culture, family, social groups, community, race, and ethnicity influence behavior and thinking.