AP Psych Theories

Weber's Law

Refers to the just noticeable difference in stimuli

Young-Helmholtz Color Theory (Trichromatic Theory)

Explains color perception based on red, blue, or green-sensitive cones

Opponent-Process Color Theory

Organizes color information into 3 antagonistic pairs

Place Theory

Links perceived pitch to specific regions in the auditory system

Frequency Theory

Relates pitch perception to sound wave frequency and neuron firing rate

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Suggests facial sensations influence emotional experiences

Statistical Significance

Indicates results unlikely to occur by chance, typically at a 0.05 level

Template-Matching Theory

Recognition based on stored templates

Prototype-Matching Theory

Recognition involves comparing to a typical example

Feature-Analysis Theory

Recognition based on distinctive features

Restorative Theory

Sleep is necessary for physical and mental replenishment

Adaptive Nonresponding Theory

Sleep and inactivity have evolutionary advantages

Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis

Dreams result from random neural activity

Thorndike's Law of Effect

Behavior is influenced by rewards and punishments

Premack Principle

High-probability behaviors can reinforce low-probability behaviors

Continuity vs

Debate on development theories regarding nature and nurture

Serial Position Phenomenon

Order of presentation influences memory recall

Primacy Effect

Better memory for items presented first

Recency Effect

Better memory for items presented last

Decay Theory

Forgetting due to interference from similar materials

Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis

Language shapes and limits experiences

Hull's Drive-Reduction Model

Motivation stems from fulfilling needs

Cognitive Consistency Theory

Inconsistencies create motivation to reduce tension

Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Describes the discomfort from conflicting beliefs

Arousal Theories

Individuals seek optimal levels of stimulation

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Performance improves with arousal to a point, then declines

Incentive Theory

Behavior is driven by anticipated rewards

James-Lange Theory

Emotions arise from bodily changes