Psychology - Key Terminology

Heuristic

a mental shortcut used for quick judgement

Systematic bias

a predictable and consistent error in thinking across people — not random

Schema

a mental framework that organises and interprets information

System 1

fast automatic intuitive unconscious thinking — default mode prone to bias

System 2

slow deliberate analytical conscious thinking — effortful and tires the brain

Cognitive load

the total demand placed on working memory

Intrinsic load

load caused by the complexity of the material itself

Extraneous load

unnecessary load caused by distractions like laptops

Germane load

cognitive effort used for actual learning and schema formation

Split attention effect

when cognitive resources are divided between two simultaneous inputs reducing performance

Working memory capacity

the limited amount of information working memory can hold at once

Acetylcholine

a neurotransmitter involved in memory encoding and spatial memory

Scopolamine

an antagonist that blocks acetylcholine receptors preventing activation

Antagonist

a substance that binds to and blocks a neurotransmitter's receptors

Encoding

the process of forming a new memory

Sensory register

the first MSM store that briefly holds incoming sensory information

Short-term memory

MSM store with limited capacity (7±2 items) and duration (~30 seconds)

Long-term memory

MSM store with potentially unlimited capacity and duration

Rehearsal

the mechanism that moves information from STM to LTM in the MSM

Central executive

the WMM component that controls attention and coordinates other components

Phonological loop

the WMM component that handles verbal and auditory information

Visuospatial sketchpad

the WMM component that processes visual and spatial information

Episodic buffer

the WMM component that integrates information and links working memory to LTM

Articulatory suppression

technique of repeating sounds to block the phonological loop

UCS

unconditioned stimulus — naturally produces a response without learning

UCR

unconditioned response — natural unlearned response to the UCS

CS

conditioned stimulus — previously neutral stimulus that produces a response after association

CR

conditioned response — learned response to the CS

Positive reinforcement

adding a pleasant consequence to increase a behaviour

Negative reinforcement

removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behaviour

Positive punishment

adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease a behaviour

Negative punishment

removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behaviour

Extinction

when the CR gradually disappears after the CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS

Token economy

a behaviour modification system using tokens as positive reinforcemen