AP PSYCH VOCAB 5

Encoding

The process of getting information into the memory system

Retrieval

The process of getting by information out of memory storage

Parallel Processing

Processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural made of information processing for many functions

Sensory Memory

The immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system

Working Memory

A newer understanding of short term memory that adds conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual information and of information retrieved from long term memory

Explicit Memory

Retention of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and “declare”

Effortful Memory

Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

Automatic Processing

Unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space time, and frequency, and of well learned information, such as the work meanings

Implicit Memory

Retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection

Iconic Memory

A momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli a picture image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second

Echoic Memory

A momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a picture image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second

Chunking

Organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically

Mnemonics

Memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices

Spacing Effect

The tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice

Testing effect

Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information

Shallow Processing

Encoding on a basic level, based on the structure or appearance of words

Deep Processing

Encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tends to yield the best retention

Flashbulb Memory

A clear, sustained memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

Long Term Potentiation

An increase in a cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation; a neutral basis for learning and memory

Priming

The activation, often unconsciously, of particular association in memory

Mood Congruent Memory

The tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current good or bad mood

Serial Position Effect

Our tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list

Anterograde Amnesia

An inability to form new memories

Retrograde Amnesia

An inability to retrieve information from one’s past

Proactive Interference

The forward acting disruptive effect of older learning on the recall of new information

Retroactive Interference

The backward acting disruptive effect of newer learning on the recall of old information

Repression

In psychoanalytic theory; the basic defense mechanism the banished from consciousness anxiety arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories

Misinformation Effect

Occurs when misleading information has distorted one’s memory of an event

Source Amnesia

Faulty memory for how, when, or where information was learned or imagined

Cognition

All the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Concepts

A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people

Prototypes

A mental image or best example of a category. Matching new items to a prototype provides a quick and easy method for sorting items into categories

Convergent Thinking

Harrowing the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution

Algorithm

A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem

Heuristic

A simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier but also more error prone than a algorithm

Confirmation Bias

A tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence

Mental Set

A tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past

Availability Heuristic

Estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind , we presume such events are common

Overconfidence

The tendency to be more confident than correct to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgements

Belief Perseverance

Clinging to one’s initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited

Framing

The way an issue is posed; how an issue is worded can significantly affect decisions and judgments

Phonemes

In a language, the smallest distinctive sound unit

Morphemes

In a language, the smallest distinctive sound unit

Telegraphic Speech

Early speech stage in which a child speaks like a telegram “go car” using mostly nouns and verbs

Aphasia

Impairing of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area or to Wernicke’s area

Ernst Weber

Ernest Hilgard

Edward Thorndike

Albert Bandura

Elizabeth Loftus

Noah Chomsky