AP Psych

Intelligence

The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations.

Charles Spearman

A psychologist who proposed that a single general intelligence (g) underlies all cognitive abilities.

General Intelligence (G)

A factor that Spearman believed contributes to all intellectual abilities, reflecting broad cognitive potential.

Factor Analysis

A statistical method used to identify clusters of related abilities or skills, often applied in intelligence research.

LL Thurstone & Primary Mental Abilities

Thurstone identified seven independent abilities (e.g., verbal comprehension, numerical ability) rather than a single general intelligence.

Fluid Intelligence (Gf)

The capacity to think logically and solve new problems, independent of previously acquired knowledge.

Crystallized Intelligence (Gc)

Knowledge and skills acquired through experience and education, which tend to increase over time.

Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory

A model that combines fluid and crystallized intelligence with other cognitive abilities in a comprehensive framework.

Howard Gardner & Multiple Intelligences

Gardner's theory that people possess various independent intelligences, such as linguistic, spatial, and interpersonal.

Savant Syndrome

A rare condition in which a person with mental disabilities displays extraordinary abilities in a specific area.

Robert Sternberg & Triarchic Intelligence

Sternberg’s model of intelligence, comprising analytical, creative, and practical intelligences.

Grit

Perseverance and passion for long-term goals, believed to contribute to success beyond traditional intelligence.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively.

Intelligence Test

A tool designed to measure a person's mental capabilities relative to others.

Achievement Test

A test assessing knowledge or skills that a person has learned.

Aptitude Test

A test designed to predict a person's future ability to learn new skills or perform certain tasks.

Alfred Binet

A French psychologist who created the first intelligence test to identify students needing additional academic support.

Mental Age

The level of intellectual functioning compared to the average performance of individuals in the same age group.

Stanford-Binet

An intelligence test based on Binet’s original test, adapted by Lewis Terman for use in the United States.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

A score derived from standardized tests, intended to measure an individual's cognitive abilities.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

A widely used intelligence test that includes both verbal and performance subtests.

Psychometric

The field of study concerned with the theory and technique of measuring psychological attributes, such as intelligence.

Standardization

The process of establishing norms and consistent procedures for administering a test.

Normal Curve

A bell-shaped curve that represents the distribution of scores, with most falling near the average.

Flynn Effect

The observed increase in average IQ scores over generations, likely due to various environmental factors.

Reliability

The consistency of a test in measuring what it aims to measure over time.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it is intended to measure.

Cross-Sectional Study

A study that compares individuals of different ages at one point in time.

Longitudinal Study

A study that follows the same individuals over a period to observe changes over time.

Cohort

A group of individuals who share a common characteristic, often age, studied over time.

Growth Mindset

The belief that abilities, including intelligence, can develop through effort and learning.

Fixed Mindset

The belief that abilities, including intelligence, are static and unchangeable.

Carol Dweck

A psychologist known for her research on growth and fixed mindsets and their impact on motivation and achievement.

Stereotype Threat

The anxiety or concern that one might confirm a negative stereotype about their group, which can affect performance.

Concept

a mental representation or an abstract idea that organizes and categorizes various aspects of the world

Prototype

the best or most typical example of a category or concept

assimilation

the process by which individuals incorporate new information or experiences into their existing cognitive structures, beliefs, or schemas

Accommodation

the process by which individuals modify their existing cognitive structures, schemas, or understanding to incorporate new information that does not fit into their current knowledge

Nature

the genetic, biological, and inherited factors that influence an individual’s development and behavior

Nurture

the environmental factors, experiences, and influences that shape an individual's development and behavior

Mental Set

the tendency to approach problems in a particular way, often based on past experiences or strategies that have worked before

Heuristics

mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that people use to make decisions or solve problems more efficiently