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Lancee Psych
Terms to study for the AP Psych test
288
Psychology
12th Grade
01/18/2012

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Term
Psychology
Definition
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Term
Behaviorism
Definition
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
Term
Functionalism
Definition
a school of psychology that focused on how mental and behavioral processes function—how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.
Term
Structuralism
Definition
an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind.
Term
Gestalt Psychology
Definition
an organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.
Term
Cognitive Psychology
Definition
Term
Introspection
Definition
The process of "looking inward" and examining one's self and one's own actions in order to gain insight. This was a central component to the early days of psychology during the Structuralist period.
Term
Population
Definition
all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population.)
Term
Scientific Method
Definition
The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step procedure psychologists use when conducting research. By following these specific steps, psychologists seek cause and effect relationships which means that they can be certain (at least have a high level of confidence) that one variable causes an effect on another variable and that the results of the study are caused by the variable being studied and not some other, outside (extraneous) variables.

The steps to the scientific method include describing the topic of study, making predictions (hypotheses), select a method for the study, controlling external variables, collecting data (running the study), analyzing & explaining the findings, and reporting & sharing the findings (usually via publication or lecturing). There are variations but these are the basic steps in the scientific method.
Term
Dependent Variable
Definition
the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
Term
Independent Variable
Definition
the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
Term
Case Study
Definition
an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.
Term
Experiment
Definition
a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.
Term
Control Group
Definition
During many experiments, researchers often include treatment groups (the groups that are given the treatment/IV) and a control group, which is identical to the treatment group in every single way except that the control group does not get the treatment/IV.
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
a testable prediction, often implied by a theory.
Term
Naturalistic Observation
Definition
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
Term
Survey
Definition
a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.
Term
Theory
Definition
an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.
Term
Correlation Coefficient
Definition
The correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to 1.
Term
Operational Definition
Definition
a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.
Term
Experimental Group
Definition
a group of subjects who are subjected to the independent or experimental variable in an experiment. The experimental group is matched in all respects with control group, which is treated in the same manner as the experimental group except for the application of the experimental variable.
Term
Correlation Research
Definition
Term
Random Assignment
Definition
assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.
Term
Mean
Definition
the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.
Term
Normal Distribution
Definition
is a continuous probability distribution that has a bell-shaped probability density function, known as the Gaussian function or informally the bell curve.
Term
Double Blind Study
Definition
neither the individuals nor the researchers know who belongs to the control group and the experimental group. Only after all the data have been recorded (and in some cases, analyzed) do the researchers learn which individuals are which.
Term
Median
Definition
the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.
Term
Mode
Definition
the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution
Term
Sample
Definition
Term
Standard Deviation
Definition
a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.
Term
Inferential Statistics
Definition
Procedures by which GENERALISATIONS can be made from findings on representative SAMPLES to the larger groups from which they are drawn.
Term
Placebo Effect
Definition
Latin for “I shall please”.experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent.
Term
Placebo
Definition
placebo An inactive substance disguised as an active one, e.g. a sugar pill given to a CONTROL GROUP in a drug EXPERIMENT or to a patient in hospital who would not benefit from an active drug but needs to feel that he is receiving treatment.
Term
Range
Definition
the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
Term
Descriptive Statistics
Definition
Term
Informed Consent
Definition
Is a legal condition whereby a person can be said to have given consent based upon an appreciation and understanding of the facts, implications and future consequences of an action. In order to give informed consent, the individual concerned must have adequate reasoning faculties and be in possession of all relevant facts at the time consent is given. Impairments to reasoning and judgement which would make it impossible for someone to give informed consent include such factors as severe mental retardation, severe mental illness, intoxication, severe sleep deprivation, Alzheimer's disease, or being in a coma.
Term
Replication
Definition
Repeating an EXPERIMENT over again in exactly the same way (though perhaps in a different place with different subjects.
Term
Variables
Definition
Term
Axon
Definition
The "tail" or "output" end of a neuron. Axonic end-fibers release neural transmitters into the synapse which stimulate the next neuron in line.
Term
Central Nervous System
Definition
Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
Term
Dendrites
Definition
Term
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Definition
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.
Term
Synapse
Definition
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft.
Term
Thalamus
Definition
the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition
the part of the peripheral nervous system, which controls the glands, and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
Term
Gene
Definition
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion.
Term
Neuron
Definition
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Term
Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
Term
Action Potential
Definition
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. The action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon’s membrane.
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
the “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.
Term
Hormones
Definition
chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another.
Term
Limbic System
Definition
a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.
Term
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
Term
Homeostasis
Definition
a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level.
Term
Chromosomes
Definition
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.
Term
Corpus Callosum
Definition
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
Term
Myelin Sheath
Definition
a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.
Term
Pituitary Gland
Definition
the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Term
Endocrine System
Definition
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.
Term
Medulla
Definition
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.
Term
Sensory Neurons
Definition
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system.
Term
Cell Body
Definition
Term
Frontal Lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
Term
Glial Cells
Definition
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Term
Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan)
Definition
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
Term
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Definition
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
Term
Endorphins
Definition
“morphine within”—natural, opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
Term
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Definition
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain.
Term
Occipital Lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field.
Term
Parietal Lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
Term
Temporal Lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear.
Term
Heritability
Definition
the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.
Term
Amygdala
Definition
two lima bean sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
a neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.
Term
Interneurons
Definition
central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
Term
Reticular Formation
Definition
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.
Term
Behavioral Genetics
Definition
Term
Natural Selection
Definition
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
Term
Pons
Definition
Term
Resting Potential
Definition
Term
Basilar Membrane
Definition
Term
Midbrain
Definition
Term
Motor Neurons
Definition
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.
Term
Receptors
Definition
Term
Association Areas
Definition
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Term
Eardrum
Definition
Term
Identical Twins
Definition
twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.
Term
All or None Law
Definition
Term
CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
Definition
Term
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
Definition
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
Term
Fraternal Twins
Definition
twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.
Term
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Definition
a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. MRI scans show brain anatomy; fMRI scans show brain function.
Term
Genotype
Definition
Term
Hindbrain
Definition
Term
Phenotype
Definition
Term
Acetylcholine (Ach)
Definition
a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.
Term
Forebrain
Definition
Term
Motor Cortex
Definition
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
Term
Spinal Cord
Definition
Term
Object Permanence
Definition
the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived.
Term
Formal Operational Stage
Definition
in Piaget’s theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts.
Term
Schemas
Definition
a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information.
Term
Accommodation (Piagetian)
Definition
adapting one’s current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information.
Term
Assimilation
Definition
interpreting one’s new experience in terms of one’s existing schemas.
Term
Attachment
Definition
an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation.
Term
Concrete Operational Stage
Definition
in Piaget’s theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events.
Term
Puberty
Definition
the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.
Term
Critical Period
Definition
an optimal period shortly after birth when an organism’s exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development.
Term
Preoperational Stage
Definition
in Piaget’s theory, the stage (from about 2 to 6 or 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic.
Term
Sensorimotor Stage
Definition
in Piaget’s theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities.
Term
Conservation
Definition
the principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects.
Term
Egocentrism
Definition
in Piaget’s theory, the preoperational child’s difficulty in taking another’s point of view.
Term
Fetus
Definition
the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.
Term
Embryo
Definition
the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.
Term
Longitudinal Study
Definition
research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period.
Term
Cross Sectional Study
Definition
a study in which people of different ages are compared with one another.
Term
Development Psychology
Definition
a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.
Term
Gender Identity
Definition
one’s sense of being male or female.
Term
Maturation
Definition
biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.
Term
Zygote
Definition
the fertilized egg; it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo.
Term
Alzheimer's Disease
Definition
a progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning.
Term
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Definition
physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions.
Term
Menarche
Definition
the first menstrual period.
Term
Menopause
Definition
the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines.
Term
Gender
Definition
in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female.
Term
Imprinting
Definition
the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life.
Term
Teratogens
Definition
agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.
Term
Adolescence
Definition
the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence.
Term
Sensation
Definition
the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.
Term
Absolute Threshold
Definition
the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time.
Term
Retina
Definition
the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information.
Term
Cones
Definition
retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations.
Term
Difference Threshold
Definition
the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference. (Also called just noticeable difference or jnd.)
Term
Perception
Definition
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.
Term
Rods
Definition
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don’t respond.
Term
Opponent Process Theory
Definition
the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green.
Term
Fovea
Definition
the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye’s cones cluster.
Term
Trichromatic Theory
Definition
(Also known as Young-Helmholtz theory)(Three-color) the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors—one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue—which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color.
Term
Cochlea
Definition
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses.
Term
Perceptual Constancy
Definition
perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent lightness, color, shape, and size) even as illumination and retinal images change.
Term
Monocular Cue
Definition
depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone.
Term
Pheromones
Definition
Term
Transduction
Definition
conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brains can interpret.
Term
Weber's Law
Definition
the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount).
Term
Binocular Cues
Definition
depth cues, such as retinal disparity and convergence, that depend on the use of two eyes.
Term
Place Theory
Definition
in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated.
Term
Retinal Disparity
Definition
a binocular cue for perceiving depth: By comparing images from the two eyeballs, the brain computes distance—the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object.
Term
Taste Buds
Definition
Term
Pitch
Definition
a tone’s experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency.
Term
Bottom Up Processing
Definition
analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory information.
Term
Feature Detector
Definition
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement.
Term
Gate Control Theory
Definition
the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The “gate” is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.
Term
Psychophysics
Definition
the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them.
Term
Sensory Adaptation
Definition
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.
Term
Signal Detection Theory
Definition
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (“signal”) amid background stimulation (“noise”). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and detection depends partly on a person’s experience, expectations, motivation, and level of fatigue.
Term
Top Down Processing
Definition
information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations.
Term
Accommodation (perceptual)
Definition
the process by which the eye’s lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.
Term
Frequency Theory
Definition
in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch.
Term
Habituation
Definition
decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.
Term
Lens
Definition
the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina.
Term
Optic Nerve
Definition
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain.
Term
Pupil
Definition
the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.
Term
Vestibular Sense
Definition
the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance.
Term
Blind Spot
Definition
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a “blind” spot because no receptor cells are located there.
Term
Dark Adaptation
Definition
Term
Iris
Definition
a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.
Term
Olfaction
Definition
Term
Convergence
Definition
a binocular cue for perceiving depth; the extent to which the eyes converge inward when looking at an object. The greater the inward strain, the closer the object.
Term
Hue
Definition
the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth.
Term
Shape Constancy
Definition
Term
Size Constancy
Definition
Term
Cornea
Definition
Term
Subliminal Perception
Definition
Term
Circadian Rhythms
Definition
Term
Hypnosis
Definition
a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur.
Term
REM Sleep
Definition
rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.
Term
Stimulants
Definition
drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.
Term
Consciousness
Definition
our awareness of ourselves and our environment.
Term
Insomnia
Definition
recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.
Term
Psychoactive Drugs
Definition
a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood.
Term
Hallucinogens
Definition
psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.
Term
Narcolepsy
Definition
a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.
Term
Tolerance
Definition
the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect.
Term
Depressants
Definition
drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.
Term
Latent Content
Definition
according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content). Freud believed that a dream’s latent content functions as a safety valve.
Term
Manifest Content
Definition
according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden, content).
Term
Sleep Apnea
Definition
a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.
Term
Opiate
Definition
opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.
Term
Activation Synthesis Hypothesis
Definition
Term
Meditation
Definition
Term
Physical Dependence
Definition
a physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued.
Term
Biofeedback
Definition
a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension.
Term
Classical Conditioning
Definition
a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning.
Term
Conditioned Response (CR)
Definition
in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).
Term
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Definition
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response.
Term
Observational Learning
Definition
learning by observing others.
Term
Operant Conditioning
Definition
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.
Term
Shaping
Definition
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.
Term
Spontaneous Recovery
Definition
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.
Term
Stimulus Discrimination
Definition
Term
Stimulus Generalization
Definition
Term
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
Definition
in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.
Term
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
Definition
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response.
Term
Learning
Definition
Term
Negative Reinforcement
Definition
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: Negative reinforcement is not punishment.)
Term
Positive Reinforcement
Definition
increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.
Term
Punishment
Definition
an event that decreases the behavior that it follows.
Term
Reinforcement
Definition
Term
Secondary Reinforcers
Definition
Term
Extinction (Classical Conditioning)
Definition
the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.
Term
Learned Helplessness
Definition
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.
Term
Primary Reinforcers
Definition
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.
Term
Fixed Ratio Schedule
Definition
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.
Term
Law of Effect
Definition
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.
Term
Variable Interval Schedule
Definition
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.
Term
Variable Ratio Schedule
Definition
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.
Term
Fixed Interval Schedule
Definition
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.
Term
Partial Reinforcement
Definition
reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.
Term
A Version Therapy
Definition
Term
Continuous Reinforcement
Definition
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.
Term
Extinction (Operant Conditioning)
Definition
the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.
Term
Latent Learning
Definition
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.
Term
Reflex
Definition
a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.
Term
Cognitive Map
Definition
a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it.
Term
Discriminative Stimulus
Definition
Term
Schedule of Reinforcement
Definition
Term
Long Term Memory (LTM)
Definition
the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Term
Working Memory
Definition
a newer understanding of short-term memory that involves conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual-spatial information, and of information retrieved from long-term memory.
Term
Semantic Memory
Definition
Term
Episodic Memory
Definition
Term
Chunking
Definition
organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically.
Term
Implicit Memory
Definition
retention independent of conscious recollection.
Term
Proactive Interference
Definition
the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information.
Term
Retroactive Interference
Definition
the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information.
Term
Procedural Memory
Definition
Term
Anterograde Amnesia
Definition
Term
Encoding
Definition
the processing of information into the memory system—for example, by extracting meaning.
Term
Explicit Memory
Definition
memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and “declare.”
Term
Retrograde Amnesia
Definition
Term
Sensory Memory
Definition
the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system.
Term
Flashbulb Memories
Definition
a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event.
Term
Memory
Definition
Term
Mnemonic Devices
Definition
memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices.
Term
Retrieval
Definition
the process of getting information out of memory storage.
Term
Elaborative Rehearsal
Definition
Term
Storage
Definition
the retention of encoded information over time.
Term
Serial Position Effect
Definition
our tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list.
Term
Priming
Definition
the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one’s perception, memory, or response.
Term
Recognition
Definition
a measure of memory in which the person need only identify items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test.
Term
Declarative Memory
Definition
Term
Primacy Effect
Definition
Term
Amnesia
Definition
the loss of memory.
Term
Long Term Potentiation (LTP)
Definition
an increase in a synapse’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation. Believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory.
Term
Maintenance Rehearsal
Definition
Term
Recall
Definition
a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test.
Term
Decay Theory
Definition
Term
Encoding Specificity Principle
Definition
Term
State Dependent Memory
Definition
Term
Heuristic
Definition
a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier but also more error-prone than algorithms.
Term
Algorithm
Definition
a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem. Contrasts with the usually speedier—but also more error-prone—use of heuristics.
Term
Functional Fixedness
Definition
the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions; an impediment to problem solving.
Term
Prototype
Definition
a mental image or best example of a category. Matching new items to the prototype provides a quick and easy method for including items in a category (as when comparing feathered creatures to a prototypical bird, such as a robin).
Term
Concept
Definition
a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people.
Term
Morpheme
Definition
in a language, the smallest unit that carries meaning; may be a word or a part of a word (such as a prefix).
Term
Phoneme
Definition
in a language, the smallest distinctive sound unit.
Term
Syntax
Definition
the rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language.
Term
Insight (learning)
Definition
a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem; it contrasts with strategy-based solutions
Term
Availability Heuristic
Definition
estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind (perhaps because of their vividness), we presume such events are common.
Term
Mental Set
Definition
a tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past.
Term
Representativeness Heuristic
Definition
heuristic judging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular prototypes; may lead one to ignore other relevant information.
Term
Language
Definition
our spoken, written, or signed words and the ways we combine them to communicate meaning.
Term
Semantics
Definition
the set of rules by which we derive meaning from morphemes, words, and sentences in a given language; also, the study of meaning.
Term
Confirmation Bias
Definition
a tendency to search for information that confirms one’s preconceptions.
Term
Cognition
Definition
all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.
Term
Telegraphic Speech
Definition
early speech stage in which a child speaks like a telegram—“go car”—using mostly nouns and verbs and omitting auxiliary words.
Term
Reliability
Definition
the extent to which a test yields consistent results, as assessed by the consistency of scores on two halves of the test, on alternate forms of the test, or on retesting.
Term
Validity
Definition
the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to.
Term
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
Definition
defined originally as the ratio of mental age (ma) to chronological age (ca) multiplied by 100 [thus, IQ = (ma/ca) x 100]. On contemporary intelligence tests, the average performance for a given age is assigned a score of 100.
Term
Intelligence
Definition
mental quality consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations.
Term
Creativity
Definition
the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas.
Term
Crystallized Intelligence
Definition
one’s accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age.
Term
Fluid Intelligence
Definition
one’s ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood.
Term
Social Norms
Definition
Term
Frustration Aggression Hypothesis
Definition
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