AP Psychology Crash Course Key Terms
Absolute Threshold - ✅✅ -The minimum intensity at which a stimulus an be
detected at least 50% of the time. For example, humans can barely detect a
candle flame from 30 miles away on a clear dark night.
Accommodation - ✅✅ -The process of adjusting old schemas or developing
new ones to incorporate new information.
Achievement Motivation - ✅✅ -The drive to succeed, especially in competition
with others. Individuals who have a strong need for achievement seek out tasks
that are moderately difficult.
Action Potential - ✅✅ -A brief electrical impulse by which information is
transmitted along the axon of a neuron.
Algorithm - ✅✅ -A logical, step-by-step procedure that, if followed correctly, will
eventually solve a specific problem.
All-Or-Nothing Law - ✅✅ -The principle that either a neuron is sufficiently
stimulated and an action potential occurs or a neuron is not sufficiently stimulated
and an action potential does not occur.
Amygdala - ✅✅ -An almond-shaped part of the limbic system linked to the
regulation of emotional responses, especially fear.
Anterograde Amnesia - ✅✅-People who suffer from anterograde amnesia are
unable to form new memories.
Assimilation - ✅✅-The process of absorbing new information into an existing
schema
Authoritarian Style of Parenting - ✅✅ -Parents set rigid rules, enforce strict
punishments, and rarely listen to their child's point of view.
,Authoritative Style of Parenting - ✅✅ -Parents set firm rules, make reasonable
demands, and listen to their child's viewpoint while still insisting on responsible
behavior.
✅✅
Availability Heuristic - -Judging the likelihood of an event based on readily
available personal experiences or news reports.
Aversion Therapy - ✅✅ -Uses the principles of classical conditioning to create
anxiety by pairing an aversive stimulas with a maladaptive behavior.
Behavior Therapy - ✅✅ -Group of techniques that use the principles of classical
conditioning, operant learning, and observational learning to modify maladaptive
behaviors.
Behavioral Perspective - ✅✅ -Emerged from the pioneering work of Ivan
Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B. F. Skinner. Emphasizes observable behavior that
can be objectively measured.
Biological Perspective - ✅✅ -Emphasizes genetics, the roles of various parts of
the brain, and the structure and function of individual nerve cells.
Biomedical Therapy - ✅✅-Uses drugs and electroconvulsive therapy to treat
psychological disorders.
✅✅-Characterized by periods of both depression and mania.
Bipolar Disorder -
Blind-Spot - ✅✅-The point at the back of the retina where the optic nerve
leaves the ye. Since there are no visual receptor cells, this creates a small gap in
field of vision called the "blind spot."
Bystander Effect - ✅✅-The tendency for individuals to be less likely to assist in
an emergency situation when other people are present.
Case Study - ✅✅-An in-depth examination of a single research participant.
, Central Route to Persuasion - ✅✅ -When people make decision based upon
factual information, logical arguments, and a thoughtful analysis of pertinent
details.
Cerebral Cortex - ✅✅ -A thin surface layer on the cerebral hemispheres that
regulates most complex behavior, including sensations, motor control, and higher
mental processes such as decision making.
Cerebral Hemispheres - ✅✅ -The nearly symmetrical left and right halves of the
cerebral cortex. The left hemisphere specializes in verbal and analytical
functions. The right hemisphere focuses on nonverbal abilities such as art and
music and visual recognition tasks.
Circadian Rhythm - ✅✅ -Biological processes that systematically vary of a
period of about 24 hours. For example, the sleep-wake cycle, blood pressure,
and pulse rate all follow circadian rhythms.
Classical Conditioning - ✅✅ -Based upon the pioneering work of Ivan Pavlov.
The learning process that occurs when a previously neutral stimulus is
repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.
Client-Centered Therapy - ✅✅ -Carl Rogers's therapy emphasizing the client's
natural tendency to become healthy and productive. Key techniques include
empathy, unconditional positive regard, and active listening.
Cochlea - ✅✅ -The coiled, snail-shaped structure in the inner ear containing
receptors for hearing.
Cognitive Dissonance - ✅✅
-The state of psychological tension, anxiety, and
discomfort that occurs when an individual's attitude and behavior are
inconsistent.
Cognitive Perspective - ✅✅ -Influenced by the computer revolution, the
cognitive perspective compares the mind to a computer that encodes, processes,
and stores information. Cognitive psychologists emphasize thinking, perceiving,
and information processing.
Absolute Threshold - ✅✅ -The minimum intensity at which a stimulus an be
detected at least 50% of the time. For example, humans can barely detect a
candle flame from 30 miles away on a clear dark night.
Accommodation - ✅✅ -The process of adjusting old schemas or developing
new ones to incorporate new information.
Achievement Motivation - ✅✅ -The drive to succeed, especially in competition
with others. Individuals who have a strong need for achievement seek out tasks
that are moderately difficult.
Action Potential - ✅✅ -A brief electrical impulse by which information is
transmitted along the axon of a neuron.
Algorithm - ✅✅ -A logical, step-by-step procedure that, if followed correctly, will
eventually solve a specific problem.
All-Or-Nothing Law - ✅✅ -The principle that either a neuron is sufficiently
stimulated and an action potential occurs or a neuron is not sufficiently stimulated
and an action potential does not occur.
Amygdala - ✅✅ -An almond-shaped part of the limbic system linked to the
regulation of emotional responses, especially fear.
Anterograde Amnesia - ✅✅-People who suffer from anterograde amnesia are
unable to form new memories.
Assimilation - ✅✅-The process of absorbing new information into an existing
schema
Authoritarian Style of Parenting - ✅✅ -Parents set rigid rules, enforce strict
punishments, and rarely listen to their child's point of view.
,Authoritative Style of Parenting - ✅✅ -Parents set firm rules, make reasonable
demands, and listen to their child's viewpoint while still insisting on responsible
behavior.
✅✅
Availability Heuristic - -Judging the likelihood of an event based on readily
available personal experiences or news reports.
Aversion Therapy - ✅✅ -Uses the principles of classical conditioning to create
anxiety by pairing an aversive stimulas with a maladaptive behavior.
Behavior Therapy - ✅✅ -Group of techniques that use the principles of classical
conditioning, operant learning, and observational learning to modify maladaptive
behaviors.
Behavioral Perspective - ✅✅ -Emerged from the pioneering work of Ivan
Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B. F. Skinner. Emphasizes observable behavior that
can be objectively measured.
Biological Perspective - ✅✅ -Emphasizes genetics, the roles of various parts of
the brain, and the structure and function of individual nerve cells.
Biomedical Therapy - ✅✅-Uses drugs and electroconvulsive therapy to treat
psychological disorders.
✅✅-Characterized by periods of both depression and mania.
Bipolar Disorder -
Blind-Spot - ✅✅-The point at the back of the retina where the optic nerve
leaves the ye. Since there are no visual receptor cells, this creates a small gap in
field of vision called the "blind spot."
Bystander Effect - ✅✅-The tendency for individuals to be less likely to assist in
an emergency situation when other people are present.
Case Study - ✅✅-An in-depth examination of a single research participant.
, Central Route to Persuasion - ✅✅ -When people make decision based upon
factual information, logical arguments, and a thoughtful analysis of pertinent
details.
Cerebral Cortex - ✅✅ -A thin surface layer on the cerebral hemispheres that
regulates most complex behavior, including sensations, motor control, and higher
mental processes such as decision making.
Cerebral Hemispheres - ✅✅ -The nearly symmetrical left and right halves of the
cerebral cortex. The left hemisphere specializes in verbal and analytical
functions. The right hemisphere focuses on nonverbal abilities such as art and
music and visual recognition tasks.
Circadian Rhythm - ✅✅ -Biological processes that systematically vary of a
period of about 24 hours. For example, the sleep-wake cycle, blood pressure,
and pulse rate all follow circadian rhythms.
Classical Conditioning - ✅✅ -Based upon the pioneering work of Ivan Pavlov.
The learning process that occurs when a previously neutral stimulus is
repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.
Client-Centered Therapy - ✅✅ -Carl Rogers's therapy emphasizing the client's
natural tendency to become healthy and productive. Key techniques include
empathy, unconditional positive regard, and active listening.
Cochlea - ✅✅ -The coiled, snail-shaped structure in the inner ear containing
receptors for hearing.
Cognitive Dissonance - ✅✅
-The state of psychological tension, anxiety, and
discomfort that occurs when an individual's attitude and behavior are
inconsistent.
Cognitive Perspective - ✅✅ -Influenced by the computer revolution, the
cognitive perspective compares the mind to a computer that encodes, processes,
and stores information. Cognitive psychologists emphasize thinking, perceiving,
and information processing.
