AP Psych Full Course Review
absolute threshold>>> the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of
the time.
accommodation>>> a process by which the eye adjusts and is able to focus, producing a sharp image at
various, changing distances from the object seen.
accommodation>>> in developmental psychology, adapting our current understandings (schemas) to
incorporate new information.
achievement motivation>>> a desire for significant accomplishment, for mastery of skills or ideas, for
control, and for attaining a high standard.
achievement test>>> a test designed to assess what a person has learned.
acquisition>>> in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an
unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In
operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.
active listening>>> empathic listening in which the listener echoes, restates, and clarifies. A feature of
Rogers' client-centered therapy.
acute schizophrenia>>> (also called reactive schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia that can begin at
any age; frequently occurs in response to a traumatic event.
adaptation-level phenomenon>>> our tendency to form judgments (of sounds, of lights, of income)
relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience.
adolescence>>> the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to
independence.
aerobic exercise>>> sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness; also helps alleviate
depression and anxiety.
affiliation need>>> the need to build relationships and to feel part of a group.
aggression>>> any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.
aggression>>> any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.
agoraphobia>>> fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one has felt
loss of control and panic.
,AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)>>> a life-threatening, sexually transmitted infection
caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS depletes the immune system, leaving the
person vulnerable to infections.
algorithm>>> 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.
altruism>>> unselfish regard for the welfare of others.
Alzheimer's disease>>> a neurocognitive disorder marked by neural plaques, often with onset after age
80, and entailing a progressive decline in memory and other cognitive abilities.
androgyny>>> displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics.
anorexia nervosa>>> an eating disorder in which a person (usually an adolescent female) maintains a
starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise.
anterograde amnesia>>> an inability to form new memories.
antianxiety drugs>>> drugs used to control anxiety and agitation.
antidepressant drugs>>> drugs used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. (Several widely used antidepressant drugs are selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors—SSRIs.)
antipsychotic drugs>>> drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of severe thought disorder.
antisocial personality disorder>>> a personality disorder in which a person (usually a man) exhibits a lack
of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members; may be aggressive and ruthless
or a clever con artist.
anxiety disorders>>> psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or
maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety.
aphasia>>> impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area
(impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).
applied research>>> scientific study that aims to solve practical problems. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e
p. 25)
aptitude test>>> a test designed to predict a person's future performance; aptitude is the capacity to
learn.
asexual>>> having no sexual attraction to others.
assimilation>>> interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas.
,associative learning>>> learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in
classical conditioning) or a response and its consequence (as in operant conditioning).
attachment>>> an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking
closeness to their caregiver and showing distress on separation.
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)>>> a psychological disorder marked by extreme
inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.
attitude>>> feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to
objects, people, and events.
attribution theory>>> the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or
the person's disposition.
audition>>> the sense or act of hearing
autism spectrum disorder (ASD)>>> a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant
deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive
behaviors.
automatic processing>>> unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and
frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings.
availability heuristic>>> 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.
aversive conditioning>>> a type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as
nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol).
babbling stage>>> beginning around 4 months, the stage of speech development in which an infant
spontaneously utters various sounds at first unrelated to the household language.
basal metabolic rate>>> the body's resting rate of energy output.
basic research>>> pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base. (Myers Psychology
for AP 3e p. 24)
basic trust>>> according to Erik Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be
formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers.
basilar membrane>>> A membrane inside the cochlea which vibrates in response to sound and whose
vibrations lead to activity in the auditory pathways.
behavior feedback effect>>> the tendency of behavior to influence our own and others' thoughts,
feelings, and actions.
, behavior genetics>>> the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences
on behavior. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e pp. 14, 129)
behavior therapy>>> therapy that applies learning principles to the elimination of unwanted behaviors.
behavioral approach>>> focuses on the effects of learning on our personality development.
behavioral psychology>>> the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles
of learning. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 17)
behaviorism>>> the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior
without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
behaviorism>>> the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior
without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). (Myers
Psychology for AP 3e pp. 10, 272)
belief perseverance>>> clinging to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed
has been discredited.
binge-eating disorder>>> significant binge-eating episodes, followed by distress, disgust, or guilt, but
without the compensatory behavior that marks bulimia nervosa.
binocular cues>>> visual messages/cues that require two eyes
biofeedback>>> a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information
regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension.
biological psychology>>> the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal)
and psychological processes. (Some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists,
neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists.) (Myers
Psychology for AP 3e p. 17)
biomedical therapy>>> prescribed medications or procedures that act directly on the person's
physiology.
biopsychosocial approach>>> an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and
social-cultural viewpoints. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 17)
bipolar disorder>>> a disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of
depression and the overexcited state of mania. (Formerly called manic-depressive disorder.)
blind spot>>> place on the retina out where the ganglion cells axons leaves the eye; no receptors
rods/cones) are located here
bottom-up processing>>> Starts with basic sensory information
absolute threshold>>> the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of
the time.
accommodation>>> a process by which the eye adjusts and is able to focus, producing a sharp image at
various, changing distances from the object seen.
accommodation>>> in developmental psychology, adapting our current understandings (schemas) to
incorporate new information.
achievement motivation>>> a desire for significant accomplishment, for mastery of skills or ideas, for
control, and for attaining a high standard.
achievement test>>> a test designed to assess what a person has learned.
acquisition>>> in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an
unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In
operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.
active listening>>> empathic listening in which the listener echoes, restates, and clarifies. A feature of
Rogers' client-centered therapy.
acute schizophrenia>>> (also called reactive schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia that can begin at
any age; frequently occurs in response to a traumatic event.
adaptation-level phenomenon>>> our tendency to form judgments (of sounds, of lights, of income)
relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience.
adolescence>>> the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to
independence.
aerobic exercise>>> sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness; also helps alleviate
depression and anxiety.
affiliation need>>> the need to build relationships and to feel part of a group.
aggression>>> any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.
aggression>>> any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.
agoraphobia>>> fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one has felt
loss of control and panic.
,AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)>>> a life-threatening, sexually transmitted infection
caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS depletes the immune system, leaving the
person vulnerable to infections.
algorithm>>> 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.
altruism>>> unselfish regard for the welfare of others.
Alzheimer's disease>>> a neurocognitive disorder marked by neural plaques, often with onset after age
80, and entailing a progressive decline in memory and other cognitive abilities.
androgyny>>> displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics.
anorexia nervosa>>> an eating disorder in which a person (usually an adolescent female) maintains a
starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise.
anterograde amnesia>>> an inability to form new memories.
antianxiety drugs>>> drugs used to control anxiety and agitation.
antidepressant drugs>>> drugs used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. (Several widely used antidepressant drugs are selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors—SSRIs.)
antipsychotic drugs>>> drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of severe thought disorder.
antisocial personality disorder>>> a personality disorder in which a person (usually a man) exhibits a lack
of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members; may be aggressive and ruthless
or a clever con artist.
anxiety disorders>>> psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or
maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety.
aphasia>>> impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area
(impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).
applied research>>> scientific study that aims to solve practical problems. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e
p. 25)
aptitude test>>> a test designed to predict a person's future performance; aptitude is the capacity to
learn.
asexual>>> having no sexual attraction to others.
assimilation>>> interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas.
,associative learning>>> learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in
classical conditioning) or a response and its consequence (as in operant conditioning).
attachment>>> an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking
closeness to their caregiver and showing distress on separation.
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)>>> a psychological disorder marked by extreme
inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.
attitude>>> feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to
objects, people, and events.
attribution theory>>> the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or
the person's disposition.
audition>>> the sense or act of hearing
autism spectrum disorder (ASD)>>> a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant
deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive
behaviors.
automatic processing>>> unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and
frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings.
availability heuristic>>> 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.
aversive conditioning>>> a type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as
nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol).
babbling stage>>> beginning around 4 months, the stage of speech development in which an infant
spontaneously utters various sounds at first unrelated to the household language.
basal metabolic rate>>> the body's resting rate of energy output.
basic research>>> pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base. (Myers Psychology
for AP 3e p. 24)
basic trust>>> according to Erik Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be
formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers.
basilar membrane>>> A membrane inside the cochlea which vibrates in response to sound and whose
vibrations lead to activity in the auditory pathways.
behavior feedback effect>>> the tendency of behavior to influence our own and others' thoughts,
feelings, and actions.
, behavior genetics>>> the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences
on behavior. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e pp. 14, 129)
behavior therapy>>> therapy that applies learning principles to the elimination of unwanted behaviors.
behavioral approach>>> focuses on the effects of learning on our personality development.
behavioral psychology>>> the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles
of learning. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 17)
behaviorism>>> the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior
without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
behaviorism>>> the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior
without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). (Myers
Psychology for AP 3e pp. 10, 272)
belief perseverance>>> clinging to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed
has been discredited.
binge-eating disorder>>> significant binge-eating episodes, followed by distress, disgust, or guilt, but
without the compensatory behavior that marks bulimia nervosa.
binocular cues>>> visual messages/cues that require two eyes
biofeedback>>> a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information
regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension.
biological psychology>>> the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal)
and psychological processes. (Some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists,
neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists.) (Myers
Psychology for AP 3e p. 17)
biomedical therapy>>> prescribed medications or procedures that act directly on the person's
physiology.
biopsychosocial approach>>> an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and
social-cultural viewpoints. (Myers Psychology for AP 3e p. 17)
bipolar disorder>>> a disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of
depression and the overexcited state of mania. (Formerly called manic-depressive disorder.)
blind spot>>> place on the retina out where the ganglion cells axons leaves the eye; no receptors
rods/cones) are located here
bottom-up processing>>> Starts with basic sensory information
