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AP Psych Vocab > Unit 2 Part 1 > Flashcards

Unit 2 Part 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Inattentional blindness

A

A failure to notice unexpected but perceptible stimuli in a visual scene while one’s attention is focused on something else

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2
Q

Perceptual set

A

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

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3
Q

Gestalt

A

An organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

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4
Q

Figure ground

A

The organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground)

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5
Q

Depth perception

A

Awareness of three-dimensionality, solidity, and the distance between the observer and the object.

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6
Q

Visual cliff

A

A laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

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7
Q

Binocular cue

A

A depth cue, such as retinal disparity, that depends on the use of two eyes

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8
Q

Convergence

A

A cue to nearby objects’ distance, enabled by the brain combining retinal images

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9
Q

Retinal disparity

A

A binocular cue for perceiving depth. By comparing retinal images from the two eyes, the brain computes distance — the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object.

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10
Q

Monocular cue

A

A depth cue, such as interposition or linear perspective, available to either eye alone

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11
Q

Stroboscopic movement

A

An illusion of continuous movement (as in a motion picture) experienced when viewing a rapid series of slightly varying still images. (Think Steamboat Willy)

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12
Q

Assimilation

A

Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

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13
Q

Accommodation

A

(1) In sensation and perception, the process by which the eye’s lens changes shape to focus images of near or far objects on the retina. (2) In developmental psychology, adapting our current schemas (understandings) to incorporate new information.

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14
Q

Convergent thinking

A

Narrowing the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution

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15
Q

Divergent thinking

A

Expanding the number of possible problem solutions; creative thinking that diverges in different directions

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16
Q

Robert Sternberg

A

Known for his groundbreaking research into intelligence, love, creativity, and cognitive styles

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17
Q

Executive functions

A

Cognitive skills that work together, enabling us to generate, organize, plan, and implement goal-directed behavior

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18
Q

Algorithm

A

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.

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19
Q

Heuristic

A

A simple thinking strategy — a mental shortcut — that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier but also more error-prone than an algorithm

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20
Q

Insight

A

A sudden realization of a problem’s solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions

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21
Q

Confirmation bias

A

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

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22
Q

Fixation

A

The inability to see a problem from a new perspective; an obstacle to problem solving.

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23
Q

Phi phenomenon

A

An illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession

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24
Q

Perceptual constancy

A

Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent color, brightness, shape, and size) even as illumination and retinal images change.

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25
Color constancy
Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object
26
Perceptual adaption
The ability to adjust to changed sensory input, including an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field
27
Cognition
All the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
28
Metacognition
Cognition about our cognition; keeping track of and evaluating our mental processes
29
Concept
A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people
30
Prototype
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 (as when comparing feathered creatures to a prototypical bird, such as a crow)
31
Jean Piaget
Worked on child development. Proposed that humans progress through four developmental stages: the sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage
32
Schema
A concept or framework that organizes and interprets information
33
Recall
A measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test
34
Recognition
A measure of memory in which the person identifies items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test
35
Encoding
The process of getting information into the memory system — for example, by extracting meaning
36
Storage
The process of retaining encoded information over time
37
Retrieval
The process of getting information out of memory storage
38
Parallel processing
Processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously
39
Sensory memory
The immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system
40
Mental set
A tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past
41
Intuition
An effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning
42
Representative heuristic
Judging the likelihood of events in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular prototypes; may lead us to ignore other relevant information
43
Availability heuristic
Judging 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
44
Belief perseverance
The persistence of one’s initial conceptions even after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited
45
Framing
The way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments
46
Mnemonics
Memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices
47
Spacing effect
The tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice
48
Testing effect
Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning.
49
Shallow processing
Encoding on a basic level, based on the structure or appearance of words
50
Deep processing
Encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tends to yield the best retention
51
Semantic memory
Explicit memory of facts and general knowledge; one of our two conscious memory systems (the other is episodic memory)
52
Episodic memory
Explicit memory of personally experienced events; one of our two conscious memory systems (the other is semantic memory)
53
Memory consolidation
The neural storage of a long-term memory
54
Flashbulb memory
A clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event
55
Priming
The activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one’s perception, memory, or response
56
Short term memory
Briefly activated memory of a few items (such as digits of a phone number while calling) that is later stored or forgotten
57
Long term memory
The relatively permanent and limitless archive of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences
58
Working memory
A newer understanding of short-term memory; conscious, active processing of both (1) incoming sensory information, and (2) information retrieved from long-term memory.
59
Central executive
A memory component that coordinates the activities of the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad
60
Phonological loop
A memory component that briefly holds auditory information
61
Visuospatial sketchpad
A memory component that briefly holds information about objects’ appearance and location in space
62
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons
63
Long term potentiation (LTP)
An increase in a nerve cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation; a neural basis for learning and memory
64
Explicit memory
Retention of facts and experiences that we can consciously know and “declare.” (Also called declarative memory.)
65
Effortful processing
Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort
66
Automatic processing
Unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of familiar or well-learned information, such as sounds, smells, and word meanings
67
Implicit memory
Retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection. (Also called nondeclarative memory.)
68
Iconic memory
A momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second
69
Echoic memory
A momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds
70
Chunking
Organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically
71
Encoding specificity principle
The idea that cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping us recall it
72
Mood congruent memory
The tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one’s current good or bad mood
73
Serial position effect
Our tendency to recall best the last items in a list initially (a recency effect) and the first items in a list after a delay (a primacy effect)
74
Interleaving
A retrieval practice strategy/ study technique that involves mixing up multiple subjects while studying
75
Anterograde amnesia
An inability to form new memories
76
Retrograde amnesia
An inability to remember information from one’s past
77
Proactive interference
The forward-acting disruptive effect of older learning on the recall of new information.
78
Retroactive interference
The backward-acting disruptive effect of newer learning on the recall of old information
79
Repression (Ego defense mechanism)
In psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories
80
Reconsolidation
A process in which previously stored memories, when retrieved, are potentially altered before being stored again
81
Elizabeth Loftus
Researched human memory, notably false memories; her theory was the misinformation effect
82
Misinformation effect
Occurs when a memory has been corrupted by misleading information
83
Source amnesia
Faulty memory for how, when, or where information was learned or imagined (as when misattributing information to a wrong source). Source amnesia, along with the misinformation effect, is at the heart of many false memories.
84
Deja vu
That eerie sense that “I’ve experienced this before.” Cues from the current situation may unconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience
85
Charles Spearman
Developed the theory of general intelligence
86
General intelligence (g)
According to Spearman and others, underlies all mental abilities and is therefore measured by every task on an intelligence test

AP Psych Vocab (14 decks)

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