AP Psych: Unit 5
Benjamin Whorf
Created the theory of Linguistic Relativity, which states that language determines the way we think.
Flynn Effect
The rise in average IQ scores that has occurred over the decades in many nations
Mental Age
a measure of intelligence test performance devised by Binet; the chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance
Recognition
a measure of memory in which the person need only identify items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test
Relearning
a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material for a second time
Prototype
a mental image or best example of a category
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
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
Heuristic
a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier but also more error-prone than algorithms
Mental Set
a tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past
Fixation
according to Freud, a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved
Short-Term Memory
activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as the seven digits of a phone number while dialing, before the information is stored or forgotten
Long-term Potentiation
an increase in a cell's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation. Believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory
Metacognition
awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.
Divided Attention
concentrating on more than one activity at the same time
Shallow Processing
encoding on a basic level based on the structure or appearance of words
Deep Processing
encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tends to yield the best retention
Effortful Processing
encoding that requires attention and conscious effort
Elizabeth Loftus
known for her expertise in eyewitness testimony, false memories and the misinformation effect.
Implicit Memory
retention independent of conscious recollection
Mnemonic Devices
techniques for using associations to memorize and retrieve information
Creativity
the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas
Priming
the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response
IQ
the average is 100; there are many definitions of this attribute, including multiple and crystallized
Rehearsal
the conscious repetition of information, either to maintain it in consciousness or to encode it for storage
Retroactive Interference
the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information
Proactive Interference
the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information
Semantic Encoding
the encoding of meaning, including the meaning of words
Visual Encoding
the encoding of picture images
Acoustic Encoding
the encoding of sound, especially the sound of words
Selective Attention
the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
Sensory Memory
the immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system
Long-Term Memory
the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. Includes knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Functional Fixedness
the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions; an impediment to problem solving
Framing
the way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments.
Automatic Processing
unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings
Flashbulb memory
A clear and vivid long-term memory of an especially meaningful and emotional event.
Recall
A measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test.
Algorithm
A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem.
Noam Chomsky
Chomsky contributed ideas of language acquisition to cognitive psychology. He proposed the language acquisition device theory stating that humans have an innate ability to develop language 🗣️He also believed that children tend to overgeneralize language.
Wolfgang Köhler
He discovered insight in problem-solving; he saw how finding a solution to a problem could be sudden. He discovered this through experiments with chimpanzees 🐒
George A. Miller
He discovered that the capacity of short term memory is limited. Short term memory has a capacity of about 7 items at a given time and between 15 to 30 seconds of storing these items.
Hermann Ebbinghaus
He was the first to study memory in a scientific manner and the first to study the concept of forgetting 😟He came up with the forgetting curve and a few ways to improve your memory.
Schema
a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information
Savant Syndrome
a condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill, such as in computation or drawing
Intellectual Disability
a condition of limited mental ability, indicated by an intelligence score of 70 or below and difficulty in adapting to the demands of life; varies from mild to profound
Misinformation Effect
incorporating misleading information into one's memory of an event
Repression
keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious
Amnesia
loss of memory
Explicit Memory
memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and "declare"
Intelligence
mental quality consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations
Biases
opinions or beliefs that affect a person's ability to make fair, unclouded judgments or decisions
Chunking
organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically
Serial Position Effect
our tendency to recall best the last (a recency effect) and first items (a primacy effect) in a list