Question
Answer
Classical conditioning
Learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus to produce a conditioned response
Operant conditioning
Learning process where behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences
Positive reinforcement
Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
Negative reinforcement
Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
Punishment
A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior
Cognitive dissonance
Mental discomfort from holding two conflicting beliefs
Independent variable
The factor a researcher manipulates in an experiment
Dependent variable
The factor a researcher measures in an experiment
Confounding variable
An outside factor that affects the results of an experiment
Correlation
A measure of the relationship between two variables
Hippocampus
Brain structure involved in forming new memories
Amygdala
Brain structure involved in processing emotions, especially fear
Prefrontal cortex
Brain region involved in decision-making and impulse control
Neuron
A nerve cell that transmits information through the nervous system
Synapse
The gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released
Neurotransmitter
A chemical messenger that carries signals across a synapse
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter linked to reward, motivation, and pleasure
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter linked to mood regulation
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
Sensation
The process of detecting stimuli through the senses
Perception
The process of interpreting and organizing sensory information
Absolute threshold
The minimum stimulus needed to detect something 50% of the time
Just noticeable difference
The smallest detectable difference between two stimuli
Short-term memory
Memory that holds a small amount of information briefly
Long-term memory
Memory that stores information for an extended period
Working memory
The active processing system for temporarily holding information
Encoding
The process of getting information into memory
Storage
The process of retaining information in memory
Retrieval
The process of getting information out of memory
Schema
A mental framework for organizing information
Piaget's stages of development
A theory describing four stages of cognitive development in children
Attachment theory
The theory describing the emotional bond between children and caregivers
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
A theory ranking human needs from basic survival to self-actualization
Intrinsic motivation
Motivation that comes from internal enjoyment or interest
Extrinsic motivation
Motivation that comes from external rewards or pressures
Big Five personality traits
Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism
Id, ego, superego
Freud's three parts of personality: instinct, reality, and morality
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
A therapy that changes negative thought patterns to change behavior
Social loafing
The tendency to exert less effort in a group than when working alone
Groupthink
The tendency for a group to make poor decisions to preserve harmony
Conformity
Adjusting behavior to match a group's norms
Obedience
Following the direct instructions of an authority figure
Bystander effect
The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help when others are present
Fundamental attribution error
The tendency to overemphasize personal traits and underemphasize situational factors in others' behavior
Create a free account to track your progress and save this deck.
Sign up free →