Myer's Psychology for AP All Vocab Terms

the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely and observation and experimentation.

an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind

a school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable us to adapt, survive and flourish

the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and individual's potential for fostering personal growth

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

The science of behavior and mental processes

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture

the principle that, among the range of inherited variation, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

a branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes

the study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection

a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders.

the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning.

the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking.

the scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

the scientific study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

The study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning.

the study of individual's characteristics patter of thinking, feeling, and acting.

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces.

the study of how people and machines interact and the design of safe and easily used machines and environments.

a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.

A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

a study method incorporating five steps: survey, question, read, rehearse, review.

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country's whole population.)

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.

a statistical index of the relationship between to things (from -1 to +1).

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slop of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation).

the perception of a relationship where none exists.

a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.

assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.

an experiment procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.

experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.

in an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

in an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.

the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.

the difference between the highest and lower scores in a distribution.

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68% fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes.

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted form one generation to the next.

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.

the postexperimental explanation for a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs.

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fivers through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fivers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the pulse hops from one node to the next.

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at the junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to the receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.

"morphine within" - natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

the body's speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

the brain and spinal cord.

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense of organs.

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body'd skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.

a simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream.

chemical messengers that are manufactured buy the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body. Also called CAT scan.

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Shows brain anatomy.

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function.

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; is responsible for automatic survival functions.

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.