AP Psychology Unit 1

Study Notes

AP Psychology Unit 1

Biological Bases of Behavior

Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse (the gap between two nerve cells).
Nervous System: Consists of the brain and the spinal cord, responsible for coordinating body functions and responding to stimuli.
Neurons: Specialized cells that transmit electrical signals to other cells in the nervous system.
Brain: Orchestrates the nervous system's activities and is divided into three parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.
Hormones: Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that regulate various bodily functions.

Sensation and Perception

Sensation: The process by which sensory receptors detect and transmit information about the environment to the brain.
Perception: The process by which the brain interprets and organizes sensory information to create meaningful experiences.
Sensory Systems: Five primary systems: olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), visual, auditory, and somatosensory (touch).

Learning

Classical Conditioning: A learning process in which an association is formed between a neutral stimulus and a biologically significant stimulus.
Operant Conditioning: A learning process in which behavior is modified by its consequences.
Pavlov's Law of Effect: States that behavior followed by a positive consequence is likely to be repeated, and behavior followed by a negative consequence is likely to be avoided.
Social Learning Theory: Suggests that people learn through observing others and imitating their behaviors.

Motivation and Emotion

Motivation: The internal drive to pursue goals and engage in behaviors.
Emotion: A complex psychological state that involves physiological arousal, cognitive appraisal, and expressive behaviors.
Hunger: An emotion that motivates individuals to seek food to maintain energy levels.
Arousal: A state of physiological excitation associated with increased alertness and readiness to respond to stimuli.

Research Methods

Surveys: A research method in which participants are asked to respond to a set of questions.
Experiments: A research method in which researchers manipulate one or more variables to observe their effects on a dependent variable.
Observation: A research method in which researchers observe and record participants' behaviors in a natural or controlled setting.
Case Studies: A research method in which researchers examine an individual's or group's experiences in depth.

History

Wilhelm Wundt: Established the first psychology lab in 1879 and is considered the father of modern psychology.
Structuralism: An early psychological approach that focused on the structure of mental processes.
Functionalism: A psychological approach that emphasized the study of mental processes in relation to their adaptive functions.
Behaviorism: A psychological approach that focused on observable behavior and rejected the study of internal mental processes.
Humanistic Psychology: A psychological approach that emphasized the importance of individual growth and self-actualization.
Cognitive Neuroscience: A field that explores the neural basis of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Description

Test your knowledge of the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning, motivation and emotion, research methods, and history of psychology in this comprehensive quiz. Covering key concepts and theories, this quiz is perfect for AP Psychology students and anyone looking to assess their understanding of psychology fundamentals.