Psychology Flashcards: Threshold Concepts

Study Notes

Absolute Threshold

The minimum stimulation required to detect sensory inputs like light, sound, taste, pressure, or odor 50% of the time.

Absolute Threshold Example

Aging leads to a loss of high-pitched sound detection; younger individuals use "mosquito" ringtones that are inaudible to adults.
Businesses utilize this phenomenon to deter loitering teens.

Signal Detection Theory

Detection of a stimulus is influenced by the stimulus itself as well as cognitive factors such as experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness.

Signal Detection Theory Example

Individuals in life-threatening scenarios, such as combat, often experience enhanced signal detection capabilities.

Subliminal Stimulation

Refers to stimuli presented below the conscious level of awareness, often imperceptible due to brief exposure.
For instance, flashing an image for a millisecond might mean individuals don’t consciously register seeing it.

Difference Threshold (Just Noticeable Difference, JND)

The minimum detectable difference between two stimuli, identifiable at least 50% of the time.

Difference Threshold Example

Picking up two weights, a 20-pound weight versus a 20-pound 1-ounce weight may not elicit noticeable differences until the weight increase exceeds a threshold where the difference becomes apparent.

Weber's Law

States that the difference between two stimuli must vary by a constant ratio rather than a fixed amount to be perceptible.

Weber's Law Example

For weight discrimination, a minimum difference of 2% is required for perception, while for sound, a 0.3% difference is necessary for detection.

Description

Explore key concepts in psychology with this set of flashcards focused on thresholds and signal detection theory. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of sensory perception and the absolute threshold phenomenon.