Confusing Pairs - AP Psych 2025

You notice this when you have a cold, and your food doesn't taste right because you can't smell it

Teacher thinks boy isn't smart, treats him accordingly, he doesn't do well in class

Whether the test measures what it is supposed to measure

In the nervous system, fast messages between neurons; Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Serotonin

Cells in the brain that protect and nourish

If you take 3 IQ tests and the scores are about the same. The test is:

your opinion may grow stronger after a group discussion with like-minded people

excessive hand washing is an example of

when you narrow down available solutions to find the best

A woman performs worse on her SAT after the proctor says that women don't test well on the SAT

In operant conditioning, it will strengthen the behavior

Each participant has an equal chance of being put into the control or experimental group

Located in the frontal lobe, it helps you produce speech (move your mouth to make the words!)

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events (reflex, not choice)

multiple choice quizzes are examples of

studying the same group of people over 60 years

Indicates whether an observed result is likely due to chance

Language & logic are lateralized here

Failure to notice something added because you're focused on another task

acquired knowledge over time, increases with age

Removing something unpleasant to encourage the behavior (like a headache).

Remembering the last items on a list you memorized

type of parenting that leads to high self-esteem and independence in children

readiness to perceive one's self favorably

Inability to make new memories (think "50 first dates"!)

This hunger hormone signals satiety (you're full/satisfied)

when you attempt to alleviate stress by changing your behavior

The College Board AP Psychology Exam

Deciding a person who reads poetry is more likely to be a professor than a truck driver

doing something in order to gain something you want, like cookies

wanting a bike but asking for a car first

Are the questions on the test appropriate for the goal of what the test is measuring?

Part of the limbic system, it deals with hunger/satiety, fight/flight response, and sexual motivation

The outer surface of the brain; fissures/wrinkles increases surface area of brain

In conditioning, when the learner responds to stimuli that are similar; like the dog responding to similar bell

I believe I can accomplish my goals if I work at it and that my efforts are important

Using glitz and glamour and maybe a celebrity endorsement to convince someone

level of stimulation required to detect 50% of the time

paraniod delusions, hallucinations, and erratic emotions or behaviors

Making a decision based on what first comes to mind

Blends new information into our existing schema

A Big Five trait; organized, careful and disciplined

receives no "treatment" or receives a placebo

Symptoms are perfectionism, rule following, need for control

a condition where distant objects appear clearer than objects close up

Inability to learn new information because of old information or old training

They mimic the actions of the neurotransmitters. Ex: morphine mimicking endorphins

basic unit of sound

When you wear a hat and you no longer feel it on your head

I control my fate!

Same fertilized egg; monozygote. Vital for studies in nature v. nurture.

memory that has facts (who, what, where, when), not procedures

The neuron must rest and reset before it can fire again

choosing between two events each with undesirable features

When someone gives a better speech in front of others compared to when they practiced at home

photoreceptor cell that lets you see in dim light and peripheral vision

"fight or flight" response system

specialized cells in the nervous system that transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles/skin/glands

Which one is termed as a "shortcut" & usually speedier, but can be inaccurate?

giving priority to the goals of one's group

data that gives descriptions

For every 3 cars that Ted sells, he gets a $1000 bonus.

an eating disorder with a restricting diet and excessive exercise

how our brains process information based on what we already know

Learning through consequences -- negative & positive

In an experiment, what is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher?

substance that blocks or reduces the effects of neurotransmitters

Money is this type of reinforcement