AP Psychology (All Units) Exam | All
Chapters Included | Latest Update
2026-2027 | Graded A+ | Study Now!!
memory -ANSWER persistence of learning over time through encoding, storing, and
retrieval of information
encoding -ANSWER the processing of putting information into the memory system
storage -ANSWER the retention of encoded material over time
retrieval -ANSWER the process of getting information out of memory storage
sensory memory -ANSWER immediate, very brief recording of sensory information
The Atkinson Schiffron 3-Stage Model (1968) -ANSWER belief that information is
processed from sensory memory, to short term memory, to long term memory
iconic memory -ANSWER visual sensory memory (less than 1 second)
(you can glimpse an "icon")
echoic memory -ANSWER auditory sensory memory (lasts a few seconds)
short term memory (STM) -ANSWER few items (7 +/- 2 seconds) encoded briefly that
lasts about 30 seconds. goes to LTM or is forgotten
long term memory (LTM) -ANSWER relatively permanent encoded information that is
limitless
effortful processing -ANSWER attention and conscious effort (rehearsal)
explicit memories -ANSWER (declarative memories) memory or facts and experiences
that one can consciously know and "declare"
automatic proccessing -ANSWER unconscious encoding of incidental information
(example: how many times a commercial is played and how often you notice)
implicit memory -ANSWER (nondeclaritive memory) retention independent of conscious
recall (impossible to explain)
chunking -ANSWER organizing items into familiar, manageable units. often occurs
automatically
,mnemonics -ANSWER memory aids, especially those using vivid imagery and
organizational devices (example: guy cheating at the card game at the casino)
acronym -ANSWER (type of chunking) typically 1st letter technique (example:
remembering the solar systems)
peg-word system -ANSWER pre-memorizing a list of words that are easy to associate
with the numbers they represent (example: grocery list)
method of Loci -ANSWER method of memorizing info by placing each item to be
remembered at a point along an imaginary journey (example: cheating guy at the
casino)
spacing effect -ANSWER people encode more effectively when study is distributed
evenly vs. a massive study session
testing effect -ANSWER enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading
information
shallow proccessing -ANSWER encoding on a basic level based on structure and
appearance of words
deep processing -ANSWER encoding based on the meaning of the words, tends to yield
best retention
self-reference effect -ANSWER people more easily remember material that is personally
meaningful
hippocampus -ANSWER associated with declarative memory
flashbulb memory -ANSWER clear moment, emotionally significant moment or event
(associated with the amygdala)
infantile amnesia -ANSWER conscious memories of first three years are blank
cerebellum -ANSWER associated with nondeclararitive memory
procedural memories -ANSWER motor and cognitive skills
semantic memories -ANSWER general facts and knowledge of the world
long term potentiation -ANSWER increase in a cell's firing potential after brief, rapid
stimulation
recall -ANSWER retrieving information from memory
,recognition -ANSWER identifying the target from possible targets (example: multiple
choice quiz)
retrieval cues -ANSWER stimuli that help retrieve a certain memory
Priming -ANSWER the activation, often unconsciously, of a particular association with a
memory
state-dependent memory -ANSWER what we learn in one state (drunk or sober) may be
more easily recalled in that state
mood-congruent memory -ANSWER tendency to recall experiences that are consistent
with one's current mood (sad or happy)
serial position effect -ANSWER our tendency to recall best the first and last items in a list
anterograde amnesia -ANSWER inability to form new memories (explicit memories)
retrograde amnesia -ANSWER inability to retrieve information from the past (explicit
memories)
encoding failure -ANSWER we cannot remember what we do not encode
storage decay -ANSWER (Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve) forgetting initially rapid then
levels off
proactive interference -ANSWER the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of
NEW information
retroactive interference -ANSWER the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of
OLD information
repression -ANSWER Freud theory
unconsciously banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and
memories
misinformation effect -ANSWER incorporating misleading information into one's memory
of an event
source amnesia -ANSWER source misattribution
deja vu -ANSWER "I've experienced this before"
concepts -ANSWER a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people
, prototypes -ANSWER a mental image or best example of a category (your personal
representation)
creativity -ANSWER the ability to produce new, unusual, or valuable ideas
convergent thinking -ANSWER narrows available problem solutions to determine the
SINGLE BEST solution (example: intelligence tests)
divergent thinking -ANSWER expands number of possible problem solutions (example:
creativity tests)
trial and error -ANSWER repeated and varied attempts which are continued until success
algorithm -ANSWER a methodical, logical rule or procedure
grantees solving, is time consuming, and exhausts all possibilities
heuristic -ANSWER rule-of-thumb strategy, make judgement and solve problems
efficiently, a short cut
insight -ANSWER a sudden realization of a problems solution
confirmation bias -ANSWER a tendency to search for information that confirms ones
perceptions
fixation -ANSWER an inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective (this impedes
problem solving)
mental set -ANSWER a tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, especially if
it has worked in the past
functional fixedness -ANSWER the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual
functions (example: brick)
repressentativeness heuristics -ANSWER judging the likelihood of things in terms of how
well they match our prototypes
availability heuristics -ANSWER estimating the likelihood of events based on their
availability in our memory. If it comes to mind easily we presume it is common
overconfidence effect -ANSWER overestimate the accuracy of your belief or judgments
framing -ANSWER the way an issue is posed significantly affected depending upon how
an issue is framed
belief perseverance -ANSWER clinging to your initial conceptions after the basis on
which they were formed has been discredited (example: supporting a losing team)
Chapters Included | Latest Update
2026-2027 | Graded A+ | Study Now!!
memory -ANSWER persistence of learning over time through encoding, storing, and
retrieval of information
encoding -ANSWER the processing of putting information into the memory system
storage -ANSWER the retention of encoded material over time
retrieval -ANSWER the process of getting information out of memory storage
sensory memory -ANSWER immediate, very brief recording of sensory information
The Atkinson Schiffron 3-Stage Model (1968) -ANSWER belief that information is
processed from sensory memory, to short term memory, to long term memory
iconic memory -ANSWER visual sensory memory (less than 1 second)
(you can glimpse an "icon")
echoic memory -ANSWER auditory sensory memory (lasts a few seconds)
short term memory (STM) -ANSWER few items (7 +/- 2 seconds) encoded briefly that
lasts about 30 seconds. goes to LTM or is forgotten
long term memory (LTM) -ANSWER relatively permanent encoded information that is
limitless
effortful processing -ANSWER attention and conscious effort (rehearsal)
explicit memories -ANSWER (declarative memories) memory or facts and experiences
that one can consciously know and "declare"
automatic proccessing -ANSWER unconscious encoding of incidental information
(example: how many times a commercial is played and how often you notice)
implicit memory -ANSWER (nondeclaritive memory) retention independent of conscious
recall (impossible to explain)
chunking -ANSWER organizing items into familiar, manageable units. often occurs
automatically
,mnemonics -ANSWER memory aids, especially those using vivid imagery and
organizational devices (example: guy cheating at the card game at the casino)
acronym -ANSWER (type of chunking) typically 1st letter technique (example:
remembering the solar systems)
peg-word system -ANSWER pre-memorizing a list of words that are easy to associate
with the numbers they represent (example: grocery list)
method of Loci -ANSWER method of memorizing info by placing each item to be
remembered at a point along an imaginary journey (example: cheating guy at the
casino)
spacing effect -ANSWER people encode more effectively when study is distributed
evenly vs. a massive study session
testing effect -ANSWER enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading
information
shallow proccessing -ANSWER encoding on a basic level based on structure and
appearance of words
deep processing -ANSWER encoding based on the meaning of the words, tends to yield
best retention
self-reference effect -ANSWER people more easily remember material that is personally
meaningful
hippocampus -ANSWER associated with declarative memory
flashbulb memory -ANSWER clear moment, emotionally significant moment or event
(associated with the amygdala)
infantile amnesia -ANSWER conscious memories of first three years are blank
cerebellum -ANSWER associated with nondeclararitive memory
procedural memories -ANSWER motor and cognitive skills
semantic memories -ANSWER general facts and knowledge of the world
long term potentiation -ANSWER increase in a cell's firing potential after brief, rapid
stimulation
recall -ANSWER retrieving information from memory
,recognition -ANSWER identifying the target from possible targets (example: multiple
choice quiz)
retrieval cues -ANSWER stimuli that help retrieve a certain memory
Priming -ANSWER the activation, often unconsciously, of a particular association with a
memory
state-dependent memory -ANSWER what we learn in one state (drunk or sober) may be
more easily recalled in that state
mood-congruent memory -ANSWER tendency to recall experiences that are consistent
with one's current mood (sad or happy)
serial position effect -ANSWER our tendency to recall best the first and last items in a list
anterograde amnesia -ANSWER inability to form new memories (explicit memories)
retrograde amnesia -ANSWER inability to retrieve information from the past (explicit
memories)
encoding failure -ANSWER we cannot remember what we do not encode
storage decay -ANSWER (Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve) forgetting initially rapid then
levels off
proactive interference -ANSWER the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of
NEW information
retroactive interference -ANSWER the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of
OLD information
repression -ANSWER Freud theory
unconsciously banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and
memories
misinformation effect -ANSWER incorporating misleading information into one's memory
of an event
source amnesia -ANSWER source misattribution
deja vu -ANSWER "I've experienced this before"
concepts -ANSWER a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people
, prototypes -ANSWER a mental image or best example of a category (your personal
representation)
creativity -ANSWER the ability to produce new, unusual, or valuable ideas
convergent thinking -ANSWER narrows available problem solutions to determine the
SINGLE BEST solution (example: intelligence tests)
divergent thinking -ANSWER expands number of possible problem solutions (example:
creativity tests)
trial and error -ANSWER repeated and varied attempts which are continued until success
algorithm -ANSWER a methodical, logical rule or procedure
grantees solving, is time consuming, and exhausts all possibilities
heuristic -ANSWER rule-of-thumb strategy, make judgement and solve problems
efficiently, a short cut
insight -ANSWER a sudden realization of a problems solution
confirmation bias -ANSWER a tendency to search for information that confirms ones
perceptions
fixation -ANSWER an inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective (this impedes
problem solving)
mental set -ANSWER a tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, especially if
it has worked in the past
functional fixedness -ANSWER the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual
functions (example: brick)
repressentativeness heuristics -ANSWER judging the likelihood of things in terms of how
well they match our prototypes
availability heuristics -ANSWER estimating the likelihood of events based on their
availability in our memory. If it comes to mind easily we presume it is common
overconfidence effect -ANSWER overestimate the accuracy of your belief or judgments
framing -ANSWER the way an issue is posed significantly affected depending upon how
an issue is framed
belief perseverance -ANSWER clinging to your initial conceptions after the basis on
which they were formed has been discredited (example: supporting a losing team)
