Alright, alright, let’s talk about this AP Psychology stuff, the words and what they mean, unit by unit. It’s like learnin’ a whole new language, but we gotta get through it, ain’t we?
Unit 1: Thinkin’ and Knowin’ Stuff
This first bit’s all about how we think and figure things out. Got words like “hindsight bias”. That’s when you say, “Oh, I knew that all along!” after somethin’ happens. Like, if the rooster crows and then it rains, you say, “See? I knew it’d rain!” But did you really? Probably not. Then there’s “critical thinking”. That just means thinkin’ hard about somethin’, not just takin’ it at face value. Like, if someone tells you the moon is made of cheese, you gotta think, “Now hold on a minute…”
- Scientific Method: Just a fancy way of sayin’ you gotta test things out proper-like before you say somethin’s true.
- Theory: An idea that explains a bunch of stuff. Like, why chickens always run around when you throw corn.
- Hypothesis: A guess you make before you test somethin’. Like, “I bet if I give the chickens more corn, they’ll lay more eggs.”
- Operational Definition: Sayin’ exactly what you mean when you use a word. Like, “When I say ‘happy chicken,’ I mean a chicken that’s cluckin’ and peckin’ and layin’ eggs.”
Unit 2: How Our Brains and Bodies Work Together
This one’s about how your brain and body are all connected. We got “neurons”, those are the little fellers in your brain that send messages. Like little telegraphs, tappin’ away. Then there’s “neurotransmitters”, the stuff that carries the messages. Think of it like the mailman deliverin’ letters. And “plasticity”, that just means your brain can change, like learnin’ new things. You can teach an old dog new tricks, see?
“Endocrine system”, that’s about hormones. You know, like when you get mad, that’s your hormones talkin’.
Unit 3: Feelin’ Things
This is all about feelin’s, the happy, the sad, the whole shebang. “Consciousness” is bein’ awake and aware. Like, you know you’re sittin’ here readin’ this. “Selective attention” is when you focus on one thing and ignore everything else. Like when you’re watchin’ your favorite show and don’t hear your husband callin’ you for dinner.
Then there’s stuff like “REM sleep”, that’s when you dream. And “depressants”, that’s stuff that slows you down, like a glass of wine…or two…or three…
Unit 4: Learnin’ New Stuff
This unit’s all about how we learn. “Classical conditioning”, that’s when you learn to connect two things. Like, if you ring a bell every time you feed the dog, the dog will start to drool when it hears the bell. “Operant conditioning” is learnin’ through rewards and punishments. If you give a dog a treat when it sits, it’ll sit more often. If you yell at it for barkin’, it might bark less. Maybe.
“Observational learning”, that’s learnin’ by watchin’ others. Like little kids copyin’ their parents.
Unit 5: Rememberin’ Stuff (and Forgetting it Too)
This is about memory. “Encoding” is gettin’ information into your brain. “Storage” is keepin’ it there. And “retrieval” is gettin’ it back out when you need it. Like findin’ that lost sock you put away last winter.
- Short-term memory: Rememberin’ somethin’ for just a little while. Like a phone number.
- Long-term memory: Rememberin’ stuff for a long time. Like your grandma’s name.
- Flashbulb memory: A really clear memory of a big event. Like the day the old barn burnt down.
Unit 6: Thinkin’ and Figurin’ Things Out (Again!)
This is more about thinkin’. “Concepts” are ideas about things. Like, what a “dog” is. “Problem solving” is figurin’ out how to fix somethin’. Like, how to get the chickens out of the garden. “Heuristics” are shortcuts your brain takes to make thinkin’ easier. Sometimes they’re right, sometimes they ain’t.
And watch out for “confirmation bias”, that’s when you only pay attention to stuff that agrees with what you already think.
Unit 7: What Gets Us Goin’?
This is about motivation, why we do the things we do. “Instinct” is somethin’ you’re just born knowin’ how to do. Like a baby cryin’ when it’s hungry. “Drive-reduction theory” says we do things to satisfy our needs. Like eatin’ when you’re hungry, sleepin’ when you’re tired. “Incentives” are things that make you wanna do somethin’. Like money or a piece of cake.
Unit 8: Emotions, Stress, and Health
This unit’s about feelin’s again, but also about stress and stayin’ healthy. “Stress”, well, that’s when you got too much to do and not enough time to do it. Or when the cow gets loose again. “General Adaptation Syndrome”, that’s just how your body reacts to stress. Fight or flight, you know?
Unit 9: How We Act Around Other Folks
This one’s about how we get along with other people. “Attribution theory” is how we explain why people do things. Like, “He’s late because he’s lazy.” Or maybe he just had a flat tire. “Fundamental attribution error” is when you blame other people’s problems on them, but you make excuses for yourself.
We got “conformity”, that’s doin’ what other folks are doin’, even if you don’t think it’s right. And “obedience”, that’s doin’ what someone tells you to do, even if you don’t want to.
Unit 10: Prejudice and How We Treat Each Other
This is the tough stuff, about how we treat people who are different. “Prejudice” is havin’ a bad attitude towards someone just because of their group. “Stereotype” is a general idea about a group of people, often not true. “Discrimination” is treatin’ people different because of prejudice.
Unit 11: Aggression and Conflict
This one’s about fightin’ and gettin’ along. “Aggression” is hurtin’ someone on purpose, whether you mean to or not. “Frustration-aggression principle” says that when you get frustrated, you’re more likely to get aggressive. Like when the tractor breaks down in the middle of plantin’ season.
Unit 12: Likin’ Each Other and Bein’ Helpful
This is about makin’ friends and helpin’ folks out. “Proximity” is just bein’ near someone. You’re more likely to be friends with your neighbors than someone who lives across the country. “Similarity” is havin’ stuff in common. Birds of a feather, you know. “Altruism” is helpin’ someone out even if you don’t
