GRE Psychology Subject Test flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Action potential

A rapid electrical signal in neurons caused by depolarization to threshold, opening voltage-gated sodium channels, followed by repolarization via potassium efflux and a refractory period.

Heritability

The proportion of phenotypic variance in a population attributable to genetic variance; estimated from twin and adoption studies; does not apply to individuals.

Weber's law

The just-noticeable difference in stimulus intensity is a constant proportion of the original stimulus intensity (ΔI/I = constant).

Signal detection theory

A framework separating sensitivity (d') from response bias (β) in detecting signals amid noise; used in perception and memory research.

Working memory

A limited-capacity system for temporarily holding and manipulating information, comprising phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central executive, and episodic buffer.

Encoding specificity

The principle that retrieval is best when the cues present at retrieval match those present at encoding, including context and state.

Proactive interference

Disruption of learning or recall of new information caused by previously learned information; contrasted with retroactive interference.

Availability heuristic

Judging the frequency or probability of an event by how easily examples come to mind, often leading to biased estimates.

Fundamental attribution error

The tendency to overestimate dispositional (internal) causes and underestimate situational (external) causes when explaining others' behavior.

Cognitive dissonance

The discomfort experienced when holding inconsistent cognitions or when behavior conflicts with attitudes, motivating attitude change or justification.

Groupthink

A mode of thinking in cohesive groups where the desire for harmony overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives, leading to poor decisions.

Bystander effect

The finding that individuals are less likely to help in an emergency when others are present, due to diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance.

Object permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight, typically achieved by the end of Piaget's sensorimotor stage.

Zone of proximal development

Vygotsky's concept of the gap between what a learner can do alone and what they can do with guidance from a more capable other.

Authoritative parenting

A parenting style high in warmth and control, setting clear expectations while encouraging autonomy; associated with the best child outcomes.

Conservation

The understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in appearance, typically acquired in Piaget's concrete operational stage.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, providing standardized criteria for classifying mental disorders.

Dopamine hypothesis

The theory that schizophrenia is associated with excessive dopamine activity, supported by the efficacy of antipsychotics that block dopamine receptors.

Negative symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia involving deficits such as flat affect, avolition, alogia, and social withdrawal, as opposed to added symptoms.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

A psychotherapy that aims to change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors through identifying and modifying cognitive distortions and reinforcing adaptive behaviors.

Borderline personality disorder

A cluster B personality disorder marked by instability in relationships, self-image, and affect, with impulsivity and fear of abandonment.

Reliability

The consistency or stability of a measure across time, forms, or raters; a necessary but not sufficient condition for validity.

Construct validity

The extent to which a test measures the theoretical construct it is intended to measure, supported by convergent and discriminant evidence.

Standard error of measurement

An estimate of the variability of observed scores around a true score, calculated as SD times the square root of one minus reliability.

Random assignment

Assigning participants to conditions by chance to control for confounding variables and support causal inferences.

Effect size

A quantitative measure of the magnitude of a difference or relationship, such as Cohen's d, independent of sample size.

Internal validity

The degree to which a study establishes a causal relationship between variables by controlling for confounds and alternative explanations.

Split-half reliability

A reliability estimate obtained by correlating scores on two halves of a test, often corrected with the Spearman-Brown formula.

Statistical power

The probability of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis, equal to 1 minus beta; increases with effect size, sample size, and lower alpha.

Regression to the mean

The tendency for extreme scores on one measurement to be closer to the average on a subsequent measurement, a threat to internal validity.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information that confirms existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Prospect theory

A behavioral economic theory stating that people evaluate outcomes relative to a reference point and are loss averse, weighting losses more than equivalent gains.