Unit 1
Neuron
A nerve cell that receives, processes, and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals.
Encoding
The process of getting information into memory.
Attachment
An emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver.
Classical Conditioning
Learning that occurs when two stimuli become associated, causing one stimulus to eventually produce a response that originally came from another stimulus.
Conformity
Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to match those of a group.
Neurotransmitter
A chemical messenger that carries signals between neurons across a synapse.
Retrieval
The process of bringing information out of memory.
Object Permanence
The understanding that an object continues to exist even when it cannot be seen.
Operant Conditioning
Learning in which behavior is influenced by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments.
Stereotype
A generalized belief about a particular group of people.
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for stressful or threatening situations.
Working Memory
The system used to temporarily hold and actively work with information.
Assimilation
The process of incorporating new information into an existing mental framework.
Reinforcement
A consequence that increases the likelihood that a behavior will happen again.
Fundamental Attribution Error
The tendency to overestimate personality-based explanations for other people's behavior while underestimating situational factors.
Cerebellum
A brain structure involved in balance, coordination, and precise movement.
Confirmation Bias
The tendency to seek out or interpret information in ways that support existing beliefs.
Secure Attachment
An attachment style in which a child generally feels comfortable exploring and uses their caregiver as a source of comfort and security.
Observational Learning
Learning that occurs by watching and imitating the behavior of others.
Cognitive Dissonance
The mental discomfort that occurs when a person's beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors conflict with one another.
Neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to change and reorganize itself in response to experience, learning, or injury.
Functional Fixedness
The tendency to see an object as having only its typical or intended use, making it harder to find new solutions to problems.
Zone of Proximal Development
The range of tasks that a person cannot yet complete independently but can accomplish with guidance or assistance.
Variable-Ratio Schedule
A reinforcement schedule in which a behavior is rewarded after an unpredictable number of responses.
Bystander Effect
The tendency for people to be less likely to help someone when other people are present.