Unit 3 is the highest-weight unit for the FRQ — classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and memory application questions appear on nearly every AP Psych FRQ. Know the vocabulary precisely, including the distinctions between reinforcement and punishment.
Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)
Unconditioned Stimulus (US) — naturally triggers a response (food). Unconditioned Response (UR) — natural, unlearned response (salivation). Neutral Stimulus (NS) — initially produces no response (bell). Conditioned Stimulus (CS) — formerly NS, now triggers response after pairing with US (bell after training). Conditioned Response (CR) — learned response to CS (salivation to bell). Acquisition — learning the association (CS paired with US repeatedly). Extinction — CS presented without US → CR weakens. Spontaneous recovery — extinguished CR reappears after a rest period. Generalization — responding to stimuli similar to CS. Discrimination — responding only to the specific CS, not similar stimuli.
Operant Conditioning (Skinner)
Positive reinforcement — add something pleasant → increases behavior (give praise when child does homework). Negative reinforcement — remove something unpleasant → increases behavior (seatbelt beeping stops when you buckle up → you buckle up more). Note: negative reinforcement INCREASES behavior — students confuse this with punishment. Positive punishment — add something unpleasant → decreases behavior (spanking). Negative punishment — remove something pleasant → decreases behavior (taking away phone). Schedules of reinforcement: Fixed ratio (after every N responses, e.g. piecework), Variable ratio (after unpredictable number — slot machine, highest resistance to extinction), Fixed interval (after set time), Variable interval (after unpredictable time — email checking). Shaping — reinforcing successive approximations toward target behavior.
Observational Learning (Bandura)
Modeling — learning by watching others. Bobo doll experiment — children imitated adult aggression toward a doll; showed behavior doesn't require direct reinforcement. Key factors: attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation (vicarious reinforcement or punishment).
Memory
Encoding → Storage → Retrieval (getting information into, keeping it in, and getting it out of memory). Sensory memory — brief (< 1 sec) — iconic (visual), echoic (auditory). Working/short-term memory — ~7 items (±2), ~20 sec without rehearsal; chunking expands capacity. Long-term memory: declarative (explicit — episodic: personal events; semantic: facts) and procedural (implicit — skills, habits). Retrieval failure — information stored but inaccessible (tip-of-tongue). Interference: proactive (old learning disrupts new) and retroactive (new learning disrupts old). Flashbulb memories — vivid but not necessarily accurate memories of emotionally significant events.
AP Psychology practice questions · Unit 2 Key Terms · Unit 4 Key Terms · Grade an AP Psych FRQ
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