AP Psych Unit 2 Vocab Flashcards

Front

Perception

Back

The process by which our brain organizes and interprets sensory information, transforming it into meaningful experiences.

Front

Sensation vs. Perception

Back

Sensation is about detecting stimuli, while perception is about making sense of what we detect.

Front

Just-Noticeable Difference (JND)

Back

Also called the difference threshold, this is the smallest change in a stimulus that you can detect.

Front

Light bulb icon representing perception

Back

Illustrates the concept of perception and thresholds in sensory processing.

Front

Weber’s Law

Back

This law states that the JND (Just Noticeable Difference) is not a constant amount, but a constant proportion. For example, you might notice a 5-pound increase in a 50-pound weight, but not in a 200-pound one.

Front

Diagram of a spiral or geometric pattern

Back

Image of a spiral or geometric pattern, possibly representing a concept related to perception or proportion.

Front

Signal Detection Theory

Back

A theory explaining how we detect signals amidst noise.

Front

Bottom-Up Processing

Back

Processing that starts with incoming stimuli and builds up to perception.

Front

Example of Top-Down Processing

Back

Hearing a soft meow in the dark and assuming it's your cat, even before seeing it.

Front

Closure

Back

We fill in missing gaps to perceive a whole image.