AP Psychology Flashcards: Thinking Problem Solving And Decision Making

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Thinking Problem Solving And Decision Making, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Psychology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Identify the bias where people judge the probability of events based on how they match prototypes.

Answer: Representativeness heuristic. Stereotypes guide probability judgments.

Flashcard 2: What does the term 'cognitive dissonance' refer to?

Answer: Discomfort from holding conflicting cognitions. Mental conflict motivates attitude change.

Flashcard 3: Identify the term for a sudden realization of a problem's solution.

Answer: Insight. The 'aha!' moment when solutions suddenly emerge.

Flashcard 4: What is the sunk cost fallacy?

Answer: Continuing an endeavor due to previously invested resources. Past investments justify continued poor decisions.

Flashcard 5: What is the availability heuristic?

Answer: Estimating likelihood based on readily available examples. Recent memorable events seem more probable.

Flashcard 6: Define functional fixedness in problem-solving.

Answer: Inability to see objects being used in nontraditional ways. Mental rigidity prevents creative tool use.

Flashcard 7: What is the definition of an algorithm in problem-solving?

Answer: A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. Guarantees a solution through systematic steps.

Flashcard 8: Define the term 'illusory correlation'.

Answer: Perceiving a relationship between variables when none exists. Sees patterns in random coincidences.

Flashcard 9: What is the confirmation bias?

Answer: Tendency to search for information that confirms beliefs. Ignores contradictory evidence to maintain beliefs.

Flashcard 10: What is the difference between convergent and divergent thinking?

Answer: Convergent narrows options; divergent generates options. One focuses solutions, the other explores possibilities.

Flashcard 11: What is the status quo bias?

Answer: Preference for the current state of affairs. Resistance to change favors current conditions.

Flashcard 12: What is a mental set in problem-solving?

Answer: Tendency to approach problems in a familiar way. Rigid thinking patterns block new solutions.

Flashcard 13: Define the term 'illusory correlation'.

Answer: Perceiving a relationship between variables when none exists. Sees patterns in random coincidences.

Flashcard 14: What is the definition of an algorithm in problem-solving?

Answer: A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. Guarantees a solution through systematic steps.

Flashcard 15: Identify the term for the tendency to attribute others' actions to their character rather than situations.

Answer: Fundamental attribution error. Underestimates situational influences on behavior.

Flashcard 16: What is meant by 'base rate fallacy'?

Answer: Ignoring statistical information in favor of anecdotal data. Overlooks general statistics for specific cases.

Flashcard 17: What does the term 'framing effect' refer to?

Answer: Decisions influenced by the way information is presented. Context and wording shape our choices.

Flashcard 18: What is the planning fallacy?

Answer: Underestimating the time needed to complete tasks. Optimistic bias affects time estimates.

Flashcard 19: What is the representativeness heuristic?

Answer: Judging likelihood based on similarity to prototypes. Assumes similar-looking things belong together.

Flashcard 20: Identify the term for a sudden realization of a problem's solution.

Answer: Insight. The 'aha!' moment when solutions suddenly emerge.

Flashcard 21: Identify the term for overestimating the accuracy of our knowledge and judgments.

Answer: Overconfidence. Unjustified certainty in our abilities and knowledge.

Flashcard 22: What is the self-serving bias?

Answer: Attributing successes to oneself and failures to external factors. Protects self-esteem through selective attribution.

Flashcard 23: What is the gambler's fallacy?

Answer: Belief that past events affect the likelihood of future events. Assumes random events have patterns or memory.

Flashcard 24: Identify the bias where people judge the probability of events based on how they match prototypes.

Answer: Representativeness heuristic. Stereotypes guide probability judgments.

Flashcard 25: What is the term for the bias where recent experiences influence perception of future events?

Answer: Recency bias. Latest information weighs more heavily.

Flashcard 26: What is satisficing in decision-making?

Answer: Choosing an option that meets a minimum requirement. Good enough is often better than perfect.

Flashcard 27: Identify the term for overestimating the accuracy of our knowledge and judgments.

Answer: Overconfidence. Unjustified certainty in our abilities and knowledge.

Flashcard 28: Identify the cognitive bias where people overestimate their ability to predict outcomes.

Answer: Hindsight bias. The 'I-knew-it-all-along' effect after events occur.

Flashcard 29: What is the self-serving bias?

Answer: Attributing successes to oneself and failures to external factors. Protects self-esteem through selective attribution.

Flashcard 30: What is the planning fallacy?

Answer: Underestimating the time needed to complete tasks. Optimistic bias affects time estimates.

Flashcard 31: What is a heuristic in the context of decision-making?

Answer: A mental shortcut used to make judgments quickly. Trades accuracy for speed in decision-making.

Flashcard 32: Identify the fallacy where people disregard possible outcomes due to recent vivid events.

Answer: Neglect of probability. Vivid events overshadow statistical likelihood.

Flashcard 33: What is the mere exposure effect?

Answer: Increased preference due to repeated exposure. Familiarity breeds liking through repetition.

Flashcard 34: Which heuristic involves solving problems by working backward from the goal?

Answer: Means-end analysis. Reduces gap between current state and goal.

Flashcard 35: Identify the cognitive bias where people overestimate their ability to predict outcomes.

Answer: Hindsight bias. The 'I-knew-it-all-along' effect after events occur.

Flashcard 36: What is the optimism bias?

Answer: Belief that positive outcomes are more likely for oneself. Expects better personal outcomes than reality.

Flashcard 37: What does the term 'framing effect' refer to?

Answer: Decisions influenced by the way information is presented. Context and wording shape our choices.

Flashcard 38: Identify the term for the tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information.

Answer: Anchoring bias. First impressions disproportionately influence judgment.

Flashcard 39: Identify the fallacy where people disregard possible outcomes due to recent vivid events.

Answer: Neglect of probability. Vivid events overshadow statistical likelihood.

Flashcard 40: Identify the bias where people prefer avoiding losses over acquiring gains.

Answer: Loss aversion. Losses feel worse than equivalent gains feel good.

Flashcard 41: What is the status quo bias?

Answer: Preference for the current state of affairs. Resistance to change favors current conditions.

Flashcard 42: What is the confirmation bias?

Answer: Tendency to search for information that confirms beliefs. Ignores contradictory evidence to maintain beliefs.

Flashcard 43: What is the optimism bias?

Answer: Belief that positive outcomes are more likely for oneself. Expects better personal outcomes than reality.

Flashcard 44: What is the difference between convergent and divergent thinking?

Answer: Convergent narrows options; divergent generates options. One focuses solutions, the other explores possibilities.

Flashcard 45: What is the effect of the 'bandwagon' in decision-making?

Answer: Adopting beliefs because others do. Social proof influences individual choices.

Flashcard 46: What is counterfactual thinking?

Answer: Imagining alternatives to past events. Considers how things could have been different.

Flashcard 47: Identify the heuristic that involves making decisions based on the most easily recalled information.

Answer: Availability heuristic. Memory accessibility shapes probability estimates.

Flashcard 48: What is the ostrich effect in decision-making?

Answer: Ignoring negative information to avoid discomfort. Avoidance of uncomfortable truths.

Flashcard 49: What is the sunk cost fallacy?

Answer: Continuing an endeavor due to previously invested resources. Past investments justify continued poor decisions.

Flashcard 50: Which problem-solving strategy involves breaking a problem into smaller parts?

Answer: Decomposition. Divides complex problems into manageable subproblems.

Flashcard 51: Identify the bias where people prefer avoiding losses over acquiring gains.

Answer: Loss aversion. Losses feel worse than equivalent gains feel good.

Flashcard 52: What is satisficing in decision-making?

Answer: Choosing an option that meets a minimum requirement. Good enough is often better than perfect.

Flashcard 53: What is a heuristic in the context of decision-making?

Answer: A mental shortcut used to make judgments quickly. Trades accuracy for speed in decision-making.

Flashcard 54: What is the ostrich effect in decision-making?

Answer: Ignoring negative information to avoid discomfort. Avoidance of uncomfortable truths.

Flashcard 55: Define functional fixedness in problem-solving.

Answer: Inability to see objects being used in nontraditional ways. Mental rigidity prevents creative tool use.

Flashcard 56: What is cognitive restructuring?

Answer: Changing maladaptive thoughts to improve problem-solving. Reframes negative thoughts into helpful ones.

Flashcard 57: What does the term 'cognitive dissonance' refer to?

Answer: Discomfort from holding conflicting cognitions. Mental conflict motivates attitude change.

Flashcard 58: What is an example of the spotlight effect?

Answer: Overestimating how much others notice our actions. Assumes we're the center of attention.

Flashcard 59: Identify the term for the tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information.

Answer: Anchoring bias. First impressions disproportionately influence judgment.

Flashcard 60: What is an example of the spotlight effect?

Answer: Overestimating how much others notice our actions. Assumes we're the center of attention.

Flashcard 61: Which bias involves believing one has more control over outcomes than one actually does?

Answer: Illusion of control. Overestimates personal influence on random events.

Flashcard 62: Identify the term for the tendency to attribute others' actions to their character rather than situations.

Answer: Fundamental attribution error. Underestimates situational influences on behavior.

Flashcard 63: Which bias involves believing one has more control over outcomes than one actually does?

Answer: Illusion of control. Overestimates personal influence on random events.

Flashcard 64: Identify the heuristic that involves making decisions based on the most easily recalled information.

Answer: Availability heuristic. Memory accessibility shapes probability estimates.

Flashcard 65: What is the effect of the 'bandwagon' in decision-making?

Answer: Adopting beliefs because others do. Social proof influences individual choices.

Flashcard 66: Identify the term for choosing an option with the highest perceived value.

Answer: Maximizing. Seeks the absolute best possible outcome.

Flashcard 67: Which heuristic involves solving problems by working backward from the goal?

Answer: Means-end analysis. Reduces gap between current state and goal.

Flashcard 68: What is cognitive restructuring?

Answer: Changing maladaptive thoughts to improve problem-solving. Reframes negative thoughts into helpful ones.

Flashcard 69: What is meant by 'base rate fallacy'?

Answer: Ignoring statistical information in favor of anecdotal data. Overlooks general statistics for specific cases.

Flashcard 70: What is the mere exposure effect?

Answer: Increased preference due to repeated exposure. Familiarity breeds liking through repetition.

Flashcard 71: Identify the term for choosing an option with the highest perceived value.

Answer: Maximizing. Seeks the absolute best possible outcome.

Flashcard 72: What is the gambler's fallacy?

Answer: Belief that past events affect the likelihood of future events. Assumes random events have patterns or memory.

Flashcard 73: What is a mental set in problem-solving?

Answer: Tendency to approach problems in a familiar way. Rigid thinking patterns block new solutions.

Flashcard 74: Which problem-solving strategy involves breaking a problem into smaller parts?

Answer: Decomposition. Divides complex problems into manageable subproblems.

Flashcard 75: What is the term for the tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs?

Answer: Confirmation bias. Seeks supporting evidence while avoiding challenges.

Flashcard 76: What is the representativeness heuristic?

Answer: Judging likelihood based on similarity to prototypes. Assumes similar-looking things belong together.

Flashcard 77: What is counterfactual thinking?

Answer: Imagining alternatives to past events. Considers how things could have been different.

Flashcard 78: What is the term for the bias where recent experiences influence perception of future events?

Answer: Recency bias. Latest information weighs more heavily.

Flashcard 79: What is the availability heuristic?

Answer: Estimating likelihood based on readily available examples. Recent memorable events seem more probable.

Flashcard 80: What is the term for the tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs?

Answer: Confirmation bias. Seeks supporting evidence while avoiding challenges.