AP Psychology: 200 Core Vocabulary Explained | AP 心理学：200个核心词汇详解

📚 AP Psychology: 200 Core Vocabulary Explained | AP 心理学：200个核心词汇详解

Mastering AP Psychology demands fluency in a broad vocabulary spanning research methods, biopsychology, cognition, development, clinical disorders, and social behaviour. This bilingual reference walks you through 200 essential terms organised by topic, providing concise English definitions immediately followed by Chinese equivalents. Use these paired entries to strengthen recall, clarify concepts, and build a cross-language understanding that supports both the exam and deeper learning.

精通AP心理学需要熟练掌握涵盖研究方法、生物心理学、认知、发展、临床障碍和社会行为的广泛词汇。这份双语参考按主题编排了200个核心术语，每个术语先给出简明的英文定义，紧接着提供中文对应解释。成对记忆有助于加强回忆、厘清概念，并建立跨语言的理解，从而既助力考试又促进深入学习。

1. Research Methods & Statistics | 研究方法与统计

Experiment: A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behaviour or mental process.

实验：研究者操纵一个或多个因素以观察对行为或心理过程影响的研究方法。

Independent Variable (IV): The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

自变量：被操纵的实验因素，即研究其效应的变量。

Dependent Variable (DV): The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

因变量：结果因素；可能随自变量操纵而变化的变量。

Confounding Variable: A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

混淆变量：实验中除自变量外可能产生效应的因素。

Control Group: The group that is not exposed to the treatment; serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

控制组：不接受处理的一组，作为评估处理效果的比较基准。

Experimental Group: The group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

实验组：接受处理即自变量某一水平的一组。

Random Assignment: Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences.

随机分配：用概率方法将参与者分到实验组或控制组，以尽量减少事先存在的差异。

Double-Blind Procedure: An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether participants received the treatment or a placebo.

双盲程序：参与者和研究人员均不知道谁接受了处理或安慰剂的实验程序。

Placebo Effect: Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behaviour caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition.

安慰剂效应：仅由期望引起的实验结果；给予惰性物质或条件所导致的行为改变。

Operational Definition: A statement of the procedures used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.

操作性定义：用程序来界定研究变量的陈述。例如，人类智力可被操作性定义为一套智力测验所测的内容。

Hypothesis: A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

假设：一种可检验的预测，通常由理论导出。

Replication: Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced.

重复：重复研究的基本过程，通常在不同情境中使用不同被试，以验证基本发现能否再现。

Correlation: A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.

相关：衡量两个因素一起变化程度的指标，即一个因素能在多大程度上预测另一个因素。

Positive Correlation: A relationship in which two variables increase or decrease together.

正相关：两个变量同时增加或减少的关系。

Negative Correlation: A relationship in which one variable increases as the other decreases.

负相关：一个变量增加而另一个变量减少的关系。

Scatterplot: A graphed cluster of dots, each representing the values of two variables; the slope suggests the direction of the relationship.

散点图：由若干点组成的图形，每点代表两个变量的取值；点群的倾斜方向提示关系的方向。

Mean: The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

平均数：分布的算术平均值，即总分除以分数个数。

Median: The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.

中位数：分布中居中的分数；一半分数在其上，一半在其下。

Mode: The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.

众数：分布中出现次数最多的分数。

Standard Deviation: A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

标准差：衡量分数在平均数周围分散程度的统计量。

Statistical Significance: A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance, usually indicated by a p-value < 0.05.

统计显著性：表明所得结果由偶然因素引起的可能性有多大的统计陈述，常用p < 0.05表示。

---

2. Biological Bases of Behavior | 行为的生物基础

Neuron: A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

神经元：神经细胞；神经系统的基本构成单位。

Dendrite: The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

树突：神经元的分枝状突起，负责接收信息并将冲动传向细胞体。

Axon: The extension of a neuron through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

轴突：神经元长长的延伸部分，信息通过它传递给其他神经元、肌肉或腺体。

Myelin Sheath: A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed.

髓鞘：包裹某些神经元轴突的脂肪组织层，能大幅提高传导速度。

Action Potential: A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

动作电位：神经冲动；沿轴突传导的短暂电信号。

Synapse: The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

突触：发送神经元轴突末梢与接收神经元树突或胞体之间的接合点。

Neurotransmitter: Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.

神经递质：穿过神经元之间突触间隙的化学信使。

Acetylcholine (ACh): A neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory.

乙酰胆碱：一种神经递质，参与肌肉动作、学习和记忆。

Dopamine: A neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.

多巴胺：影响运动、学习、注意和情绪的神经递质。

Serotonin: A neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

血清素：影响情绪、饥饿、睡眠和唤醒的神经递质。

Endorphins: “Morphine within”—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

内啡肽：“体内吗啡”，与痛觉控制和快感相关的天然阿片样神经递质。

Central Nervous System (CNS): The brain and spinal cord.

中枢神经系统：脑和脊髓。

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

周围神经系统：连接中枢神经系统与身体其余部分的感觉和运动神经元。

Amygdala: Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion, especially fear and aggression.

杏仁核：边缘系统中两个杏仁大小的神经集群，与情绪尤其是恐惧和攻击性有关。

Hypothalamus: A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward.

下丘脑：位于丘脑下方的神经结构；调控饮食、体温等维持活动，并参与内分泌系统和奖赏加工。

Cerebral Cortex: The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.

大脑皮层：覆盖大脑半球的相互连接的神经细胞组成的复杂组织，是身体的终极控制与信息加工中心。

Frontal Lobes: Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning, and judgment.

额叶：位于前额后方的大脑皮层区域，参与言语、肌肉运动、计划和判断。

Broca’s Area: An area of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech production.

布罗卡区：左额叶中控制言语产生所需肌肉运动的区域。

Wernicke’s Area: A brain area involved in language comprehension, usually in the left temporal lobe.

韦尼克区：通常位于左颞叶，参与语言理解的大脑区域。

Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

神经可塑性：大脑改变自身的能力，特别在儿童时期，表现为受损后重组或根据经验建立新通路。

---

3. Sensation and Perception | 感觉与知觉

Sensation: The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.

感觉：感觉感受器和神经系统接收并表征环境中刺激能量的过程。

Perception: The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.

知觉：组织并解释感觉信息，使我们能识别有意义的物体和事件的过程。

Absolute Threshold: The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time.

绝对阈限：多次测试中有50%几率能检测到某一刺激所需的最小刺激强度。

Difference Threshold (Just Noticeable Difference): The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time.

差别阈限（最小可觉差）：多次测试中有50%几率能察觉到的两个刺激间的最小差异。

Weber’s Law: The principle that two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion for their difference to be perceived.

韦伯定律：两个刺激必须按固定比例变化，其差异才能被察觉的原理。

Sensory Adaptation: Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.

感觉适应：因恒定刺激而导致感受性下降的现象。

Rods: Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision.

视杆细胞：检测黑白灰度的视网膜感受器，负责周边视觉和暗光视觉。

Cones: Retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions; detect fine detail and colour.

视锥细胞：集中于视网膜中央的感受器细胞，在白天或明亮条件下工作，分辨细节和颜色。

Feature Detectors: Nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement.

特征觉察器：大脑中对刺激的特定特征（如形状、角度、运动）做出反应的神经细胞。

Parallel Processing: The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing.

并行加工：同时处理问题多个方面的加工方式，是大脑信息加工的自然模式。

Gestalt: An organized whole; Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

格式塔：一个有组织的整体；格式塔心理学家强调我们把零散信息整合为有意义的整体的倾向。

Figure-Ground: The organization of the visual field into objects (figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).

图形—背景：将视野组织成突出于背景之上的物体（图形）的倾向。

Depth Perception: The ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance.

深度知觉：虽然视网膜图像是二维的，但能感知三维深度的能力，使我们能判断距离。

Binocular Cues: Depth cues, such as retinal disparity and convergence, that depend on the use of two eyes.

双眼线索：依赖于双眼配合使用的深度线索，如视网膜像差和辐合。

Monocular Cues: Depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone.

单眼线索：仅靠一只眼睛就能获得的深度线索，如遮挡和线性透视。

Perceptual Constancy: Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shape, size, brightness, and colour) even as illumination and retinal images change.

知觉恒常性：即使光照和视网膜影像变化，依然将物体知觉为稳定不变（形状、大小、明度、颜色一致）的现象。

Selective Attention: The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus while excluding others.

选择性注意：将意识聚焦于某一特定刺激同时排除其他刺激的能力。

Cocktail Party Effect: The ability to attend to only one voice among many while still noticing one’s own name spoken elsewhere.

鸡尾酒会效应：在众多声音中只注意某一声音，却仍能察觉他处提及自己名字的能力。

---

4. Learning | 学习

Classical Conditioning: A type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

经典条件作用：学会把两个或多个刺激联系起来并预期事件的一种学习类型。

Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

无条件刺激：能自然且自动地引发反应的刺激。

Unconditioned Response (UR): The unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus.

无条件反应：对无条件刺激所产生的非习得的、自然发生的反应。

Conditioned Stimulus (CS): An originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

条件刺激：原本无关的刺激，经与无条件刺激联结后能引发条件反应。

Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus.

条件反应：对先前中性（现已成为条件刺激）的刺激习得的反应。

Acquisition: The initial stage in classical conditioning when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response.

习得：经典条件作用的初始阶段，此时中性刺激与无条件刺激形成联结，中性刺激开始引发条件反应。

Extinction: The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus.

消退：条件反应的减弱；在经典条件作用中，条件刺激不再有无条件刺激跟随时而发生。

Spontaneous Recovery: The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

自然恢复：消退后，条件反应在一段时间后再次出现的现象。

Generalization: The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

泛化：条件反应建立后，与条件刺激相似的刺激也能引起相似反应的趋势。

Discrimination: The learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

分化：习得的能力，能区分条件刺激与其他不预示无条件刺激的信号。

Operant Conditioning: A type of learning in which behaviour is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

操作条件作用：行为因后续强化而增强、因后续惩罚而减弱的一种学习。

Reinforcement: Any event that strengthens the behaviour it follows.

强化：任何能增强其所跟随行为的事件。

Positive Reinforcement: Adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behaviour.

正强化：呈现愉快刺激以增加行为。

Negative Reinforcement: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behaviour.

负强化：移除厌恶刺激以增加行为。

Punishment: An event that decreases the behaviour that it follows.

惩罚：能减弱其所跟随行为的事件。

Shaping: An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behaviour toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behaviour.

塑造：通过强化逐渐接近目标行为的动作，从而建立新行为的操作条件作用程序。

Schedules of Reinforcement: Patterns that define how often a desired response will be reinforced (e.g., fixed-ratio, variable-interval).

强化程式：规定目标反应被强化的频率模式（如固定比率、可变时距等）。

Observational Learning: Learning by observing others; also called social learning.

观察学习：通过观察他人而进行的学习，也称社会学习。

Mirror Neurons: Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so.

镜像神经元：额叶中的神经元，有科学家认为当执行某一动作或观察他人做同样动作时都会放电。

---

5. Memory | 记忆

Encoding: The processing of information into the memory system—for example, by extracting meaning.

编码：将信息加工后放入记忆系统，例如提取意义。

Storage: The retention of encoded information over time.

储存：编码信息随时间推移而保留的过程。

Retrieval: The process of getting information out of memory storage.

提取：从记忆存储中取出信息的过程。

Sensory Memory: The immediate, very brief recording of sensory information in the memory system.

感觉记忆：对感觉信息的瞬时、极短暂的记忆登记。

Short-Term Memory: Activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as seven digits of a phone number, before the information is stored or forgotten.

短时记忆：能短暂保持少量项目（如七位电话号码）的激活记忆，其后信息或被存储或被遗忘。

Long-Term Memory: The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system.

长时记忆：记忆系统中相对永久且容量无限的存储库。

Working Memory: A newer understanding of short-term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual information, and of information retrieved from long-term memory.

工作记忆：对短时记忆的新理解，强调对输入听觉视觉信息以及从长时记忆中提取的信息进行主动的有意识加工。

Automatic Processing: Unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned information.

自动加工：对偶然信息（如空间、时间、频次）和熟悉信息进行的无意识编码。

Effortful Processing: Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort.

努力加工：需要注意和有意识努力的编码过程。

<

Published by TutorHao | AP 心理 Revision Series | aleveler.com

更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）