OCR GCSE Psychology key terms

Memory of past personal experiences.

Being able to carry out a well-practised skill with little conscious attention.

The division of the nervous system that regulates largely automatic bodily functions, including heart rate.

A chart comparing separate categories using equal-width bars with gaps between them. Bar heights represent values such as frequencies or means.

A systematic influence that distorts research findings away from an accurate account of what is being studied.

An influence of question wording or response options that steers participants towards particular answers.

An explanation of behaviour or a psychological disorder in terms of physical processes, such as brain structure, brain activity and neurotransmission.

Strange or illogical features of mental experiences, classified in this study by where they occurred and the type of strangeness involved.

Viewing outcomes in absolute categories, such as complete success or total failure, without recognising possibilities in between.

A person assessing behaviour without knowing which experimental condition each participant belongs to, reducing the risk that expectations influence their judgement.

Abnormal functioning of the brain, which may involve unusually high or low activity, abnormal structure or damage.

The part of the brain connecting with the spinal cord and controlling vital automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

A professional organisation for psychology in Britain that sets ethical and professional standards, including its Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Providing treatment and support for people with mental health problems in their local community rather than relying on long-term stays in psychiatric hospitals.

An in-depth investigation of one person or a small group, usually using several methods to gather detailed information.

In Freud’s theory, an unconscious fear of losing the penis through castration.

Interpreting an event as far worse or more disastrous than it actually is.

A marked disturbance of movement or physical responsiveness, which may involve extreme stillness, unusual postures or agitation.

Cognitive behavioural therapy: a psychotherapy that helps people identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and change unhelpful behaviour.

The brain and spinal cord, which process information and coordinate responses.

A brain structure towards the lower back of the head that coordinates movement and balance and contributes to learning and remembering motor skills.

The outer layer of the cerebrum, which interprets information and, in Activation Synthesis Theory, organises internally generated signals into a dream.

The main upper part of the brain, containing lobes involved in functions such as thinking, processing sensory information and memory.

A recurring biological rhythm lasting approximately 24 hours, such as the sleep–wake cycle.

The organisation of conditions into diagnostic categories using specified features or criteria.

A mood disorder involving persistent depressed mood or loss of interest and enjoyment, alongside other symptoms that cause distress or interfere with everyday functioning.

A question that requires participants to choose from a fixed set of responses.

The mental processes involved in gaining and using knowledge, including thinking, understanding and reasoning.