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Feature extraction (pattern recognition)—when new information comes into sensory storage, we actively search through long-term memory in an effort to find a match for these new raw data.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)— a cluster of abnormalities that occurs in babies of mothers who drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.

Fetus—the developing human organism from about nine weeks after conception to birth when organ systems begin to interact, and sex organs and sense organs become refined.

Fictional final goals—according to Adler’s personality theory, these direct our behavior and since largely unattainable need to be modified over time.

Fight-or-flight response—physiological reactions that help ready us to fight or to flee from a dangerous situation; activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Fixation—(for problem solving) an inability to look at a problem from a fresh perspective, using a prior strategy that does not lead to success; (in Freud’s theory) continuing to engage in behaviors associated with an earlier stage of development.

Fixed interval—schedule of reinforcement in which the first response after a specific time has passed is reinforced.

Fixed ratio—schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement is presented after a set number of responses have been made since the previous reinforcement.

Flashbulb memories—a clear and vivid memory of an emotionally significant moment or event.

Flooding—behavior treatment for phobias; client is repeatedly exposed to feared object for extended periods of time and without escape, until the anxiety diminishes.

Fluid intelligence—those cognitive abilities requiring speed or rapid learning which tend to diminish with adult aging.

Foot-in-the-door—compliance strategy; an agreement to a smaller request leads to agreement with a larger request later.

Forensic psychologists—psychologists who apply psychological principles to legal issues.

Formal operational stage—Piaget’s fourth stage of cognitive development (12+ years) during which the child begins to think logically about abstract concepts and engage in hypothetical thinking.

Fovea—small area of the retina in the most direct line of sight, where cones are most concentrated for highest visual acuity in bright light.

Framing—refers to the way an issue is stated. How an issue is framed can significantly affect people’s perceptions, decisions, and judgments.

Fraternal twins—also called dizygotic twins; siblings that share about half of the same genes because they develop from two different zygotes.

Free association—a psychoanalytic procedure in which the client is encouraged to to say whatever is on his/her mind without censoring possibly embarrassing or socially unacceptable thoughts or ideas.

Frequency—the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given amount of time. The wavelength is inversely proportional to the frequency. Frequency or wavelength determines the hue of a light wave and the pitch of a sound.

Frequency distribution—an orderly arrangement of scores indicating the frequency of each score or group of scores.

Frequency theory—the rate of neural impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, which enables one to sense its pitch. How low-pitched sounds are heard.

Frontal lobes—front region of the cerebral cortex that interprets and controls emotional behaviors, makes decisions, carries out plans; contains motor cortex (just in front of somatosensory cortex) that initiates movements and integrates activities of skeletal muscles; produces speech (Broca’s area).

Fully-functioning—Rogers’s term for a greater acceptance of who we are and who we want to be, and taking individual responsibility for our behavior; similar to Maslow’s self-actualization.

Functional fixedness—inability to recognize novel uses for a familiar object because we’re fixated on its common use; a hindrance to problem solving.

Functional MRI (fMRI)—shows brain activity at higher resolution than the PET scan when changes in oxygen concentration near active neurons alter magnetic qualities.