AP Psychology Mega Review

Welcome to the AP Psychology mega review video, designed to cover all essential materials for the AP Psychology exam across five units. This comprehensive 4-hour video includes references to study guide worksheets for interactive learning. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key concepts covered in the video.

Unit 1: Biological Basis of Behavior

1.1 Interaction of Heredity and Environment

• Nature vs. Nurture: Debate between heredity (genetics) and environment.
• Interactionist Perspective: Both genetics and environment shape behavior.
• Evolutionary Perspective: Natural selection influences behavior; rejected misuse in eugenics.
• Research on Nature vs. Nurture: Twin, family, and adoption studies show both heredity and environment influence traits.

1.2 Overview of the Nervous System

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord; control center for thought, movement, emotions.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Connects CNS to body; divided into autonomic (involuntary) and somatic (voluntary) systems.

1.3 Neuron and Neural Firing

• Neurons and Glial Cells: Neurons transmit signals; glial cells support.
• Reflex Arcs: Sensory, interneurons, and motor neurons work together.
• Neural Transmission: Resting potential, depolarization, all or nothing principle, refractory period, and reuptake.
• Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc., affect behavior.
• Psychoactive Drugs: Impact neurotransmitter function, leading to altered states.

1.4 Brain Structures

• Brain Stem: Basic life functions; includes medulla.
• Cerebral Cortex: Higher order processes; includes limbic system, various lobes.
• Split Brain Research: Hemispheric specialization; corpus callosum severance studies.
• Brain Plasticity: Ability to reorganize and form new connections.

1.5 Sleep

• Circadian Rhythm: Sleep-wake cycle regulated by biological processes.
• Sleep Stages: NREM (3 stages) and REM (dreaming occurs).
• Sleep Theories: Activation synthesis, consolidation theory.
• Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, narcolepsy, apnea, etc.

1.6 Sensation

• Absolute Threshold: Minimum stimulus intensity detected.
• Sensory Systems: Visual, auditory, chemical, touch, and pain.
• Color Vision Theories: Trichromatic and opponent process.
• Balance and Coordination: Vestibular and kinesthetic systems.

Unit 2: Cognition

2.1 Perception

• Processing Types: Bottom-up (sensory input), top-down (prior knowledge).
• Schemas and Perceptual Sets: Mental frameworks influencing perception.
• Attention: Selective focus influenced by internal/external factors.
• Depth Cues: Binocular (retinal disparity, convergence) and monocular (size, perspective).

2.2 Thinking and Problem Solving

• Concepts and Prototypes: Mental categories and typical examples.
• Problem Solving: Algorithms and heuristics.
• Decision-Making: Influenced by mental set, priming, framing.
• Creativity: Divergent vs. convergent thinking.

2.3 Memory

• Types of Memory: Explicit, implicit, procedural, prospective.
• Memory Models: Working memory, multi-store, and levels of processing.

2.4 Encoding Memories

• Mnemonics: Method of loci, chunking, categorizing.
• Spacing Effect: Distributed vs. massed practice.

2.5 Storing Memories

• Memory Storage: Sensory, short-term, working, long-term.
• Rehearsal: Maintenance vs. elaborative.

2.6 Retrieving Memories

• Recall vs. Recognition: Different retrieval processes.
• Retrieval Enhancement: Context, mood, state-dependent memory.

2.7 Forgetting and Memory Challenges

• Forgetting Curve: Rapid forgetting then stabilization.
• Retrieval Failure: Encoding failure, interference, inadequate retrieval.

2.8 Intelligence and Achievement Testing

• Theories of Intelligence: Spearman’s g, Gardner’s multiple intelligences, Sternberg’s triarchic theory.
• Testing Fairness: Stereotype threat, Flynn effect.

Unit 3: Developmental Psychology

3.1 Themes and Methods

• Major Themes: Stability vs. change, nature vs. nurture, continuity vs. discontinuity.
• Research Methods: Cross-sectional vs. longitudinal.

3.2 Physical Development

• Prenatal Development: Influences such as teratogens.
• Infancy and Childhood: Motor skills, reflexes, critical periods.

3.3 Sex and Gender

• Influences on Development: Biological and gender schema theory.

3.4 Cognitive Development

• Piaget’s Stages: Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational.
• Vygotsky’s Theory: Social interactions’ influence.

3.5 Language Development

• Stages: Cooing, babbling, one-word, telegraphic speech.
• Errors: Overgeneralization.

3.6 Social Emotional Development

• Attachment Styles: Secure, insecure (avoidant, anxious, disorganized).
• Peer Relationships: Play, adolescent changes.
• Ericson's Stages: Trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, etc.

3.7 Behavioral Perspectives

• Classical Conditioning: Key terms and concepts.
• Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement and punishment.
• Social Learning Theory: Observation and modeling.

Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality

4.1 Attribution Theory

• Types of Attribution: Dispositional vs. situational.
• Attribution Biases: Actor-observer, fundamental attribution error.

4.2 Attitudes and Social Beliefs

• Stereotypes: Generalized beliefs.
• Implicit Attitudes: Just world phenomenon, in-group bias.

4.3 Social Situations

• Social Influence: Normative vs. informational.
• Group Dynamics: Groupthink, social facilitation.

4.4 Personality Theories

• Psychodynamic Theory: Unconscious influences.
• Humanistic Theory: Self-actualization, growth.

4.5 Social Cognition and Traits

• Reciprocal Determinism: Interaction of personal factors, behavior, environment.
• Trait Theories: Big Five personality traits.

4.6 Motivation

• Theories of Motivation: Drive reduction, arousal, self-determination.

4.7 Emotion

• Cognitive and Physiological Aspects: Influence on emotion.
• Cultural Differences: Universality and display rules.

Unit 5: Health Psychology

5.1 Stress

• Stressors: Types of stress and their impact.
• General Adaptation Syndrome: Stages of stress response.

5.2 Positive Psychology

• Gratitude and Well-being: Impact on life satisfaction.
• Post-Traumatic Growth: Positive change after adversity.

5.3 Diagnosing Disorders

• Diagnostic Systems: DSM, ICD.
• Approaches to Understanding Disorders: Behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic.

5.4 Psychological Disorders

• Categories: Neurodevelopmental, schizophrenic, depressive, bipolar, anxiety, etc.

5.5 Treatment of Disorders

• Psychotherapy Techniques: Cognitive therapy, applied behavior analysis.
• Medication and Biological Treatments: Types and applications.

These notes should serve as a comprehensive guide to the most important topics covered in the AP Psychology course. Use them to revise key concepts and prepare efficiently for the exam.