AP Psychology Mega Review

This review covers the entire AP Psychology course focusing on key concepts from each unit.

Unit 1: Biological Basis of Behavior

1.1 Interaction of Heredity and Environment

• Nature vs. Nurture Debate: Heredity (nature) vs. environmental factors (nurture).
• Evolutionary Perspective: Natural selection impacts behaviors and mental processes.
• Eugenics: Discredited theory that certain traits should be promoted.
• Research Studies: Twin, family, and adoption studies show the interaction of genetics and environment.

1.2 Overview of the Nervous System

• Central Nervous System: Brain and spinal cord.
• Peripheral Nervous System: Autonomic (involuntary) and somatic (voluntary) systems.

1.3 The Neuron and Neural Firing

• Neurons: Sensory, motor, and interneurons.
• Neural Transmission: Resting potential, action potential.
• Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, glutamate, GABA, endorphins, etc.
• Psychoactive Drugs: Impact on neurotransmitter function.

1.4 Structures of the Brain

• Brain Stem: Basic life functions.
• Cerebellum: Movement coordination.
• Cerebral Cortex: Perception, thought, language.
• Split Brain Research: Hemispheric specialization.
• Brain Plasticity: Reorganization and adaptability.

1.5 Sleep

• Circadian Rhythms: Biological processes following a 24-hour cycle.
• Sleep Stages: NREM (stages 1-3) and REM sleep.
• Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, etc.

1.6 Sensation

• Absolute Threshold vs. Just Noticeable Difference: Detection of stimuli.
• Sensory Interaction: Senses working together.
• Visual and Auditory Systems: How we see and hear.

Unit 2: Cognition

2.1 Perception

• Processing: Bottom-up vs. top-down.
• Schemas and Perceptual Sets: Mental frameworks and expectations.
• Gestalt Principles: Closure, figure-ground, proximity, similarity.
• Attention and Blindness: Cocktail party effect, inattentional blindness.

2.2 Thinking and Problem Solving

• Concepts and Schemas: Prototypes and mental frameworks.
• Heuristics: Mental shortcuts like representativeness and availability.
• Decision Making: Priming, framing, and fallacies.
• Creativity: Divergent vs. convergent thinking.

2.3 Memory

• Types of Memory: Explicit (episodic, semantic) vs. implicit (procedural, perspective).
• Memory Models: Working memory, multi-store model, levels of processing.

2.4 Encoding Memories

• Mnemonic Devices: Strategies for encoding.
• Spacing Effect: Distributed practice over massed practice.
• Serial Position Effect: Primacy and recency effects.

2.5 Storing Memories

• Memory Storage: Sensory, short-term, long-term memory.
• Memory Rehearsal: Maintenance vs. elaborative rehearsal.
• Memory Disorders: Amnesia, Alzheimer's disease, etc.

2.6 Memory Retrieval

• Types of Retrieval: Recall vs. recognition.
• Retrieval Conditions: Context-dependent, mood-congruent, state-dependent.

2.7 Forgetting and Memory Challenges

• Forgetting Curve: Rate of memory decay.
• Retrieval Failure: Encoding failure, interference.
• Distorted Memories: Misinformation effect, source amnesia.

2.8 Intelligence and Achievement Testing

• Theories of Intelligence: General intelligence, multiple intelligences.
• IQ and Testing: Standardization, validity, reliability.
• Mindsets: Fixed vs. growth mindset.

Unit 3: Developmental Psychology

3.1 Themes and Methods

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

3.2 Physical Development

• Prenatal Influences: Teratogens, genetic mutations.
• Infancy and Childhood: Motor coordination, critical periods.
• Adolescence: Puberty and sex characteristics.
• Adulthood: Physical decline and menopause.

3.3 Sex and Gender

• Biological vs. Gender Roles: Gender schema theory and socialization.

3.4 Cognitive Development

• Piaget's Stages: Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational.
• Vygotsky's Theory: Sociocultural theory, scaffolding.
• Cognitive Changes in Adulthood: Crystallized vs. fluid intelligence.

3.5 Communication and Language

• Language Development: Phonemes, morphemes, stages of language development.
• Language Learning Errors: Overgeneralization.

3.6 Social and Emotional Development

• Ecological Systems Theory: Bronfenbrenner's layers.
• Parenting Styles: Authoritative, authoritarian, permissive.
• Attachment Styles: Secure, insecure (avoidant, ambivalent, disorganized).
• Erikson's Psychosocial Stages: Trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, etc.

3.7-3.9 Behavioral Learning

• Classical Conditioning: Pavlov's experiment, terms like acquisition, extinction.
• Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement, punishment, schedules.
• Social Learning Theory: Observation, imitation, modeling.

Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality

4.1 Attribution Theory

• Types of Attribution: Dispositional vs. situational.
• Attribution Biases: Fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias.

4.2 Attitudes and Behavior

• Stereotypes and Bias: Implicit attitudes, belief perseverance, cognitive dissonance.

4.3 Social Situations

• Social Norms and Influence: Conformity, obedience.
• Group Dynamics: Group think, social loafing.
• Altruism and Bystander Effect: Social reciprocity norm, social responsibility norm.

4.4 Psychodynamic and Humanistic Theories

• Freud's Theory: Defense mechanisms, unconscious influences.
• Humanistic Approach: Unconditional positive regard, self-actualization.

4.5 Social Cognitive and Trait Theories

• Reciprocal Determinism: Personal factors, behavior, environment.
• Big Five Traits: Agreeableness, openness, extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability.

4.6 Motivation

• Theories of Motivation: Drive reduction, arousal, self-determination, incentives.
• Types of Motivation: Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation.

4.7 Emotion

• Components of Emotion: Cognitive and physiological factors.
• Universality of Emotions: Cultural display rules.

Unit 5: Health Psychology

5.1 Stress

• Stressors and Types: Eustress vs. distress, daily hassles, traumatic events.
• General Adaptation Syndrome: Alarm, resistance, exhaustion.
• Coping Mechanisms: Problem-focused vs. emotion-focused coping.

5.2 Positive Psychology

• Gratitude and Strengths: Expressing gratitude, post-traumatic growth.

5.3 Identifying Psychological Disorders

• Diagnosis and Classification: DSM, ICD, cultural influences.
• Approaches to Diagnosis: Behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive, sociocultural, etc.

5.4 Psychological Disorders

• Categories and Examples: Neurodevelopmental, depressive, bipolar, anxiety, dissociative, etc.

5.5 Treating Psychological Disorders

• Psychotherapy Approaches: Cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, group therapy.
• Medications and Biological Treatments: Antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy.

This mega review comprehensively covers the core content required for the AP Psychology course, focusing on the major theories, concepts, and empirical findings. It serves as a study aid to reinforce understanding and application of psychological principles in preparation for the exam.