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AP Psychology Exam Review Guide 2024

May 16, 2025

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Introduction

  • Hosted by Tim Steedman
  • Purpose: Final review for AP Psychology exam
  • Not intended to teach the entire course but to refresh what has been learned

Science Practices

  • Doug's Study Example: "Sweet Beats for Cognitive Feats"
    • Application of psychological perspectives:
      • Behavioral, Cognitive, Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Biological, Evolutionary, Sociocultural
    • Cognitive biases: Confirmation bias, Hindsight bias, Overconfidence bias
    • Research design considerations: Naturalistic observation, case study, meta-analysis
    • Experiment pitfalls: Sampling bias, confounding variables, lack of blinding, ethical issues

Data Analysis

  • Doug's Experiment Analysis
    • Central tendency: Mean, median, mode
    • Variation: Range, standard deviation
    • Graphing challenges: Skewness, bimodal distribution
    • Misinterpretations: Correlational coefficient, effect size, statistical significance

Argumentation

  • Making claims and supporting them with psychological concepts and evidence

Unit 1: Biological Basis of Behavior

  • Nature vs. Nurture
    • Genetic predispositions vs. environmental influence
    • Research methods: Twin studies, family studies, adoption studies
  • Nervous System
    • CNS: Brain and spinal cord
    • PNS: Somatic and autonomic systems
    • Neurons: Sensory, motor, interneurons
    • Neurotransmitters and endocrine system
    • Psychoactive drugs: Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, opioids
  • Brain Structure and Function
    • Brainstem, cerebellum, limbic system, cerebral cortex
    • Language areas: Broca's and Wernicke's areas
    • Plasticity: Structural and functional
    • Brain imaging techniques: EEG, fMRI
  • Consciousness and Sleep
    • Sleep stages and theories
    • Sleep disorders
    • Sensation: Transduction, sensory thresholds, adaptation

Unit 2: Cognition

  • Thinking and Problem Solving
    • Concepts, prototypes, schemas
    • Heuristics: Representative, availability
    • Cognitive biases and decision-making
  • Memory
    • Models: Multi-store, working memory
    • Types: Explicit, implicit, prospective
    • Encoding, storage, retrieval
    • Forgetting and memory distortion
  • Intelligence
    • Theories: Spearman, Sternberg
    • Testing: IQ, validity, reliability, stereotype threat

Unit 3: Developmental Psychology

  • Developmental Stages
    • Cognitive development: Piaget, Vygotsky
    • Language development
  • Social and Emotional Development
    • Ecological systems theory
    • Parenting styles, attachment, and play
    • Erickson's psychosocial stages
    • Identity development

Unit 4: Learning

  • Classical and Operant Conditioning
    • Examples with Doug's friend Lily and dog Bean
    • Reinforcement and punishment types
  • Social Learning and Observational Learning
    • Bandura's theory
    • Latent and insight learning

Unit 5: Social Psychology

  • Attribution and Person Perception
    • Fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias
    • Social identity, stereotypes, and discrimination
  • Social Influence
    • Conformity, obedience, group dynamics
    • Persuasion techniques

Unit 6: Personality

  • Theories
    • Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Trait, Social-cognitive
  • Personality Assessment
    • Projective tests, inventories

Unit 7: Motivation and Emotion

  • Theories of Motivation
    • Drive reduction, arousal, self-determination
  • Emotion
    • Theories and expression

Unit 8: Psychological Disorders

  • Diagnosis and Classification
    • Criteria: Dysfunction, distress, deviation
    • DSM and ICD
  • Types of Disorders
    • Neurodevelopmental, schizophrenic, mood, anxiety
    • OCD, dissociative, trauma-related, eating, personality

Unit 9: Treatment

  • Therapies
    • Psychodynamic, Cognitive, Behavioral, Humanistic
    • Biological therapies: Medications, ECT, TMS
  • Effectiveness and Ethics
    • Evidence-based practice
    • Ethical considerations in therapy

Conclusion

  • Emphasized the importance of review and preparation
  • Encouraged students to perform their best on the AP Psych exam

This high-level summary captures the main points and themes from the detailed lecture transcript. It's structured with headings and bullet points for easy review.