AP Psychology Lecture Notes

Overview

• Focus on various psychological theories.
• No practice questions due to the extensive number of theories.
• Encouragement and appreciation for student support.

Developmental Theories

Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory

• Sensorimotor Stage: Object permanence; understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen.
• Preoperational Stage: Egocentrism and pretend play; developing a sense of self.
• Concrete Operational Stage: Logical thinking and understanding of conversation.
• Formal Operational Stage: Abstract reasoning and critical thinking.

Erickson's Psychosocial Stages

• Comprises eight stages (e.g., identity vs. role confusion, integrity vs. despair).
• Emphasizes understanding one's role and fulfillment in life.

Kohlberg's Moral Development

• Pre-conventional: Focus on rewards and punishments.
• Conventional: Adherence to social rules and ethics.
• Post-conventional: Advanced moral reasoning.

Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory

• Learning through social interactions and the Zone of Proximal Development.

Consciousness Theories

Freud's Dream Theory

• Manifest content: Storyline of the dream.
• Latent content: Hidden meaning behind dreams.

Information Processing Theory

• Dreams help process and consolidate daily memories.

Activation Synthesis Theory

• Dreams result from random neural firings and the mind’s attempt to make sense of them.

Language Theories

Chomsky's Nativist Theory

• Inherent language acquisition device within humans.

Skinner's Behaviorist View

• Language learned through reinforcement and interaction.

Emotion Theories

James-Lange Theory

• Emotion results from physiological arousal (e.g., feeling sad because we cry).

Cannon-Bard Theory

• Arousal and emotion occur simultaneously.

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory

• Emotion is based on arousal and cognitive label.

Opponent Process Theory

• Emotions come in opposing pairs (e.g., fear followed by relief).

Personality Theories

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

• Id, ego, and super-ego structure of personality.

Trait Theories

• Big Five (OCEAN): Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

Humanistic Theories

• Rogers and Maslow focus on self-actualization.

Social Cognitive Theory

• Bandura’s model of interaction between traits and environment.

Learning Theories

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

• Associating two stimuli together.

Operant Conditioning

• Behavior shaped by rewards and punishments.

Observational Learning (Bandura)

• Learning by watching others (e.g., Bobo doll experiment).

Motivation Theories

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Needs ranging from physiological to self-actualization.

Drive Reduction Theory

• Reduction of internal tension (e.g., hunger, thirst).

Incentive Theory

• Motivation driven by rewards and possibly punishments.

Conclusion

• Focus on Piaget’s cognitive development theory for exams.
• Ensure familiarity with all theories for a comprehensive understanding.