Notes on AP Psychology Exam Review

Key Topics Covered

1. Foundations of Psychology

   • Important schools of thought: behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism
   • Key figures: Freud, Skinner, Rogers

2. Research Methods

   • Experimental, correlational, observational methods
   • Importance of ethical guidelines

3. Biological Bases of Behavior

   • Neurons and neurotransmitters
   • Brain structures and their functions

4. Sensation and Perception

   • Difference between sensation and perception
   • Key sensory systems

5. Learning

   • Classical conditioning vs. operant conditioning
   • Important experiments: Pavlov’s dogs, Skinner’s box

6. Cognition

   • Information processing model
   • Memory structures: short-term, long-term

7. Motivation and Emotion

   • Theories of motivation: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
   • Emotion theories: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard

8. Developmental Psychology

   • Stages of development: Piaget’s stages
   • Attachment theories

9. Personality

   • Trait vs. psychodynamic theories
   • Assessments: Big Five, Rorschach inkblot

10. Psychological Disorders

    • Classification: DSM-5
    • Common disorders: anxiety, mood disorders

11. Therapy and Treatment

    • Types of therapy: CBT, psychoanalysis
    • Role of medication in treatment

12. Social Psychology

    • Key concepts: conformity, groupthink
    • Important studies: Milgram’s obedience study, Zimbardo’s prison experiment

Study Tips

• Focus on understanding key concepts rather than memorizing facts.
• Practice applying theories to real-life scenarios.
• Utilize past exam questions to familiarize with the format and types of questions.