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AP Psychology Exam Review Notes

May 16, 2025

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.