Get Psyched AP Psychology Ultimate Exam Cramathon

Introduction

• Host: Tim Steedman
• Purpose: Final review for students who have kept up with the AP Psychology course.
• Disclaimer: This video is a review, not a comprehensive teaching tool.
• Importance of revisiting cognition and the spacing effect.

Science Practices

• Doug's Study: "Sweet Beats for Cognitive Feats"

  • Behavioral Approach: Music associated with studying.
  • Cognitive Perspective: Music helps process information.
  • Psychodynamic Perspective: Music linked to childhood comfort.
  • Humanistic: Music for self-fulfillment.
  • Biological Approach: Effects of music on dopamine.
  • Evolutionary Psychology: Humans' response to rhythm.
  • Sociocultural Perspective: Peer influence.

• Cognitive Biases

  • Confirmation Bias: Only notices when music helps.
  • Hindsight Bias: Believing success was expected.
  • Overconfidence Bias: Overestimating study's impact.

• Research Methods

  • Naturalistic Observation: Observing in natural settings.
  • Case Study: Detailed observation of one subject.
  • Meta Analysis: Combining results from multiple studies.
  • Correlational Study: Survey on music and GPA.

• Experimental Design Flaws

  • Non-random sampling and assignment.
  • Unethical practices: No informed consent or debriefing.
  • Lack of operational definitions.

Statistics and Data Interpretation

• Central Tendency: Mean, median, mode; outliers.
• Variability: Range, standard deviation.
• Graph Interpretations: Normal curve vs skewed.
• Correlational Coefficient Misunderstandings: Misinterpretation of data.

Psychological Science Practices

• Science Practice 4: Argumentation
  • Making a claim and supporting it with psychological evidence.

Biological Basis of Behavior (Unit 1)

• Nature vs Nurture

  • Genetic predispositions vs environmental influences.
  • Evolutionary adaptation and its ethical concerns (eugenics).

• Nervous System Overview

  • Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord.
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Somatic and autonomic divisions.
  • Autonomic Nervous System: Sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest).

• Neurons and Neural Communication

  • Types: Sensory, motor, and interneurons.
  • Action potentials and synaptic transmission.
  • Disorders: Multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis.

• Neurotransmitters

  • Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc.

• Endocrine System

  • Hormones like adrenaline, leptin, and melatonin.

• Psychoactive Drugs

  • Agonists, antagonists, and reuptake inhibitors.
  • Categories: Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, opioids.

• The Brain

  • Brain Stem: Medulla, reticular formation, and cerebellum.
  • Limbic System: Thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala.
  • Cerebral Cortex: Lobes and their functions.

• Language and Brain Specialization

  • Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas.

• Brain Plasticity and Studies

  • Structural and functional plasticity.
  • EEG and fMRI.

Consciousness and Sleep

• Circadian Rhythms: Biological clock impacts.
• Sleep Stages: NREM and REM sleep.
• Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy.

Sensation and Perception

• Vision: Retina processing, color theories, visual impairments.
• Hearing: Cochlea function, pitch theories, hearing loss.
• Chemical Senses: Smell and taste pathways.
• Touch and Body Awareness: Pain theories, kinesthetic and vestibular senses.

Cognitive Processes (Unit 2)

• Thinking and Problem Solving

  • Concepts, prototypes, algorithms, and heuristics.

• Memory Processes

  • Models: Multi-store, working memory.
  • Types: Explicit, implicit.

• Encoding and Retrieval

  • Mnemonics, chunking, spacing effect.
  • Context, state-dependent, mood-congruent memories.

Learning (Unit 3)

• Classical Conditioning

  • UCS, UCR, CS, CR, extinction, spontaneous recovery.

• Operant Conditioning

  • Reinforcement (positive and negative) and punishment.
  • Schedules of reinforcement: Fixed, variable, ratio, interval.

• Observational Learning

  • Social learning theory, modeling, vicarious conditioning.

Motivation and Emotion

• Theories of Motivation

  • Drive reduction, arousal theory, self-determination.

• Emotion and Expression

  • Theories on emotion processing.
  • Display rules and cultural differences.

Psychological Disorders and Treatment (Unit 5)

• Disorders and Diagnosis

  • Criteria: Dysfunction, distress, deviation.
  • Tools: DSM, ICD.

• Types of Disorders

  • Neurodevelopmental, schizophrenia, mood, anxiety, and personality disorders.

• Treatment Approaches

  • Psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, humanistic.
  • Medications: Antidepressants, antipsychotics.

• Therapeutic Relationships

  • Importance of cultural humility, therapeutic alliance.

Conclusion

• Understanding psychology aids in application to real-world scenarios.
• Emphasis on ethical treatment and evidence-based practices.
• Encouragement to approach the AP exam with confidence and preparation.

This review covers critical components of AP Psychology necessary for exam success, focusing on psychological theories, disorders, and real-world applications of psychological principles.