AP Psychology Mega Review Notes

Overview

• Purpose: Review entire AP Psychology course in about 4 hours.
• Study Guide: Worksheets available in the video description for filling out during the review.

Unit 1: Biological Basis of Behavior

1.1 Interaction of Heredity and Environment

• Nature vs. Nurture Debate:

  • Heredity (Nature): Genetic traits influencing behavior and mental processes.
  • Environment (Nurture): External influences like family and education.
  • Interactionist Perspective: Both nature and nurture shape behavior.

• Evolutionary Perspective: Natural selection affects behaviors.

  • Eugenics debunked for misusing evolutionary concepts.

• Research Methods:

  • Twin Studies: Compare identical vs. fraternal twins.
  • Family Studies: Examining traits among relatives.
  • Adoption Studies: Compare biological and adoptive relatives.

1.2 Overview of the Nervous System

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord.

  • Brain Functions: Controls thoughts, emotions, vital functions.
  • Spinal Cord: Relays messages; responsible for reflexes.

• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Carries messages to/from CNS.

  • Autonomic Nervous System: Involuntary functions (sympathetic and parasympathetic).
  • Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary movements.

1.3 The Neuron and Neural Firing

• Types of Neural Cells: Neurons carry signals; glial cells support neurons.
• Reflex Arc: Involves sensory, inter, and motor neurons for automatic reactions.
• Neural Transmission: Resting potential, depolarization, neurotransmitter release, re-uptake.
• Neurotransmitters: Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, glutamate, GABA, endorphins, acetylcholine, etc.

1.4 Structures of the Brain

• Brain Stem: Basic life functions.
• Limbic System: Emotion and memory (hippocampus, amygdala, etc.).
• Cerebral Cortex: Higher-order functions (divided into lobes).
• Split Brain Research: Insights into lateralization of brain functions.
• Brain Plasticity: Ability for the brain to adjust and reorganize.

1.5 Sleep

• Circadian Rhythm: Biological clock affecting sleep-wake cycles.
• Sleep Stages: NREM (1, 2, 3) and REM sleep.
• Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, etc.

1.6 Sensation

• Key Terms: Absolute threshold, just noticeable difference (Weber's Law), sensory adaptation.
• Sensory Systems: Visual, auditory, chemical (taste/smell), touch/pain.

Unit 2: Cognition

2.1 Perception

• Concepts: Bottom-up processing, top-down processing, schemas, perceptual sets.
• Gestalt Principles: Closure, figure-ground, proximity, similarity.
• Attention: Selective attention, cocktail party effect, inattentional blindness, change blindness.

2.2 Thinking, Problem Solving, Judgments, and Decision Making

• Concepts: Concepts, prototypes, algorithms, heuristics.
• Decision Making: Mental sets, priming, framing, gambler's fallacy, sunk cost fallacy.

2.3 Memory

• Types of Memory: Explicit (episodic, semantic), implicit (procedural, prospective).
• Memory Models: Working memory model, multi-store model, levels of processing model.

2.4 Encoding Memories

• Methods of Encoding: Mnemonic devices, chunking, spacing effect, serial position effect.

2.5 Storing Memories

• Memory Categories: Sensory, short-term, working, long-term memory.
• Rehearsal Strategies: Maintenance rehearsal, elaborative rehearsal.

2.6 Retrieving Memories

• Types of Retrieval: Recall, recognition.
• Memory Enhancement: Context dependent memory, mood congruent memory, state dependent memory.

2.7 Forgetting and Memory Challenges

• Forgetting Curve: Rapid loss of information.
• Reasons for Retrieval Failure: Encoding failure, interference, inadequate retrieval.

2.8 Intelligence and Achievement Testing

• Theories of Intelligence: G factor, multiple intelligences, triarchic theory.
• Testing Principles: Standardization, reliability, validity, stereotype threat/lift.

Unit 3: Developmental Psychology

3.1 Themes and Methods

• Major Themes: Stability vs. change, nature vs. nurture, continuity vs. discontinuity.
• Research Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

3.2 Physical Development Across the Lifespan

• Prenatal Factors: Teratogens, maternal illness, genetic mutations.
• Childhood Development: Motor skills, infant reflexes, depth perception, critical periods, imprinting.

3.3 Sex and Gender Influences

• Sex vs. Gender: Biological differences vs. social roles.
• Gender Schema Theory: Formation of gender categories.
• Gender Socialization: Learning gender roles through family, peers, media.

3.4 Cognitive Development

• Pia's Stages: Sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, formal operational.
• Vigotssky's Theory: Scaffolding, zone of proximal development.

3.5 Communication and Language Development

• Language Definition: Shared system of arbitrary symbols.
• Stages of Language Development: Cooing, babbling, one-word, telegraphic speech.
• Language Learning Errors: Overgeneralization, etc.

3.6 Social Emotional Development

• Ecological Systems Theory: Influences of different environments.
• Parenting Styles: Authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved.
• Attachment Styles: Secure, insecure (avoidant, anxious, disorganized), temperament.
• Peer Relationships: Types of play, adolescent egoentrism.
• Adult Relationships: Social clock, emerging adulthood, attachment styles.
• Erikson's Theory: Stages of psychosocial development.

Unit 4: Social Psychology

4.1 Attribution Theory and Person Perception

• Attribution Types: Dispositional vs. situational.
• Explanatory Style: Optimism vs. pessimism.
• Attribution Biases: Actor-observer bias, fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias.

4.2 Attitudes

• Formation of Attitudes: Stereotypes, implicit attitudes, belief perseverance, cognitive dissonance.

4.3 Psychology of Social Situations

• Social Norms: Unwritten rules that guide behavior.
• Social Influence Theory: Normative vs. informational influence.
• Elaboration Likelihood Model: Central vs. peripheral route.
• Influence Techniques: Foot in the door, door in the face.
• Conformity and Obedience: Definitions and examples.
• Cultural Values: Individualism, collectivism, multiculturalism.
• Group Dynamics: Group polarization, groupthink, diffusion of responsibility, social loafing, de-individuation.

4.4 Psychodynamic and Humanistic Theories of Personality

• Psychodynamic Theory: Unconscious thoughts, ego defense mechanisms, projective tests.
• Humanistic Theory: Unconditional positive regard, self-actualization.

4.5 Personality Theories

• Social Cognitive Theory: Reciprocal determinism, self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem.
• Trait Theories: Big Five personality traits.

4.6 Motivation

• Motivational Theories: Drive reduction, arousal theory, self-determination theory, instinct theory, Lewin's theory of conflict.
• Sensation Seeking Theory: Different types of sensation seeking.

4.7 Emotion

• Definition of Emotion: Psychological response to events.
• Components: Cognitive and physiological.
• Cultural Experiences: Universality, display rules, elicitors.