APhigh school
AP Psychology
Explore why people think, feel, and act the way they do -- from neurons firing in your brain to social forces shaping your behavior. Five units cover biological bases, cognition, development, social psychology, and clinical applications, aligned to the College Board AP Psychology framework so you practice the concept-application and theory-attribution skills the exam demands.
5units
15topics
212questions
~5hours
Course Units
Learning objectives
- Describe the structure and function of neurons and the process of synaptic transmission
- Identify major brain regions and their associated behavioral and cognitive functions
- Explain the roles of key neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, GABA, norepinephrine) in behavior and mental processes
- Distinguish between the central and peripheral nervous systems including sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
- Explain how research methods (fMRI, EEG, lesion studies, split-brain research) reveal brain-behavior relationships
- Describe states of consciousness including sleep stages, hypnosis, and the effects of psychoactive drugs
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Explain the three-stage model of memory (sensory, short-term/working, long-term) and processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval
- Identify common cognitive biases and heuristics (availability, representativeness, anchoring) and their effects on judgment
- Compare theories of intelligence (Spearman g-factor, Gardner multiple intelligences, Sternberg triarchic) and evaluate the roles of heredity and environment
- Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and apply motivational theories (Maslow, self-determination, drive reduction)
- Compare major theories of emotion (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer two-factor, Lazarus cognitive appraisal)
- Apply research design principles (experimental vs. correlational, operational definitions, ethics) to cognitive studies
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Describe Piaget's stages of cognitive development and evaluate their strengths and limitations
- Explain Erikson's psychosocial stages across the lifespan and identify key developmental crises
- Analyze the nature-nurture interaction in development using evidence from twin and adoption studies
- Evaluate attachment theory (Bowlby, Ainsworth) and its implications for social-emotional development
- Compare classical conditioning (Pavlov), operant conditioning (Skinner), and observational learning (Bandura)
- Apply principles of reinforcement schedules, shaping, and extinction to real-world behavior modification
Learning objectives
- Describe major psychological disorders (anxiety, mood, psychotic, personality, neurodevelopmental) using DSM diagnostic criteria
- Compare therapeutic approaches including CBT, psychodynamic, humanistic, biomedical, and group therapies
- Evaluate the biopsychosocial model as a framework for understanding the origins of mental illness
- Analyze the effectiveness of different treatment modalities using research evidence (RCTs, meta-analyses)
- Explain the relationship between stress, coping strategies, and physical health outcomes
- Identify ethical considerations in clinical research and treatment including informed consent and confidentiality
Topics in this unit