AP PsychologyAP
Behavior, cognition, development, and more.
Overview
AP Psychology introduces the scientific study of behavior and mental processes across key domains.
Why it matters
Builds scientific reasoning, data interpretation, and application of psychological principles.
Skills you’ll build
- Research design
- Data analysis
- Argumentation
- Ethical reasoning
Topic Breakdown (Units)
Scientific Foundations of Psychology
- History & approaches
- Research methods
Biological Bases of Behavior
- Neurons & neurotransmission
- Brain structures
- Endocrine system
Sensation and Perception
- Thresholds
- Vision & hearing
Learning
- Classical & operant conditioning
- Observational learning
Cognitive Psychology
- Memory
- Problem solving
- Language
Developmental Psychology
- Infancy to adulthood
- Cognitive & social development
Motivation, Emotion, and Personality
- Motivational theories
- Emotion & stress
- Trait & psychodynamic theories
Clinical Psychology
- Psychological disorders
- Therapies
Social Psychology
- Attribution
- Conformity & obedience
- Group behavior
Lessons & Notes
Scientific Foundations of Psychology
Foundations of scientific inquiry in psychology.
- operational definitions
- ethics
Biological Bases of Behavior
Biology shapes behavior and cognition.
- action potentials
- plasticity
Sensation and Perception
How we detect and interpret sensory information.
- signal detection
- Gestalt
Learning
Experience changes behavior and thought.
- reinforcement
- extinction
Cognitive Psychology
Mental processes underlying knowledge and reasoning.
- encoding/storage/retrieval
- heuristics & biases
Developmental Psychology
Lifespan changes in behavior and cognition.
- Piaget
- attachment
Motivation, Emotion, and Personality
What drives behavior and individual differences.
- homeostasis
- Big Five
Clinical Psychology
Diagnosis, etiology, and treatment modalities.
- DSM
- CBT
- biomedical
Social Psychology
How we think about and influence one another.
- fundamental attribution error
- bystander effect