Ap psychology unit 3 development and learning

AP Psychology Study Guide: Development and Learning

I. Developmental Psychology

A. Key Theories of Development

1. Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory

   • Stages:

     • Sensorimotor (0-2 years): Object permanence.

     • Preoperational (2-7 years): Egocentrism, symbolic thought.

     • Concrete Operational (7-11 years): Conservation, logical thought.

     • Formal Operational (12+ years): Abstract reasoning.

   • Focus on how thinking evolves with age.

2. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

   • 8 stages from infancy to late adulthood.

   • Key conflict at each stage (e.g., Trust vs. Mistrust, Identity vs. Role Confusion).

3. Kohlberg’s Moral Development

   • Preconventional: Self-interest.

   • Conventional: Social approval and rules.

   • Postconventional: Universal ethical principles.

4. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

   • Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

   • Importance of scaffolding in learning.

B. Major Milestones

• Physical: Reflexes in infants, puberty in adolescents.

• Cognitive: Language acquisition, problem-solving skills.

• Social/Emotional: Attachment styles, identity formation.

C. Nature vs. Nurture Debate

• Examples: Heritability of intelligence vs. environmental influences.

II. Learning

A. Key Theories of Learning

1. Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

   • Key components:

     • Neutral Stimulus (NS), Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS), Conditioned Stimulus (CS).

     • Responses: Unconditioned (UCR) and Conditioned (CR).

   • Example: Bell causing salivation in dogs.

2. Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

   • Reinforcement:

     • Positive (add stimulus).

     • Negative (remove stimulus).

   • Punishment:

     • Positive (add aversive stimulus).

     • Negative (remove positive stimulus).

   • Schedules of reinforcement: Fixed/Variable, Ratio/Interval.

3. Observational Learning (Bandura)

   • Importance of modeling and imitation (e.g., Bobo doll experiment).

4. Habituation

   • Learning to ignore repetitive, irrelevant stimuli.

B. Applications of Learning

• Behavior modification (reinforcements to shape behavior).

• Exposure therapy for phobias (systematic desensitization).

C. Biological Factors in Learning

• Role of mirror neurons in observational learning.

• Limits of conditioning (e.g., instinctive drift).

Tips for Success

1. Use flashcards to memorize key terms and examples.

2. Create mind maps to connect different theories and concepts.

3. Practice with AP Psychology practice questions to apply knowledge.

4. Incorporate real-life examples of development and learning concepts for deeper understanding.

To transform your study notes into flashcards, follow these steps:

1. Identify Key Terms and Concepts: Review your notes and highlight important terms, theories, and key concepts that need to be memorized.

2. Create Flashcards: For each key term, make a flashcard with the term on one side and its definition or explanation on the other.

   • Example:

     • Term: Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory

     • Definition: Theory describing the stages of cognitive development in children.

3. Use Clear and Concise Language: Ensure that definitions are straightforward and easy to understand to promote quick recall.

4. Incorporate Examples: Whenever applicable, include examples on the flashcard to illustrate concepts.

5. Organize by Theme: Keep related concepts grouped together to aid memory retention and understanding.

6. Utilize Flashcard Apps: Consider using digital flashcards apps (like Anki or Quizlet) which allow for greater flexibility and easy sharing.

7. Review Regularly: Schedule regular review sessions to test yourself on the flashcards to reinforce memory and understanding.