5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2010-2011 Edition (11 page)
Read 5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2010-2011 Edition Online
Authors: Laura Lincoln Maitland
Tags: #Examinations, #Psychology, #Reference, #Education & Training, #Advanced Placement Programs (Education), #General, #Examinations; Questions; Etc, #Psychology - Examinations, #Study Guides, #College Entrance Achievement Tests
7. Write complete sentences. You cannot earn any points for a list, or an outline. Unless you are specifically told that you can provide a graph, table, or diagram in your answer, you will NOT earn any credit for them.
“Vocabulary is the key to doing well. If you know the right terms, define them, and apply them to the question, you’ll probably get most of the points. That’s how I got a 5.” |
—Amanda, former AP student |
8. Even if you are not sure of something that you think might possibly earn a credit, write it. You may get credit for it. Unless you are contradicting something else that you said, you will not have points subtracted for saying something wrong.
9. Write your answers clearly and legibly in dark blue or black ink. If you are equally comfortable printing or writing in script, print your answers. Readers appreciate easy-to-read answers. Put a line through anything you want to cross out. Do NOT waste time blackening out, erasing, or “whiting” out.
10. You don’t need to get full credit in order to get a 5 on the AP exam. The better you do on the multiple-choice section, the more leeway you have for your essays.
Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
CHAPTER 5 History and Approaches
CHAPTER 7 Biological Bases of Behavior
CHAPTER 8 Sensation and Perception
CHAPTER 9 States of Consciousness
CHAPTER 12 Motivation and Emotion
CHAPTER 13 Developmental Psychology
CHAPTER 15 Testing and Individual Differences
CHAPTER 17 Treatment of Abnormal Behavior
History and Approaches
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: Psychology
is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Behavior is anything you do that can be observed. Mental processes are your internal experiences such as thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions. Scientific study involves systematic collection and examination of data (empirical evidence) to support or disprove hypotheses (predictions) rather than depending on common sense.
Psychology has a long past, but a short history as a science. Although people have thought about their own behavior for thousands of years, the thinking was not done in an organized and scientific manner.
This chapter looks at highlights in the development of the science of psychology and its conceptual approaches.
Key Ideas
Roots of psychology are in philosophy and physiology/biology.
Structuralism and Functionalism—Schools of Psychology
Behavioral Approach
Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Approach
Humanistic Approach
Biological Approach
Evolutionary Approach
Cognitive Approach
Sociocultural Approach
Domains of Psychology