Exam 2 Study Guide: Development, Psychological Disorders & Therapy, Memory

Development (Chapter 14)

Overview of Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology examines how people grow and change throughout the lifespan, focusing on physical, cognitive, and social development. This chapter is a major component of the exam, reflecting its significance in the field.

• Key Areas: Cognitive development, brain development, and alternatives to classic theories.

• Piagetian Stages of Development: Jean Piaget proposed that children progress through distinct stages of cognitive development, each characterized by unique ways of thinking and understanding the world.

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

• Sensorimotor Stage (Birth–2 years): Infants learn about the world through sensory experiences and motor actions. Object permanence develops during this stage.

• Preoperational Stage (2–7 years): Children begin to use language and think symbolically, but their thinking is still intuitive and egocentric. They lack the concept of conservation.

• Concrete Operational Stage (7–11 years): Children gain the ability to think logically about concrete events. They understand conservation and can perform mental operations.

• Formal Operational Stage (12+ years): Adolescents develop abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking.

• Mental "Operation": In Piaget's theory, a mental operation is an internalized action that allows children to do mentally what they previously did physically.

Alternatives to Piagetian Theory

• Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory: Emphasizes the role of social interaction and culture in cognitive development.

• Information Processing Models: Focus on how children process, store, and retrieve information, likening the mind to a computer.

• Core Knowledge Theories: Suggest that children are born with innate knowledge systems.

• Example: Research shows infants have some understanding of numbers and physical properties, challenging Piaget's timeline.

Brain Development and Psychological Development

• Parallel Development: Brain maturation supports cognitive and emotional growth.

• Key Idea: Changes in brain structure (e.g., synaptic pruning, myelination) are linked to advances in thinking and self-regulation.

• Example: The prefrontal cortex develops into adolescence, supporting planning and impulse control.

Additional info: No exam questions on physical changes in puberty.

Psychological Disorders and Therapy (Chapters 15 & 16)

Overview of Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders are patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional. Understanding their classification and treatment is central to clinical psychology.

• Key Concepts: Diagnostic criteria, major categories of disorders, and therapeutic approaches.

Therapy Strategies

• Psychodynamic Therapy: Based on Freud's theories, focuses on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences.

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviors, using structured interventions.

• Humanistic Therapy: Emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization, often using client-centered approaches.

• Biological Therapies: Includes medication and other medical interventions for mental disorders.

• Recognizing Therapy Types: Be able to identify therapy strategies from descriptions (e.g., "Aha, this is a Freudian approach").

Additional info: No need to memorize details of Table 15.1 (Professionals who treat...).

Memory (Chapter 6)

Theoretical Concepts in Memory

Memory is the process by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. The chapter covers both conceptual models and empirical research findings.

• Short-Term vs. Long-Term Memory: Short-term memory holds information temporarily; long-term memory stores information for extended periods.

• Models of Knowledge Representation: Includes network models, schema theory, and levels of processing.

Key Memory Models

• Atkinson-Shiffrin Model: Proposes three stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

• Working Memory Model: Expands short-term memory into multiple components (e.g., phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad).

• Levels of Processing Theory: Suggests that deeper processing leads to better memory retention.

Research Findings in Memory

• Empirical Studies: The textbook presents key experiments, often with graphs showing results.

• Study Tip: Review graphs and be able to answer "What did they find?" for each experiment.

• Example: Studies on the serial position effect show that people remember items at the beginning and end of a list better than those in the middle.

Memory-Related Equations

• Forgetting Curve (Ebbinghaus): Describes how information is lost over time: $E = e^{-kt}$ Where: E = amount remembered, k = decay constant, t = time elapsed.

Exam Preparation Tips

• Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions, similar to Exam 1.

• Coverage: Material from textbook and lectures; some content unique to each.

• Self-Tests: Use chapter self-tests, "What do you know" items, and quiz questions for practice.

• Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes, administered online with LockDown Browser.

Additional info: Review both textbook and lecture material, as some exam questions may cover content exclusive to one source.