KEY THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY
KEY THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Read the passage below to learn about the key psychology theories and their main
thinkers, then answer the questions on the next page.
👤 1. Sigmund Freud
Theory: Psychoanalytic Theory
Key Concepts: Unconscious mind, defense mechanisms, psychosexual
stages
🧩 Mnemonic: “Freud Focused on the Foundation of Feelings.”
💡 Think iceberg — most of your mind is hidden beneath the surface!
🧒 2. Erik Erikson
Theory: Psychosocial Development
Key Concepts: 8 life stages, each with a conflict (trust vs. mistrust, etc.)
🪞 Mnemonic: “Erik’s Eight Stages.”
💡 Life’s a ladder — each rung has a challenge!
🧠 3. Jean Piaget
Theory: Cognitive Development
Key Concepts: 4 stages of thinking growth in children
🧩 Mnemonic: “Piaget’s Parts of Play and Pondering.”
💡 Kids are mini scientists testing the world!
💬 4. Carl Rogers
Theory: Humanistic Psychology
Key Concepts: Client-centered therapy, unconditional
positive regard
🌱 Mnemonic: “Rogers Regards Respect and Realization.”
💡 Be real, be kind, be you.
🐶 5. Ivan Pavlov
Theory: Classical Conditioning
Key Concepts: Learning through association
🔔 Mnemonic: “Pavlov’s Predictable Pairings.”
💡 Bell = Food → Salivation (hello, dogs!).
Ink & Illam – Psychology Revision©
, KEY THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY
KEY THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY
🧍♂️ 6. B.F. Skinner
Theory: Operant Conditioning
Key Concepts: Reinforcement & punishment
🎯 Mnemonic: “Skinner’s System of Stimulus and Response.”
💡 Behaviour shaped by rewards & consequences.
👀 7. Albert Bandura
Theory: Social Learning Theory
Key Concepts: Learning by watching others (Bobo doll!)
📹 Mnemonic: “Bandura Believes in Behavioural Imitation.”
💡 See it. Believe it. Repeat it.
⛰️ 8. Abraham Maslow
Theory: Hierarchy of Needs
Key Concepts: Basic → self-actualization
🏔️ Mnemonic: “Maslow’s Mountain of Needs.”
💡 Climb the pyramid of motivation.
🌀 9. Carl Jung
Theory: Analytical Psychology
Key Concepts: Collective unconscious, archetypes
🔮 Mnemonic: “Jung’s Journey of the Jungian Mind.”
💡 Dreams + symbols = your deeper self.
⚖️ 10. Lawrence Kohlberg
Theory: Stages of Moral Development
Key Concepts: 6 stages, 3 levels of moral reasoning
📚 Mnemonic: “Kohlberg’s Kindergarten to College
Continuum.”
💡 How we decide right from wrong grows up too.
Ink & Illam – Psychology Revision©
KEY THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Read the passage below to learn about the key psychology theories and their main
thinkers, then answer the questions on the next page.
👤 1. Sigmund Freud
Theory: Psychoanalytic Theory
Key Concepts: Unconscious mind, defense mechanisms, psychosexual
stages
🧩 Mnemonic: “Freud Focused on the Foundation of Feelings.”
💡 Think iceberg — most of your mind is hidden beneath the surface!
🧒 2. Erik Erikson
Theory: Psychosocial Development
Key Concepts: 8 life stages, each with a conflict (trust vs. mistrust, etc.)
🪞 Mnemonic: “Erik’s Eight Stages.”
💡 Life’s a ladder — each rung has a challenge!
🧠 3. Jean Piaget
Theory: Cognitive Development
Key Concepts: 4 stages of thinking growth in children
🧩 Mnemonic: “Piaget’s Parts of Play and Pondering.”
💡 Kids are mini scientists testing the world!
💬 4. Carl Rogers
Theory: Humanistic Psychology
Key Concepts: Client-centered therapy, unconditional
positive regard
🌱 Mnemonic: “Rogers Regards Respect and Realization.”
💡 Be real, be kind, be you.
🐶 5. Ivan Pavlov
Theory: Classical Conditioning
Key Concepts: Learning through association
🔔 Mnemonic: “Pavlov’s Predictable Pairings.”
💡 Bell = Food → Salivation (hello, dogs!).
Ink & Illam – Psychology Revision©
, KEY THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY
KEY THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY
🧍♂️ 6. B.F. Skinner
Theory: Operant Conditioning
Key Concepts: Reinforcement & punishment
🎯 Mnemonic: “Skinner’s System of Stimulus and Response.”
💡 Behaviour shaped by rewards & consequences.
👀 7. Albert Bandura
Theory: Social Learning Theory
Key Concepts: Learning by watching others (Bobo doll!)
📹 Mnemonic: “Bandura Believes in Behavioural Imitation.”
💡 See it. Believe it. Repeat it.
⛰️ 8. Abraham Maslow
Theory: Hierarchy of Needs
Key Concepts: Basic → self-actualization
🏔️ Mnemonic: “Maslow’s Mountain of Needs.”
💡 Climb the pyramid of motivation.
🌀 9. Carl Jung
Theory: Analytical Psychology
Key Concepts: Collective unconscious, archetypes
🔮 Mnemonic: “Jung’s Journey of the Jungian Mind.”
💡 Dreams + symbols = your deeper self.
⚖️ 10. Lawrence Kohlberg
Theory: Stages of Moral Development
Key Concepts: 6 stages, 3 levels of moral reasoning
📚 Mnemonic: “Kohlberg’s Kindergarten to College
Continuum.”
💡 How we decide right from wrong grows up too.
Ink & Illam – Psychology Revision©
