Psychology Study Platform · Spring 2026

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Freud's defense mechanisms. Piaget's stages. DSM-5 criteria. Already highlighted, already annotated — in notes that actually stick at 2 AM.

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Psychoanalytic

Freud's Defense Mechanisms

Chapter 4 · Personality Theory · High-yield for MCQ

RepressionUnconsciously blocking anxiety-provoking thoughts from awareness. The foundation of all other mechanisms.
ProjectionAttributing unacceptable impulses to others. "I don't hate him — he hates me."
Reaction FormationExpressing the opposite of true feelings. Excessive niceness masking hostility.
RationalizationCreating logical justifications for irrational behavior. Sour grapes phenomenon.
4 key terms
Developmental

Piaget's Cognitive Stages

Chapter 7 · Developmental Psychology · Know all 4 stages

Sensorimotor (0–2)Object permanence develops. World understood through senses and motor actions.
Preoperational (2–7)Symbolic thinking emerges. Egocentrism + lack of conservation. Think: Three Mountains Task.
Concrete Operational (7–11)Logical thinking about concrete objects. Conservation mastered. Reversibility understood.
Formal Operational (12+)Abstract reasoning, hypothetical thinking, systematic problem-solving emerge.
4 key terms
DSM-5

Major Depressive Disorder

DSM-5 Criteria · Abnormal Psych · Exam favorite

Diagnosis Rule5+ symptoms for ≥2 weeks; must include depressed mood OR anhedonia. Remember: SIG E CAPS.
SIG E CAPSSleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, Suicidality.
SpecifiersWith anxious distress, melancholic features, psychotic features, peripartum onset, seasonal pattern.
DifferentialRule out Bipolar I/II, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Substance/Medical etiology first.
4 key terms
47DSM-5 diagnoses covered
12Theoretical frameworks
380+Flashcard-ready definitions
6Core psychology courses
Updated for DSM-5-TR · Spring 2026
Student Outcomes

What students say
the night after the exam.

94%
Higher confidence
4.8★
Student rating
A− on midterm after 1 week

I'd been staring at the same DSM-5 chapter for three hours. PsychVault's diagnosis told me I was wasting time on things I already knew — and pointed me to the two topics that were actually going to tank my grade.

Young woman with dark hair smiling in a library setting
Priya Natarajan
2nd Year Undergrad · Abnormal Psych
University of Michigan
GPA saved. Literally.

I'm pre-med, behavioral neuroscience is not optional. The neurotransmitter flashcard sets are the best-organized thing I've seen — cleaner than my professor's slides, honestly.

Young man in a light blue shirt against a neutral background
Marcus Webb
Pre-med · Behavioral Neuroscience
Emory University
First A in a psych course

Returning to school at 34 with two kids — I don't have time to re-read 400 pages. The margin-note style made it feel like someone who actually understood the material had already done the reading for me.

Woman with blonde hair smiling warmly in an outdoor setting
Diane Kowalczyk
Adult Learner · Clinical Psychology
DePaul University
Highest grade in the section

The Piaget vs. Vygotsky distinction was killing me. One card set later, I could explain the ZPD in my sleep. That kind of clarity is what I needed at midnight before the exam.

Young man with a warm smile wearing a dark jacket
James Okonkwo
3rd Year · Developmental Psychology
Howard University
Exam confidence: 9/10

The quiz told me I was overconfident in social psych and actually weak on attribution theory. It was right. Two hours on those notes and I felt genuinely prepared, not just less panicked.

Woman with curly brown hair smiling in a bright environment
Sofia Reyes
2nd Year · Social Psychology
UC San Diego
A on final exam

Abnormal psych has 47 diagnoses I was supposed to have memorized. The DSM-5 coverage in PsychVault is the most complete, most readable breakdown I've found anywhere — textbook, YouTube, anywhere.

Young man with glasses and a friendly expression
Ethan Goldberg
Pre-med · Abnormal Psychology
NYU
A− on midterm after 1 week

I'd been staring at the same DSM-5 chapter for three hours. PsychVault's diagnosis told me I was wasting time on things I already knew — and pointed me to the two topics that were actually going to tank my grade.

Young woman with dark hair smiling in a library setting
Priya Natarajan
2nd Year Undergrad · Abnormal Psych
University of Michigan
GPA saved. Literally.

I'm pre-med, behavioral neuroscience is not optional. The neurotransmitter flashcard sets are the best-organized thing I've seen — cleaner than my professor's slides, honestly.

Young man in a light blue shirt against a neutral background
Marcus Webb
Pre-med · Behavioral Neuroscience
Emory University
First A in a psych course

Returning to school at 34 with two kids — I don't have time to re-read 400 pages. The margin-note style made it feel like someone who actually understood the material had already done the reading for me.

Woman with blonde hair smiling warmly in an outdoor setting
Diane Kowalczyk
Adult Learner · Clinical Psychology
DePaul University
Highest grade in the section

The Piaget vs. Vygotsky distinction was killing me. One card set later, I could explain the ZPD in my sleep. That kind of clarity is what I needed at midnight before the exam.

Young man with a warm smile wearing a dark jacket
James Okonkwo
3rd Year · Developmental Psychology
Howard University
Exam confidence: 9/10

The quiz told me I was overconfident in social psych and actually weak on attribution theory. It was right. Two hours on those notes and I felt genuinely prepared, not just less panicked.

Woman with curly brown hair smiling in a bright environment
Sofia Reyes
2nd Year · Social Psychology
UC San Diego
A on final exam

Abnormal psych has 47 diagnoses I was supposed to have memorized. The DSM-5 coverage in PsychVault is the most complete, most readable breakdown I've found anywhere — textbook, YouTube, anywhere.

Young man with glasses and a friendly expression
Ethan Goldberg
Pre-med · Abnormal Psychology
NYU
Highest grade in the section

The Piaget vs. Vygotsky distinction was killing me. One card set later, I could explain the ZPD in my sleep. That kind of clarity is what I needed at midnight before the exam.

Young man with a warm smile wearing a dark jacket
James Okonkwo
3rd Year · Developmental Psychology
Howard University
Exam confidence: 9/10

The quiz told me I was overconfident in social psych and actually weak on attribution theory. It was right. Two hours on those notes and I felt genuinely prepared, not just less panicked.

Woman with curly brown hair smiling in a bright environment
Sofia Reyes
2nd Year · Social Psychology
UC San Diego
A on final exam

Abnormal psych has 47 diagnoses I was supposed to have memorized. The DSM-5 coverage in PsychVault is the most complete, most readable breakdown I've found anywhere — textbook, YouTube, anywhere.

Young man with glasses and a friendly expression
Ethan Goldberg
Pre-med · Abnormal Psychology
NYU
A− on midterm after 1 week

I'd been staring at the same DSM-5 chapter for three hours. PsychVault's diagnosis told me I was wasting time on things I already knew — and pointed me to the two topics that were actually going to tank my grade.

Young woman with dark hair smiling in a library setting
Priya Natarajan
2nd Year Undergrad · Abnormal Psych
University of Michigan
GPA saved. Literally.

I'm pre-med, behavioral neuroscience is not optional. The neurotransmitter flashcard sets are the best-organized thing I've seen — cleaner than my professor's slides, honestly.

Young man in a light blue shirt against a neutral background
Marcus Webb
Pre-med · Behavioral Neuroscience
Emory University
First A in a psych course

Returning to school at 34 with two kids — I don't have time to re-read 400 pages. The margin-note style made it feel like someone who actually understood the material had already done the reading for me.

Woman with blonde hair smiling warmly in an outdoor setting
Diane Kowalczyk
Adult Learner · Clinical Psychology
DePaul University
Highest grade in the section

The Piaget vs. Vygotsky distinction was killing me. One card set later, I could explain the ZPD in my sleep. That kind of clarity is what I needed at midnight before the exam.

Young man with a warm smile wearing a dark jacket
James Okonkwo
3rd Year · Developmental Psychology
Howard University
Exam confidence: 9/10

The quiz told me I was overconfident in social psych and actually weak on attribution theory. It was right. Two hours on those notes and I felt genuinely prepared, not just less panicked.

Woman with curly brown hair smiling in a bright environment
Sofia Reyes
2nd Year · Social Psychology
UC San Diego
A on final exam

Abnormal psych has 47 diagnoses I was supposed to have memorized. The DSM-5 coverage in PsychVault is the most complete, most readable breakdown I've found anywhere — textbook, YouTube, anywhere.

Young man with glasses and a friendly expression
Ethan Goldberg
Pre-med · Abnormal Psychology
NYU
A− on midterm after 1 week

I'd been staring at the same DSM-5 chapter for three hours. PsychVault's diagnosis told me I was wasting time on things I already knew — and pointed me to the two topics that were actually going to tank my grade.

Young woman with dark hair smiling in a library setting
Priya Natarajan
2nd Year Undergrad · Abnormal Psych
University of Michigan
GPA saved. Literally.

I'm pre-med, behavioral neuroscience is not optional. The neurotransmitter flashcard sets are the best-organized thing I've seen — cleaner than my professor's slides, honestly.

Young man in a light blue shirt against a neutral background
Marcus Webb
Pre-med · Behavioral Neuroscience
Emory University
First A in a psych course

Returning to school at 34 with two kids — I don't have time to re-read 400 pages. The margin-note style made it feel like someone who actually understood the material had already done the reading for me.

Woman with blonde hair smiling warmly in an outdoor setting
Diane Kowalczyk
Adult Learner · Clinical Psychology
DePaul University
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