EPPP Cheat Sheet: High-Yield Psychology Facts

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The distinctions and definitions that recur on the EPPP. Skim before test day, then prove it with
practice questions.

Exam facts

  • Part 1 (Knowledge): 225 items (175 scored), 4 h 15 m; scaled 200–800, pass = 500
  • Biggest domains: Ethics 16% and Assessment 16%

Learning & behavior

  • Negative reinforcement — remove an aversive stimulus to increase a
    behavior (not punishment)
  • Classical vs. operant — classical pairs stimuli (Pavlov); operant uses
    consequences (Skinner)
  • Variable-ratio schedule — most resistant to extinction

Statistics

  • Type I error — reject a true null (false positive, alpha)
  • Type II error — fail to reject a false null (false negative, beta)
  • Reliability = consistency; validity = measures what it should

Development & ethics

  • Erikson adolescence — identity vs. role confusion
  • Duty to protect (Tarasoff) — a serious, imminent threat to an identifiable victim
    can override confidentiality
  • Informed consent & competence — cornerstones of the ethics domain

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Frequently asked questions

What is negative reinforcement?

Removing an aversive stimulus in order to increase a behavior. It is not punishment — reinforcement always increases behavior, and ‘negative’ means something is taken away.

What is the difference between a Type I and Type II error?

A Type I error rejects a true null hypothesis (a false positive, alpha); a Type II error fails to reject a false null hypothesis (a false negative, beta).

What is the Tarasoff duty?

The duty to protect: when a client poses a serious, imminent threat to an identifiable victim, the psychologist may take reasonable protective steps — including warning the victim or notifying authorities — even though that overrides confidentiality.

Sources & references

The exam facts on this page are drawn from official certifying-body materials, reviewed 2026-06-18 by the DrCertifications exam-prep team (10+ years in exam preparation and publishing).