AP Psychology
AP Psychology
Syllabus (2013-14)
The purpose of AP Psychology is to introduce students to the discipline of psychology from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Students will learn about the field of psychology through in-depth study, research, class discussion, and hands-on activities. In doing so, students will generate a greater awareness of the behavior and mental processes of human beings.
Course Objectives:
Students will…
• Examine the major sub-disciplines of psychology and build a strong understanding of the key terms and concepts involved in each.
• Develop an appreciation for the practical use of psychology in their everyday lives.
• Enhance their critical thinking skills by examining psychological research, articles, and other sources.
• Successfully prepare for the AP Psychology exam in May, 2014.
The course is taught in 28 weeks with four fifty minute time slots per week.
Evaluation
Final exam: 30%
Unit tests: 30%
Assignments and projects: 30%
Homework, class discussion and participation: 10%
Textbook:
Feldman, Robert S. Understanding Psychology, 10th Edition. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011)
McEntarffer, Robert and Allyson J. Weseley. Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition. (Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated, 2012)
Course Plan
Unit 1: History and Approaches [CR 14]
Textbook Chapter 1
Approximate Time: 1 week
Topics:
A. Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science
B. Approaches/Perspective (Biological, Behavioral, Cognitive, Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary)
Objectives:
• Trace the historical and philosophical development of psychology as a science.
• Describe how the different perspectives explore and explain human behavior.
• Identify famous psychologists and describe their contributions to the discipline.
• Explain the key issues and controversies involved modern day psychology.
• Explore different career options for people who earn degrees in psychology.
Unit 2: Research Methods [CR 2]
Textbook Chapter 2 and Appendix
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Experimental, Correlational and Clinical Research
B. Statistics (Descriptive and Inferential)
C. Ethics in Research
Objectives:
• Understand the basis of the scientific method.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of case study research, naturalistic observation, survey research and archival research.
• Explain the difference between correlational studies and causal studies.
• Evaluate the importance of statistics in research.
• Appreciate the importance of ethics in research.
Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior [CR 3]
Textbook Chapter 3
Approximate Time: 2.5 weeks
Topics:
A. Physiological Techniques
B. Neuroanatomy
C. Functional Organization of Nervous System
D. Neural Transmission
E. Endocrine System
F. Genetics
G. Evolutionary Perspective
Objectives:
• Identify the parts of the brain and the functions of each.
• Understand how researchers study the brain.
• Understand and explain the basic elements of the nervous system and how they are linked.
• Explain the process of neural communication.
• Describe the nature of the endocrine system and its interaction with the nervous system.
Unit 4: Sensation and Perception [CR 4]
Textbook Chapter 4
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Thresholds and Signal Detection Theory
B. Sensory Mechanisms
C. Attention
D. Perceptual Processes
Objectives:
• Understand what sensation is and how psychologists study it.
• Identify the relationship between physical stimulus and the kinds of sensory responses that result from it.
• Discuss research on depth perception and cues.
• Explain the major components and functions of the five senses.
• Understand the principles that underlie the perceptual organization of human beings (i.e. the Gestalt laws of organization, depth perception, perceptual constancy).
Unit 5: States of Consciousness [CR 5]
Textbook Chapter 5
Approximate Time: 1 week
Topics:
A. Sleep and Dreaming
B. Hypnosis
C. Psychoactive Drug Effects
Objectives:
• Explain the different states of consciousness.
• Explore the function and meaning of dreams.
• Identify the major sleep disorders.
• Explain the process of hypnosis and the behavior of hypnotized people.
• Examine the major classifications of drugs and specific physiological and psychological effects involved with their usage.
Unit 6: Learning [CR 6]
Textbook Chapter 6
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Classical Conditioning
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Cognitive Processes
D. Biological Factors
E. Social Learning
Objectives:
• Understand and explain the process of classical conditioning (Pavlov) including the processes of acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization, and discrimination.
• Understand and explain the process of operant conditioning (Thorndike and Skinner) including the procedure of shaping, and the types and schedules of reinforcement.
• Apply classical conditioning and operant conditioning to different situations.
• Discuss the importance of cognitive and biological predispositions in conditioning.
• Understand and explain the process of latent learning and observational learning (Bandura).
Unit 7: Cognition [CR 7]
Textbook Chapters 7-8
Approximate Time: 2.5 weeks
Topics:
A. Memory
B. Language
C. Thinking
D. Problem Solving and Creativity
Objectives:
• Explain the characteristics of and differences between sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
• Understand encoding, storage, and retrieval.
• Distinguish between implicit and explicit memory.
• Understand the process of forgetting.
• Describe the characteristics of language and evaluate the importance of language.
• Apply the nature-nurture debate to the development of language.
• Describe the nature of concepts and the role of prototypes in concept formation.
• Compare trial and error, algorithms, heuristics, and insight in the process of problem solving.
• Compare divergent thinking and convergent thinking to understand creativity.
Unit 8: Motivation and Emotion [CR 8]
Textbook Chapter 10 and 14
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Biological Bases
B. Theories of Motivation
C. Hunger, Thirst, Sex and Pain
D. Social Motives
E. Theories of Emotion
F. Stress
Objectives:
• Define motivation and identify motivational theories.
• Explain the physiological, psychological, and cultural aspects of hunger.
• Understand how needs relating to achievement, affiliation, and power motivation are exhibited.
• Define emotion and understand the major theories of emotion (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Schachter-Singer).
• Identify the physiological changes that occur when people experience different emotions.
• Define stress, identify the emotional and physiological responses to stress, explain ways of coping with stress.
Unit 9: Developmental Psychology [CR 9]
Textbooks Chapters 11-12
Approximate Time: 2.5 weeks
Topics:
A. Life-Span Approach
B. Research Methods
C. Heredity-Environment Issues
D. Developmental Theories
E. Dimensions of Development (Physical, Cognitive, Social and Moral)
F. Sex Roles and Gender Roles
Objectives:
• Apply the nature-nurture debate to human development.
• Understand the basic elements of prenatal development.
• Analyze the physical, social, and cognitive development of human beings.
• Discuss the role of parenting on development and the impacts of different parenting styles on development.
• Describe how developmental psychologists research development over the lifespan and distinguish between longitudinal and cross-sectional studies.
• Describe the theories of Piaget, Erikson, and Kohlberg.
• Define gender and understand the major differences between male and female gender roles.
• Examine biological and social aspects of sex and gender and how they impact individual and social behavior.
Unit 10: Personality [CR 10]
Textbook Chapter 13
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Personality Theories and Approaches
B. Assessment Techniques
C. Growth and Adjustment
Objectives:
• Explain how the different perspectives approach the study of personality.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach (i.e. psychoanalytic, humanist, cognitive, trait, social learning, and behavioral).
• Study Freud’s psychoanalytic theory (i.e. id, ego, superego, and psychosexual stages) and the major neo-Freudian contributions to the study of personality (i.e. Jung).
• Determine how psychologists assess personality according to the various perspectives.
• Evaluate the accuracy of personality assessment techniques.
Unit 11: Testing and Individual Differences [CR 11]
Textbook Chapter 9
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Standardization and Norms
B. Reliability and Validity
C. Types of Tests
D. Ethics and Standards in Testing
E. Intelligence
Objectives:
• Discuss the different definitions and theories of intelligence (i.e. Gardiner, Spearman, and Sternberg).
• Examine the role of culture in understanding, evaluating, and comparing intelligence.
• Evaluate the development of intelligence testing and the methods psychologists use when designing specific tests (i.e. Binet and IQ tests, the normal curve etc.).
• Distinguish between the reliability and validity of intelligence tests.
• Describe the extremes of intelligence and their characteristics (i.e. mental retardation and intellectually gifted).
• Debate the influences of the environment and heredity on intelligence.
Unit 12: Abnormal Behavior [CR 12]
Textbooks Chapter 15
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Definitions of Abnormality
B. Theories of Psychopathology
C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology
D. Types of Disorders (Anxiety, Somatoform, Mood, Schizophrenic, Organic, Personality and Dissociative)
Objectives:
• Identify the criteria for determining what constitutes a psychological disorder.
• Examine and discuss the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the major psychological theories of abnormality (i.e. medical, psychoanalytic, behavioral etc.)
• Discuss the major characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of the major psychological disorders (i.e. anxiety, somatoform, mood, schizophrenic, organic, personality, and dissociative).
• Discuss the positive and negative consequences of diagnostic labels.
Unit 13: Treatment of Abnormal Behavior [CR 13]
Textbook Chapter 16
Approximate Time: 2 weeks
Topics:
A. Treatment Approaches (Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Behavioral, Cognitive and Biological)
B. Modes of Therapy
C. Community and Preventative Approaches
Objectives:
• Describe the characteristics, history, and goals of psychotherapy.
• Compare the major treatment approaches to abnormal behavior (i.e. psychodynamic, humanistic, behavioral, cognitive, and biological)
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of individual and group forms of treatment.
• Compare and contrast specific treatments and case studies within each major category of psychotherapy.
• Discuss the role of values and cultural differences in therapy.
• Appreciate the importance of prevention strategies.
Unit 14: Social Psychology [CR14]
Textbook Chapter 17
Approximate Time: 2.5 weeks
Topics:
A. Group Dynamics
B. Attribution
C. Interpersonal Perception
D. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
E. Attitudes and Attitude Change
F. Organizational Behavior
G. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior
H. Cultural Influences
Objectives:
• Understand how attitudes are formed, maintained, and change (i.e. central and peripheral route processing, cognitive dissonance).
• Describe the importance of attribution in social theory (i.e. assumed similarity bias, fundamental attribution error).
• Explain the major sources and tactics of social influence (i.e. conformity, groupthink, compliance, obedience).
• Examine important psychological experiments in the development of social psychology (i.e. Milgram’s experiment on obedience).
• Understand the differences between prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination.
• Explain human attraction and the different social relationships that are formed as a result.
• Understand the factors that underlie aggression and prosocial behavior (i.e. altruism).
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