SCOPE AND SEQUENCE OF COURSE MATERIAL



Coral Gables Senior High

Mrs. Noval

Social Studies/ Room 9319

lnoval@

AP Psychology Course Syllabus

Course Description:

This is a college level introduction to psychology course. Course objectives include the practical study of the major theories of psychology with an emphasis on research and ethics. This course will help students understand the society we live in and more importantly help them prepare for the AP exam.

Course Requirements:

Text-

o Weiten, W, (2004). Psychology: Themes and Variations (6th ed.)

(Provided by school)

o King, L, (2011). The Science of Psychology (2nd ed.)

o Barron’s AP Psychology 6th Edition (or higher) *Must Purchase or Check one out*

Notebook- All students are required to bring an organized notebook to class everyday. The notebook must be a three ring binder with three dividers 1) Notes 2) Handouts 3) Free Response. Each day in class, students will take notes and are expected to keep in chronological order by date. Notebooks will be graded at least one time each grading period. Failure to have the notebook in class when graded will result in a “0” (zero). No late notebooks will be accepted.

Attendance- Class attendance is necessary in order to participate in discussions and group assignments. Students must arrive to class on time. If class is missed due to an excused absence, the student will have one week to make up assignments. If an absence is unexcused, the student will receive a “0” (zero) on any assignments missed.

Classwork- Students will be responsible for all material covered in readings and discussions. Students must take notes from the power point every day. Notes will be assessed once a quarter, in a Note Book Check. Student will all be assigned FRQs in class.

Home Learning- Independent learning is expected for this course. Students are required to read and outline from the Barron’s AP Psychology book, which will by turned in the day of a Chapter Test. Students will also be responsible for completing vocabulary handouts for each chapter, which will be turned in the day of a Chapter Test. All assignments must be hand written (no typing). If you do not turn in HW on the day of a test, you may turn it in the following class for 1 lower grade, after that day it will NOT be accepted.

History & Approaches (2-4%)

Test Results:

Logic, Philosophy, & History of Science

Approaches

1. Biological

2. Behavioral

3. Cognitive

4. Humanistic

5. Psychodynamic

6. Sociological

7. Evolutionary/Sociological

Research Methods (8-10%)

Test Results:

1. Correlational

2. Experimental Statistics

3. Descriptive

4. Inferential

5. Ethics in Research

Biological Bases of Behavior (8-10%)

Test Results:

Physiological Techniques

Neuroanatomy

Functional organization of the Nervous System

Neural Transmission

Endocrine System

Genetics

Sensation & Perception (6-8%)

Test Results:

Thresholds

Sensory Mechanisms

Sensory Adaptation

Attention

Perceptual Process

States of Consciousness (2-4%)

Test Results:

Sleep & Dreams

Hypnosis

Psychoactive Drug Effects

Learning (7-9%)

Test Results:

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Cognitive Processes in Learning

Biological Factors

Social Learning

Cognition (8-10%)

Test Results:

Memory

Language

Thinking

Problem Solving & Creativity

Motivation & Emotion (6-8%)

Test Results:

Biological Bases

Theories of Motivation

Developmental Psychology (7-9%)

Test Results:

Life Span Approach

Research Methods

Heredity-Environmental Issues

Developmental Theories

1. Physical

2. Cognitive

3. Social

4. Moral

Sex Roles, Sex Differences

Personality (5-7%)

Test Results:

Personality Theories & Approaches

Assessment Techniques

Self Concepts, Self Esteem

Growth & Adjustment

Testing/Indiv. Differences (5-7%)

Test Results:

Standardization & Norms

Reliability & Validity

Types of Tests

Ethics & Standards in Testing

Intelligence

Heredity/Environmental & Intelligence

Human Diversity

Abnormal Psychology (7-9%)

Test Results:

Definitions of Abnormality

Theories of Psychopathology

Diagnosis of Psychopathology

1. Anxiety

2. Somatoform Disorders

3. Mood Disorders

4. Schizophrenic Disorders

5. Organic Disorders

6. Personality Disorders

7. Dissociative Disorders

Treatment of Psychological Disorders (5-7%)Test Results:

Treatment Approaches

1. Insight Therapies: Psychodynamic/Phenomenological Approaches

2. Behavioral Approaches

3. Cognitive Approaches

Modes of Therapy

Community & Preventive Approaches

Social Psychology (8-10%)

Test Results:

Group Dynamics

Attribution Theory

Interpersonal Perception

Conformity, Compliance, Obedience

Attitude & Attitude Change

Organizational Behavior

Aggression/Antisocial Behavior

Theories of Emotion

Stress

Social Theories

Hunger, Thirst, Sex, & Pain

Course Outline

Unit One

I. History and Approaches………………………………………………..2 weeks

II. Research Methods………………………………………………………2 weeks

Objectives: Understand the different ways in which psychologists carry out research.

Understand the advantages and disadvantages of various methodologies.

Understand the difficulties in attaining an appropriate sample.

Apply descriptive statistics to collected data.

Analyze a piece of research with regard to the application of sample selection, method, statistics, and conclusions reached.

Readings: Ethics in psychology

Experimental biases

What we learn from twins

Writing about the BIG FOUR: Method, Culture, Ethics, and Gender (Hannibal)

The Cultural Context of Psychology: a guide by Jette Hannibal

Psychology Research Methods: a guide by Jette Hannibal

Unit Test

Unit Two

III. Biological Bases of Behavior……………………………………………2 weeks

IV. Sensation and Perception…………………………………………….…2 weeks

V. States of Consciousness…………………………………………………2 weeks

Objectives: Describe and evaluate theories and empirical studies within this perspective.

Explain and evaluate claims that correlates exist between physiological and psychological behavior.

Describe the functional organization of the nervous and endocrine system

Explain the process of neural transmission

Explain the role of genetics on behavior

Describe the Physical process of sensation

Explain the perceptual processes

Describe the stages of sleep

Explain the theories of dreams and altered states of consciousness

Explain the effect of drugs on behavior

Readings: Brain Scan Shows Rejection pain

Learning in your Sleep from the Economist

The Right brain/left brain myth

The science of love

Factors that influence perception

What Illusions Teach Us

Unit Test

Unit Three

VI. Learning…………………………………………………………………3 weeks

Objectives: Describe and evaluate theories and empirical studies within this perspective.

Identify and explain the strengths and limitations of learning theory explanations of behavior.

Explain the extent to which learning can be explained by alternatives to traditional behaviorist approaches.

Assess the extent to which cognitive, biological, and environmental factors contribute to explanations of behavior within the learning perspective.

Readings: Bandura on AIDS and SLT

Belief in One's Abilities

Conditioned to Addiction?

Cross-cultural considerations in Behaviorism

New Ways to Stop Bullying

Superstition in the Pigeon by B F Skinner

Unit Test

Unit Four

VII. Cognition………………………………………………………………..2 weeks

Objectives: Describe and evaluate theories and empirical studies within this perspective.

Identify and explain the strengths and limitations of cognitive explanations of behavior.

Assess the extent to which concepts and models of information processing have helped the understanding of cognition.

Explain the controversy surrounding the acquisition of language

Readings: Learning styles in the cognitive perspective

Rethinking Thinking (Kahnemann) from the Economist

Serial Order in Short-term memory

Thinking about Intelligence

Unit Test

Unit Five

VIII. Motivation and Emotion………………………………………………..2 weeks

Objectives: Explain the biological, evolutionary, and social theories of motivation

Explain the motivating factors for: hunger, thirst, sex, and pain

Explain the biological, evolutionary, and social theories of emotion

Identify the major types of stress

Explain the effects of stress on physical and psychological health

Readings: Empirical support for Abraham Maslow

Theories of Emotion

Emotions and memory

Athlete Burnout

Sick of Poverty - how the stress of poverty affects one's health

Unit Test

Unit Six

IX. Developmental Psychology……………………………………………..2 weeks

Objectives: Explain the life-span approach of psychology

Explain the research methods important to the life-span approach

Evaluate the Heredity-Environmental issues

Explain and compare/contrast the various developmental theories

Identify and explain the different dimensions of development

Evaluate sex roles and sex differences

Readings: Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development

Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

Stages of Intellectual Development in Children and Teenagers

A summary of Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development

Unit Test

Unit Seven

X. Personality……………………………………………………………….2 weeks

Objectives: Explain the various personality theories and approaches

Evaluate the Assessment Techniques

Explain Self-concept and Self-esteem

Identify possibilities for growth and adjustment

Readings: Jung and the Individuation Process

Social Learning Theory

People and Discoveries: B F Skinner

An overview of the humanistic perspective (Hannibal)

An Assault on Freud

Hans Eysenck (Boeree)

Unit Test

Unit Eight

XI. Testing and Individual Differences……………………………………2 weeks

Objectives: Explain the key concepts in testing

Describe the history of intelligence tests

Identify the essentials of Intelligence testing

Evaluate the effect of heredity and environment on intelligence

Summarize the extremes of intelligence

Evaluate the debate about cultural differences in IQ scores

Readings: Cross-cultural studies of memory

Does Birth Order Affect Intelligence?

The Mozart Effect

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences 

Unit Test

Unit Nine

XII. Abnormal Psychology…………………………………………………..2 weeks

XIII. Treatment of Psychological Disorders………………………………...2 weeks

Objectives: Describe and evaluate relevant theories and empirical studies related to abnormal psychology

Describe and evaluate approaches to treatments for abnormal behavior.

Discuss the diagnosis and classification of abnormal behavior.

Analyze the etiology and treatment of abnormal behaviors.

Evaluate the cultural differences of abnormal psychology

Readings: Clinical assessment procedures

Cognitive therapy

Humanistic therapy

Issues in diagnosis

The Origins of Depression

Psychoanalytic therapy

Treatment of schizophrenia

Unit Test

Unit Ten

XIV. Social Psychology……………………………………………………….2 weeks

Objectives: Describe and evaluate relevant theories and empirical studies related to social psychology

Explain how cultural effects the interpretation of behavior in social psychology.

Describe and evaluate specific methodologies used in social psychology.

Assess the extent to which social research allows predictions to be made about individual and group behavior.

Readings: Group decision making

Group performance

The Impact of Media on Children

Situationist ethics

Cognitive Dissonance

Robbers cave

Unit Test

Unit Eleven

Structure of the AP Test

Multiple Choice Practice

Essay Practice

Review for Test

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Final Exam

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Adapted from: apcentral.



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