Social Studies Curriculum

History/Social Sciences Electives

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Adopted January 1999

AP Psychology

Course Description:

A.P. Psychology is a year long course designed to introduce the highly motivated student to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are introduced to the psychological facts, principals, and phenomenon associated with each of the major sub fields within psychology. They also learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice.

Topics in Advanced Placement Psychology include:

• The history of psychology.
• Contemporary approaches to behavior.
• How to understand one's own behavior.
• Strategies for dealing with life experiences
• How to apply psychological principles to society

The course title and description have been approved by the Anchorage School Board. This course outline is meant to serve as an example of one possibility for organizing this class. It does not represent the only way the course may be organized. Each course outline has been written by a different teacher so there will be differences in the approach used from one course to another.

Course Goals:

Through this course students will:

• Develop an understanding of the vocabulary of psychology.
• Understand the history of psychology.
• Understand contemporary approaches to behavior.
• Appreciate the diversity of the human experience.
• Develop an understanding of their own behavior.
• Understand strategies for dealing with their own life experiences, both good and bad.
• Apply psychological principles learned to the society in general that surrounds them.

Course Objectives:

The student will:

• Identify the major historical trends in psychology
• Apply major research techniques to solve problems in psychology.
• Compare and contrast the different methods used in psychological research.
• Compare and contrast the major approaches to psychology taken when viewing behavior.
• Differentiate between behaviorists and cognitive psychologists when it comes to learning.
• Differentiate between psychological and physiological motivational factors.
• Identify and describe the three major explanations pertaining to human emotion.
• Compare and contrast the major ideas concerning human personality.
• Identify abnormal human behavior, classify it, and relate therapies that can be utilized by psychologists to help people overcome these problems.
• Identify and describe the biological aspects that pertain to human behavior.
• Identify and apply solutions to the everyday stresses that they and their peers will encounter.
• Critically analyze material and express their ideas in a written manner that is clear and concise.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction to Psychology
   1. The nature of psychology
   2. The history of psychology
   3. Sub fields of psychology
   4. Different psychological perspectives of behavior
      1. Psychoanalytical
      2. Humanistic
      3. Gestalt
      4. Cognitive
      5. Biological
   5. Methods used by psychologists to study behavior
      1. Naturalistic observation
      2. Survey method
      3. Experimental method
      4. Case study method
      5. Correlational method
      6. Ethics in research
2. The biology of psychology
   1. The structure of the neuron
   2. The synapse and neurotransmitters
   3. The organization of the central nervous system
   4. The organization of the peripheral nervous system
   5. The endocrine system
   6. Genetics and behavior
   7. The brain, split brain research, methods of studying the brain
3. Sensation and perception
   1. The nature of sensation and perception
   2. Vision-the structure and function of the eye
   3. Theories of color vision
   4. Depth perception
   5. Principles of perceptional organization
   6. Visual illusions
   7. Hearing-the ear and theories associated with hearing
   8. Smell and taste-the nose and tongue-how these chemical senses work together
   9. Touch and pain
   10. Kinesthetic and vestibular sense
   11. ESP
4. States of consciousness
   1. The nature of consciousness
   2. Sleep and the stages of sleep
   3. Dreams and the interpretation of dreams
   4. Sleep disorders
   5. Hypnosis and meditation
   6. Drugs and alcohol
5. Motivation and emotion
   1. Why motivation and emotion linked together
   2. Primary or biological motives
   3. Thirst and hunger(obesity and eating disorders)
   4. Theories of motivation
   5. Social motives
   6. Define emotion
   7. Theories of emotion
   8. Romantic love
6. Memory and learning
   1. Psychological definition of learning
   2. Classical conditioning-Pavlov, Watson
   3. Operant conditioning-Thorndike, Skinner
   4. Observational and social learning-Bandura
   5. Cognitive theories-latent, insight, and concept
   6. Memory-processes and stages
   7. Sensory, STM, and LTM
   8. Factors that effect learning and memory
   9. The biology of learning and memory
7. Developmental Psychology
   1. Statement of theories of development
   2. Prenatal
   3. Infancy and childhood
   4. Adolescence
   5. Piaget and Kohlberg (cognitive and moral development)
   6. Adult (early, middle, late)
8. Language, thought, and intelligence
   1. Other species and language
   2. Basics of language
   3. Language development
   4. Theories of language development
   5. Concepts and words
   6. Problem solving
   7. Intelligence (testing, environment, genetics, race)
9. Abnormal Behavior
   1. What is abnormal?
   2. Historical perspectives
   3. Classification of abnormal behaviors
      1. Anxiety disorders
      2. Schizophrenia
      3. Dissociative disorders
      4. Somatoform disorders
      5. Affective disorders
      6. Personality disorders
      7. Psycho sexual disorders
      8. Suicide
10. Psychotherapy
    1. Historical perspectives
    2. Insight therapies
       1. Psychoanalysis
       2. Client centered therapy
       3. Gestalt
       4. Transactional analysis
       5. Cognitive approaches
    3. Behavioral
       1. Systematic desensitization
       2. Aversive conditioning
       3. Operant conditioning
       4. Assertiveness training
       5. Group therapy
    4. Biological therapies
    5. Evaluation of therapy and its effectiveness
11. Personality: Theories and measurement
    1. Theories
       1. Psychoanalytic
       2. Neopsychoanalytic
       3. Trait theories
       4. Social learning theory
       5. Humanistic theory
    2. Measurement of personality
       1. Reliability, validity
       2. Objective and projective tests
12. Social Psychology
    1. Attitudes
    2. Social perception
    3. Attraction
    4. Obedience
    5. Conformity
    6. Group behavior
    7. Environmental psychology
13. Stress
    1. Frustration
    2. Conflicts and conflict resolution
    3. Type A behavior
    4. Effects of chronic stress
    5. Defense mechanisms
    6. Active coping mechanisms

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