Download ap psychology syllabus - Waterford Union High School

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY
Waterford Union High School
Course Syllabus
Mr. Harmeling
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Each student will respect the schools, teachers, and fellow student’s individuality and rights in the classroom.
-No talking while others are talking.
-No destruction or marking of equipment (texts and desks).
The student handbook tardy policy will be observed.
-Be on time and in your seat when the bell rings.
No drinking or eating during the class period will be allowed.
Each student will be expected to take notes in a notebook and complete all assignments on time.
-All late assignments will be lowered a letter grade for every day that they are missing.
The policy set forth by the student handbook will be enforced.
BE NICE!
DEMANDS:
The work demands and the rewards of Advanced Placement classes are significantly greater than in regular
classes. In order to be successful, students should expect to spend on average an hour a day outside of class
studying and taking notes. If you are not prepared to put that kind of time and effort into this course, you should
consider not taking it.
Advanced Placement Psychology is as close to a college level course we can present at this level. To prepare
for the A.P. exam, we will emphasize reading, writing, and analytical skills. These skills are important for any
student who plans on attending college, regardless if college credit is earned on the A.P. exam in May. Be advised
that grade point averages sometimes suffer depending on a student’s effort in this class. Grades are objective in
nature, based on essays and tests. It is important that each student maintains a minimum of a “C” in their work and
effort. Advanced Placement classes are based on a 5.0 grading scale, rather than a 4.0. For example, a B semester
grade counts as a 4.0 in Grade Point Average.
PURPOSE:
The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the
behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological
facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within Psychology. They also learn
about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.
TOPICS:
I.
History and Approaches
A.
Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science
B.
Approaches
1.
Biological
2.
Behavioral
3.
Cognitive
4.
Humanistic
5.
Psychodynamic
6.
Sociocultural
7.
Evolutionary
II.
Research Methods
A.
B.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical Research
Statistics
1.
Descriptive
2.
Inferential
C.
Ethics in Research
Biological Bases of Behavior
A.
Physiological Techniques (e.g., imaging, surgical)
B.
Neuroanatomy
C.
Functional Organization of Nervous System
D.
Neural Transmission
E.
Endocrine System
F.
Genetics
G.
Evolutionary Psychology
Sensation and Perception
A.
Thresholds and Signal Detection Theory
B.
Sensory Mechanisms
C.
Attention
D.
Perceptual Processes
States of Consciousness
A.
Sleep and Dreaming
B.
Hypnosis
C.
Psychoactive Drug Effects
Learning
A.
Classical Conditioning
B.
Operant Conditioning
C.
Cognitive Processes
D.
Biological Factors
E.
Social Learning
Cognition
A.
Memory
B.
Language
C.
Thinking
D.
Problem Solving and Creativity
Motivation and Emotion
A.
Biological Bases
B.
Theories of Motivation
C.
Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain
D.
Social Motives
E.
Theories of Emotion
F.
Stress
Developmental Psychology
A.
Life-Span Approach
B.
Research Methods (e.g., longitudinal, cross-sectional)
C.
Heredity-Environment Issues
D.
Developmental Theories
E.
Dimensions of Development
1.
Physical
2.
Cognitive
3.
Social
4.
Moral
F.
Sex Roles and Gender Roles
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
Personality
A.
Personality Theories and Approaches
B.
Assessment Techniques
C.
Growth and Adjustment
Testing and Individual Differences
A.
Standardization and Norms
B.
Reliability and Validity
C.
Types of Tests
D.
Ethics and Standards in Testing
E.
Intelligence
Abnormal Psychology
A.
Definitions of Abnormality
B.
Theories of Psychopathology
C.
Diagnosis of Psychopathology
D.
Types of Disorders
1.
Anxiety
2.
Somatoform
3.
Mood
4.
Schizophrenic
5.
Organic
6.
Personality
7.
Dissociative
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
A.
Treatment Approaches
1.
Psychodynamic
2.
Humanistic
3.
Behavioral
4.
Cognitive
5.
Biological
B.
Modes of Therapy (i.e., individual, group)
C.
Community and Preventive Approaches
Social Psychology
A.
Group Dynamics
B.
Attribution Processes
C.
Interpersonal Perception
D.
Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
E.
Attitudes and Attitude Change
F.
Organizational Behavior
G.
Aggression/Antisocial Behavior
H.
Cultural Influences
TEXT:
Myers’ Psychology for AP (2nd Edition) – David G. Myers
UNITS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Unit 1 – Psychology’s History and Approaches
Module 1
Psychology’s History
Module 2
Psychology’s Big Issues and Approaches
Module 3
Careers in Psychology
Unit 2 – Research Methods: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science
Module 4
The Need for Psychological Science
Module 5
The Scientific Method and Description
Module 6
Correlation and Experimentation
Module 7
Statistical Reasoning in Everyday Life
Module 8
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology
Unit 3 – Biological Bases of Behavior
Module 9
Biological Psychology and Neurotransmission
Module 10
The Nervous and Endocrine System
Module 11
Studying the Brain, and Older Brain Structures
Module 12
The Cerebral Cortex
Module 13
Brain Hemisphere Organization and the Biology of Consciousness
Module 14
Behavior Genetics: Predicting Individual Differences
Module 15
Evolutionary Psychology: Understanding Human Nature
Unit 4 – Sensation and Perception
Module 16
Basic Principles of Sensation and Perception
Module 17
Influences on Perception
Module 18
Vision
Module 19
Visual Organization and Interpretation
Module 20
Hearing
Module 21
The Other Senses
Unit 5 – States of Consciousness
Module 22
Understanding Consciousness and Hypnosis
Module 23
Sleep Patterns and Sleep Theories
Module 24
Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Disorders, and Dreams
Module 25
Psychoactive Drugs
Unit 6 - Learning
Module 26
Module 27
Module 28
Module 29
Module 30
How We Learn and Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning’s Applications, and Comparison to Classical Conditioning
Biology, Cognition, and Learning
Learning by Observation
Unit 7 – Cognition
Module 31
Module 32
Module 33
Module 34
Module 35
Module 36
Studying and Building Memories
Memory Storage and Retrieval
Forgetting, Memory Construction, and Memory Improvement
Thinking, Concepts, and Creativity
Solving Problems and Making Decisions
Thinking and Language
Unit 8 – Motivation, Emotion, and Stress
Module 37
Motivational Concepts
Module 38
Hunger Motivation
Module 39
Sexual Motivation
Module 40
Social Motivation: Affiliation Needs
Module 41
Module 42
Module 43
Module 44
Theories and Physiology of Emotion
Expressed Emotion
Stress and Health
Stress and Illness
Unit 9 – Developmental Psychology
Module 45
Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development, and the Newborn
Module 46
Infancy and Childhood: Physical Development
Module 47
Infancy and Childhood: Cognitive Development
Module 48
Infancy and Childhood: Social Development
Module 49
Gender Development
Module 50
Parents, Peers, and Early Experiences
Module 51
Adolescence: Physical and Cognitive Development
Module 52
Adolescence: Social Development and Emerging Adulthood
Module 53
Sexual Development
Module 54
Adulthood: Physical, Cognitive, and Social Development
Unit 10 – Personality
Module 55
Module 56
Module 57
Module 58
Module 59
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Perspective: Exploring the Unconscious
Psychodynamic Theories and Modern Views of the Unconscious
Humanistic Theories
Trait Theories
Social-Cognitive Theories and Exploring the Self
Unit 11 – Testing and Individual Differences
Module 60
Introduction to Intelligence
Module 61
Assessing Intelligence
Module 62
The Dynamics of Intelligence
Module 63
Studying Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Module 64
Group Differences and the Question of Bias
Unit 12 – Abnormal Behavior
Module 65
Introduction to Psychological Disorders
Module 66
Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Module 67
Mood Disorders
Module 68
Schizophrenia
Module 69
Other Disorders
Unit 13 – Treatment of Abnormal Behavior
Module 70
Introduction to Therapy, and Psychodynamic and Humanistic Therapies
Module 71
Behavior, Cognitive, and Group Therapies
Module 72
Evaluating Psychotherapies and Prevention Strategies
Module 73
The Biomedical Therapies
Unit 14 – Social Psychology
Module 74
Attribution, Attitudes, and Actions
Module 75
Conformity and Obedience
Module 76
Group Behavior
Module 77
Prejudice and Discrimination
Module 78
Aggression
Module 79
Attraction
Module 80
Altruism, Conflict, and Peacemaking
GRADING SCALE:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
100% to 93%
92% to 90%
89% to 87%
86% to 83%
82% to 80%
79% to 77%
76% to 73%
72% to 70%
69% to 67%
66% to 63%
62% to 60%
Below 59%
-50% of the student’s grade will be based on Tests/Quizzes/Written Assignments
-50% of the student’s grade will be based on Assignments/Homework/Daily/In-Class Work/Participation
-All missing work is the responsibility of the student.