Download UC Approved Meets G Requirements

MORGAN HILL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Psychology Course Outline
Course Title:
Grade Level:
Course Length:
Credits:
Psychology
11 – 12
1 Semester
Elective
Course Description: This 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.
Textbook:
• McMahon, Judith W., and Romano, Tony. Psychology and You. Cincinnati: West Educational
Publishing, 2000.
Supplemental Texts:
• Bootzin, Richard, and Acocella, Joan Ross. Abnormal Psychology: Current Perspectives. New
York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 1995.
•
Kasschau, Richard A. Understanding Psychology. Glencoe-McGraw Hill, 2002.
Instructional Materials:
• Videos, dictionaries, maps, thesauri, multi-media presentations, audiotapes, teacher-made
materials, overhead transparencies, visual aids, newspapers, periodicals, workbooks, guest
lecturers, and other materials as appropriate.
Course Goals:
General:
• Reading: Vocabulary and Concept Development
• Writing Strategies: Organization and focus
• Writing Applications
• Writing Conventions
• Listening and Speaking: Comprehension
• Analysis and Evaluation
• Speaking Applications: Deliver oral reports
Social Science Framework:
• Chronological and Spatial Thinking
• Historical Research, Evidence, and Point of View
• Interpretation
UC Approved Meets G Requirements
Major Objectives of the Course:
A. Students will examine the physical systems and activities of the brain, central and peripheral nervous
systems, and the endocrine system to understand their role in behavior.
B. Students will comprehend the full range of early human development, including the disorders of
childhood and problems of adolescence, mental retardation and autism.
C. Students will be able to evaluate and analyze the various approaches (cognitive, behavioral,
sociocultural, psychoanalytic, biopsychological and humanistic) in understanding family systems,
personality development, and analysis.
D. Students will analyze emotional and behavior disorders such as anxiety, dissociative and somatoform,
psychological and physical stress, as well as, mood, personality, substance-use, and gender disorders.
E. Students will be able to trace the historical perspective of psychology from its inception and origins
and inception as a scientific discipline, possessed with modern methods of diagnosis, assessment, and
classification of the various behavioral disorders.
F. Students will understand disorders as they relate to recent theories on their neuropsychological origins
and possess an overview of current trends and research in behavior, ranging from the treatment of such
clinical disorders as schizophrenia to the more ideal attainment of emotional wellness and selfactualization.
Outline of Course (Major Units):
A. History and Approaches
1. Historical background and pioneers of psychology of
2. Approaches
a. Biopsychological
b. Behavioral
c. Cognitive
d. Humanistic
e. Psychoanalytic
f. Sociocultural
B. Research Methods
1. Research vs. Survey, Naturalistic Observation, Interview, Case Studies, Psychological
Tests, Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Studies
2. Statistics
a. Descriptive
b. Inferential
3. Ethics in Research
C. Biological Bases of Behavior
1. Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems
2. Neuroanatomy
3. Functional Organization of the Nervous System
4. Neural Transmission
5. Endocrine System
6. Genetics
D. Sensation and Perception
1. Sensory Processes: Vision, Hearing, Coetaneous, Smell, Taste
2. Sensory Adaptation
3. Attention
4. Perceptual Constancies, Depth Perception, Perceptual Organization, Illusions
E. Motivation and Emotion
1. Biological Bases
2. Theories of Motivation
3. Hunger, Thirst, Sex and Pain
4. Social Motives
5. Theories of Emotion
6. Stress
F. States of Consciousness
1. Sleep and Dreaming
2. Hypnosis
3. Psychoactive Drug Effects
G. Learning
1. Classical Conditioning9
2. Operant Conditioning
3. Social Learning
4. Cognitive Psychology and Learning
H. Information Processing and Memory
1. Acquiring Information
2. Processing Information
3. Retaining Information
4. Problem Solving and Creativity
I.
Motivation and Emotion
1. Physical Factors
2. Theories of Motivation
3. Hunger, Thirst, Sex and Pain
4. Theories of Emotion – Cognition and Emotion, Facial Expressions
5. Stress
J.
Developmental Psychology
1. Life Span Approach
2. Heredity and Environmental Issues
3. Developmental Theories
a. Infancy and Childhood
b. Adolescence
c. Adulthood and Aging
4. Dimensions of Development
a. Physical
b. Cognitive
c. Social
d. Moral
5. Sex Roles, Sex Differences
K. Personality
1. Personality Theories and Approaches
2. Assessment Techniques – Measuring Personality and Personal Abilities
3. Self-concept, Self-esteem
4. Personality Traits
L. Testing and Individual Differences
1. Standardization and Norms
2. Reliability and Validity
3. Types of Tests
4. Ethics and Standards in Testing
5. Intelligence
6. Heredity/Environment and Intelligence
7. Human Diversity
M. Abnormal Psychology
1. Definitions of Abnormality
2. Characteristics and Classifications of Disorders
3. Anxiety Disorders
4. Somatoform Disorders
5. Mood Disorders
6. Schizophrenic Disorders
7. Organic Disorders
8. Personality Disorders
9. Dissociative Disorders
N. Treatment of Psychological Disorders
1. Attitudes Toward Mental Illness
2. Mental Health Workers
3. Treatment Approaches
a. Psychoanalytic
b. Humanistic
c. Behavioral
d. Cognitive
e. Biomedical
4. Modes of Therapy (e.g., individual or group)
O. Social Psychology
1. Attribution Processes
2. Interpersonal Attraction
3. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior and Violence
4. Group Dynamics
5. Environmental Influences
Methods of Instruction
• Lecture
• Discussion
• Group/Individual Activities
• Reading Assignments
• Essays
• Audio Visual Materials and Computer Technology
• Other Methods as Deemed Appropriate
Assessment methods and/or tools
Assessments will be based on the measurement of the degree to which objectives have been met.
• Objective exams and quizzes
• Participation in classroom discussion
• Essays
• Maps, charts and graphs
• Oral or written reports
• Final examination