Download Psychology

Psychology
2014
K. Ala
698-8121 x6357
[email protected]
Course Description
The 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, including
neuroanatomy, sensation and perception, consciousness, lifespan development, cognition, individual
differences, disorders and therapy. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in
their science and practice.
Class Policies
Students are expected to behave appropriately at all times. School policies regarding attendance,
tardiness and academic integrity will be enforced. Electronic devices may not be used for personal
reasons during instructional time. Abusive, profane or disrespectful language is not permitted.
Behavior must reflect respect for teaching, learning, and others. Failure to adhere to these policies will
result in parental contact, teacher detention and/or counselor referral. Check Mrs. Ala’s teacher website
for missing assignments or ask another student on your own time, this information is not to be gathered
during instruction time. Late work will be accepted for partial credit until the end of that unit of study
unless otherwise noted by Mrs. Ala.
Materials (Extras are available in class)
Students are expected to come to class prepared.
Textbook:
Holt/Rinehart/Winston, Psychology: Principles in Practice, 2007
Pen/Pencil
Paper
Course Requirements
Students are required to complete assigned work as indicated in the course syllabus and participate in
class activities. Students will be assessed on a weekly basis through a variety of methods, including
quizzes, essays, participation, objective exams and projects. Regular attendance is strongly encouraged.
Late work will be accepted until the end of each instructional unit for half-credit only. Students who are
absent for a scheduled test have one week to take the exam. Extra-credit opportunities are available to
the entire class on a frequent basis.
Grading Policy
Grades are updated on a bi-weekly basis:
Grading Scale
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F
Grading Categories
Tests/Quizzes
Assignments/Packets
Projects/Labs
Final Exam
Participation
25%
30%
25%
10%
10%
Content Warning
Some of the content that will be covered in class is of a mature subject. I take every precaution to avoid
inappropriate material. With this being said, we will cover some issues that may be viewed as controversial.
These topics include development and personality theories, Freud, violence and abuse, drug use, disorders and
therapies.
If there is any concern about the content, please discuss this with me. I have no problem having a meeting and
explaining rationale and materials used.
Also, some extra credit “video” assignments are offered. These movies may be rated R. It is completely up to
your parents to allow you to view these films. These are NOT mandatory films, and other extra credit options are
always available.
Units of Study
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Unit 1 – Introduction Ch.1: What is psych? Why study psych? What do psychologists do?
History of psych. Wilhelm Wundt. Contemporary perspectives. Ch.2: Research & methods,
surveys, experiments & ethics issues
Unit 2 – Body & Mind Ch.3: Biology & behavior, neuroscience, nervous & endocrine systems,
heredity. Ch.4: Sensation & Perception, optical illusions. Ch.5: Consciousness, sleep & dreams,
meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, & drugs
Unit 3 – Learning & Cognition Ch.6: Learning, Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, classical
conditioning, operant conditioning, cognitive factors, PQ4R method Ch.7: Memory; 3 types, 3
kinds, 3 processes, forgetting and improvement of memory Ch.8: Thinking & Language,
problem solving, reasoning, decision making
Unit 4 – Development Ch.10: Infancy and Childhood(physical, social & cognitive dev.), Jean
Piaget, Erik Erikson, Howard Gardener Ch.11: Adolescence, Lawrence Kohlberg, Carl Rogers
Ch.12: Adulthood (young, middle, and late), death & dying, Kubler-Ross
Unit 5 - Personality Ch.13: Motivation, emotion, biological and psychological needs,
sociocultural approach Ch.14: Theories of personality, trait approach, psychoanalytic approach,
learning approach, humanistic approach, sociocultural approach Ch.15: Psychological tests.
What are they? What do they measure? Ch.16: Gender roles, differences, typing, variations
Unit 6 – Health & Adjustment Ch.17: What is stress? Responses to stress, physical effects,
psychological factors and health, ways of coping w/stress Ch.18: Psychological disorders Ch.19:
Methods of therapy