Course Syllabus

AP Psychology, 2022 – 2023

AP psychology is designed to introduce students to the scientific study of human behavior and experience and the major perspectives in the field.  Students will gain understanding of the methods used by the different perspectives to verify their theories, including their study of human and animal behavior.  The course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in Psychology.

Course Objectives:

Students in this course will:

1. gain an understanding of the nature of psychological diversity of human beings and the contribution biological, social, and cultural influences on behavior.
2. develop appreciation of psychology as an academic discipline.
3. recognize the application of psychology to students’ personal lives.
4. demonstrate understanding of various methods of psychological inquiry.
5. gather and interpret data using the empirical method of inquiry.
6. demonstrate an understanding and respect for the ethical demands of research with humans and respect for the individual.
7. demonstrate an understanding of the different theoretical approaches to understanding behavior.
8. demonstrate a clear understanding of the major psychological perspectives (psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic).
9. undertake one research study 
10. demonstrate mastery of critical thinking and communication of ideas, especially in preparation for the demands if the AP exam.

Course Outline:

The AP psychology program is governed by a set of national standards created by the American Psychological Association.  These standards build on each other, so it is vital to understand what comes first in order to understand everything after it.

Homework:  You will have a weekly “In Real Life” assignment that asks you to apply class topics to a real life event. You will also have periodic “authentic” assignments and vocab assignments.

College Board: You are required to join the AP Classroom for this course through the College Board. Progress checks, quizzes, and tests will be assigned through this site.

People: As we encounter important people in the history of psychology, keep track of them.  Create a three-column list. Label the columns PERSON/PERSPECTIVE, BEST KNOWN FOR, and APPLICATIONS.

Mnemonics: Mnemonics are “memory tricks” that help you remember concepts and ideas.  I’ll be giving you a bunch of them. Keep track! Keep a Mnemonic list with the concept and the memory trick.  I’ll check these periodically.

There are nine units required for this course be the College Board.  There will be a College Board test at the end of each unit. Aligning to your textbook, these units are:

1. Scientific Foundations of Psychology

1. The Need for Psychological Science

Reading: Text pp. 18 - 29

1.   Description (Case Study, Survey, Naturalistic Observation)

Reading: Text, pp. 26 - 29

1. Correlation

Reading: pp. 30 - 36

1. Experimentation

Reading: Text, pp. 37 - 40

1. Statistical Reasoning

Reading: Text, pp. 42 – 43

TEST: Experimental methods

2.     Biological Bases of Behavior

1. Neural Communication

Reading: Text, pp. 56 - 61

1. The Nervous System

Reading: Text, pp. 65 - 67

1. The Brain

Reading: pp. 69 – 92

1. The Endocrine System

    Reading: pp. 94 – 97

1. Drugs and Consciousness

Reading: Text, pp. 294 – 305

1. Sleep and Dreams

Reading: Text, pp. 269 - 284

TEST: Biology and Behavior

3.     Sensation and Perception

1. Sensing The World

Reading: Text, pp. 192 - 198

1. Vision

Reading: Text, pp. 199 - 211

1. Hearing

      Reading: Text, pp. 212 - 218 

1. The Other Senses

Reading: Text, pp. 219 – 227

1. Perceptual attention, illusions, organization

Reading: Text, pp. 230 – 247

1. Perceptual Interpretation

Reading: Text, pp. 248 - 258

4. Learning Theory

1. Classical Conditioning

Reading: Text, pp. 308 - 321

1. Operant Conditioning

Reading: Text, pp. 322 - 335

1. Cognitive Learning/Observational Learning

Reading: Text, pp. 336 – 337

TEST: Learning Theory

5. Cognitive Psychology

1. Memory

Reading: Text, Chapter 9

1. Thinking and Language

Reading: Text, Chapter 10

1. The Origins on Intelligence Testing

Reading: Text, pp. 418 - 421

1. Intelligence

Reading: Text, pp. 422 - 440

1. Individual Differences

Reading: Text: pp. 441 - 453

6. Developmental Psychology
7. Prenatal Development and the Newborn

Reading: Text, pp. 134 - 139

1. Infancy and Childhood

Reading: Text, pp. 140 - 158

1. Adolescence

Reading: Text: pp. 159 - 159

1. Adulthood

Reading: Text: pp. 172 - 191

7. Motivation, Emotion, and Personality

1. Motivational Concepts

Reading: Text, pp. 454 - 458

1. Hunger

Reading: Text, pp. 459 - 466

1. Sexual Motivation

Reading: Text: pp. 467 - 482

1. The Need to Belong

Reading: Text: pp. 483 – 497

1. Emotion

      James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer

      Reading: Text, Chapter 13

1.   Historical Perspectives on Personality

Reading: Text, pp. 574 - 589

1. Contemporary Research on Personality

Reading: Text, pp. 590 - 617

8. Clinical Psychology

1. Perspectives on psychopathology (demonic possession to disease)

Reading: Text, pp. 618 - 626

1. Anxiety Disorders – When your hands are way too clean

Reading: text, pp. 627 - 632

1. Mood Disorders – It’s not the ups and downs, it’s the little jerks along the way

Reading: Text, pp. 633 - 645

1. Schizophrenia – Head voices holla’ back, girl!

Reading: Text, pp. 646 – 652

1. Personality Disorders – I crashed your car because I love you!

Reading: Text, pp. 653 - 655

1. Dissociative Disorders – Me, Myself, and Irene
2. Somatoform Disorders – But my arm worked yesterday!
3. Categorization, etc.
4. Psychoanalysis, Behaviorist, Humanist, Cognitive, Group/Family Therapy

Reading: Text, pp. 658 - 673

1.   Evaluating Psychotherapy

Reading: Text, pp. 674 - 684

1. Biomedical Therapies

Reading: Text: pp. 685 – 693

9. Social Psychology
10. Social Thinking

Reading: Text, pp. 694 - 701

B   Social Influence

Reading: Text, pp. 702 - 713

1. Social Relations

Reading: Text: pp. 714 – 738

GRADING:  

1. Vocabulary: Vocabulary assignments and periodic pop quizzes

2. Homework and Projects: 

3. “People” and Mnemonic Devices: Keep two lists.  One is for the important people in psychology as they come along.  The other is for the mnemonic devices (memory aids) that I give you throughout the class.  Both of these will help you a lot on the AP Test.

4. Tests:  Multiple choice tests.  Free Response tests as assigned. 

5. Reviews: You are required to attend 3 AP Test review sessions.  These will happen in the spring semester, mostly in March and April.

Updated Course Grading Policy as of January 9, 2023: 

Missing assignments will receive a 0% grade.

Parents notified of change via ParentSquare December 15, 2022

6.   Final Exams: There will be an AP style test – multiple choice and free response, for your first semester final.  This test will be comprehensive to that point. The second semester final will be a project.  Both are worth ¼ of your semester grade.