ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY Union High School Kathy Neely TEXTBOOK: Psychology, 8 th edition David Myers

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1 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY Union High School Kathy Neely TEXTBOOK: Psychology, 8 th edition David Myers COURSE OBJECTIVES: AP Psychology is a two-semester course designed with three goals: 1. Present material that will enable the student to be successful when taking the AP Exam in May. 2. Present material that goes beyond college introductory psychology course 3. Apply principles that the student can use to improve their school and personal lives. 4. Help the student develop a scientific thinking approach, think critically, and understand methods and to use this knowledge in practical applications.. COURSE OUTLINE: Using a variety of methods including class discussions, multi-media presentations, student presented research and hands-on activities we will cover every topic from which questions will be asked on the national exam. The following is the list of topics we will cover. History and approaches Research Methods statistics Biological Bases of Behavior Sensation and Perception States of Consciousness Learning Theory Cognition including memory, thinking, language and intelligence Motivation and Emotion Life Span Development (developmental psychology) Personality Theories Testing and Individual Differences Stress and Health Abnormal Behavior and Treatments In each topic we will apply the four goals of psychology, to describe, understand, predict and change or modify behaviors. We will cover historical and current theories in each area and seek to make practical applications in the areas that are appropriate. GRADES: Grades will be on a total point system with exams accounting for the majority of the points. A vocabulary notebook will be turned in on the date of each exam with each definition counting as 1 point each, readings on new research in psychology, unit projects, and reading of at least one approved book on psychology. Extra credit, not to exceed 5% of the total grade is available by bringing annotated articles to present to the class. I also will give students four 2 nd chance passes each semester worth 10 points each

2 that maybe used for late work, tardies, restroom passes or extra credit. Regular attendance is highly encouraged since I will be using supplemental materials in class not available in the textbook. Grading scale adheres to the Union High School Student Handbook. This is a weighted course as outlined in the policy of Union High School and is considered a 6-point course. COURSE RESOURCES: 1. Text: David Myers, Psychology 8 th Edition with accompanying instructor s resources manual, study guide, and test bank. 2. Membership in APA, TOPSS, NITOP, ONTOPP 3. Annual Editions 4. Released Exam from College Board, 2004, 1999, Released Free Responses 6. Discovering Psychology, updated edition 7. Teaching Modules: The Brain 8. Teaching Modules: The Mind 9. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat 10. Forty Studies that Changed Psychology COURSE OUTLINE: Using a variety of methods including class discussion, multi-media presentations student presented research and hands-on activities we will cover every topic from which questions will be asked on the national exam. The following is the list of topics we will cover. History and approaches Current Perspectives Historical Schools Research Methods including descriptive and inferential statistics Scientific Method Descriptive Methods Statistics, descriptive and inferential Ethics in human and animal research Biological Bases of Behavior Central Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System Endocrine System Genetics and Heritability Sensation and Perception Sensory Organs and Transduction Thresholds, Weber s Law, signal detection theory Gestalt, Constancies, Depth perception States of Consciousness Biological rhythms, circadian, ultradian, infradian Sleep disorders, treatments Altered States of Consciousness, substances, hypnosis, meditation

3 Learning Theory Classical conditioning Operant conditioning Social Learning theories Cognitive Maps, Insight Cognition including memory, thinking, language and intelligence Memory: Information processing, storage, retrieval Accuracy or Memory: Loftus, Schacter Memory loss: amnesia, Alzheimer s disease Problem Solving Language: Critical v. Sensitive Period: Nature v. Nurture Universal Stages of Development Extremes of Intelligence Measuring Intelligence Theories of Multiple Intelligences Thinking: rational vs. irrational Emotional Intelligence Flynn effect Learning Disabilities Motivation and Emotion Primary Motives: Hunger and eating disorders Drive/Drive Reduction Theory Achievement Motives, Curiosity Theories of Emotion: James Lange: Cannon Bard: Opponent- Process: Two Factor Theory Life Span Development Prenatal development Nature v. Nurture Cognitive Development: Piaget, Vygotsky Moral Development: Kholberg, Gilligan Social Development, Parenting Styles Social Clocks Aging Personality Theories Psychodynamic: Freud Neo-Freudian: Adler, Jung, Horney Social Learning: Bandura Trait Perspective: Allport Humanistic: Rogers, Maslow Testing and Individual Differences Projective Test Objective Test Aptitude and Achievement Test Validity, Reliability, Standardization Testing controversies: Stereotype threat, cultural bias Stress and Health

4 Stress- Health connection Selye General Adaptation Syndrome Methods of dealing with stress Abnormal Behavior and Treatments Approaches to diagnosis of disorders DSM-IV-TR Anxiety Disorders Dissociative Disorders Affective Disorders Schizophrenia Personality Disorders Approaches to treatment: psychotherapy. Cognitive therapy, Behavioral therapy, pharmacological treatment Social Psychology Attitudes and roles in behavior Group dynamics in behavior: Classical Studies in social psychology: Milgram Zimbardo, Asch Prejudice and Discrimination In each topic we will apply the four goals of psychology, to describe, understand, predict and change or modify behaviors. We will cover historical and current theories in each area and seek to make practical applications in areas that are appropriate. Discipline: The biggest distractions to the classroom today are cell phones. According to school policy they should be turned off during the school day. Many students fail to follow this policy and use phones to text when it would be to their advantage to be paying attention. In order to curb this distraction I ask that all students put backpacks and large purses on the floor. If it is necessary to use the phone please ask to use my phone at the beginning or end of class. The school policy will be adhered to as far as discipline is concerned. Please be considerate of other students and to me and there should be no problems. Please do not talk while I am talking and be respectful to everyone in the class. Supplies needed: 2 spirals one for vocabulary one for notes and journal topics A folder to keep all handouts One red pen, blue or black and pencils One of the following: Kleenex Colored pencils Markers Note Cards Glue

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