C. Flaws in Experimental Research - Experimenter Bias - Placebo Effect - Confounding Variables D. Statistics - Descriptive & Inferential

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1 AP Psychology Mr. Cassady 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 animals. Students will explore the inner workings of. As well, students will ascertain various psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Ideally, students will also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their everyday fields of study. Class Materials: AP Psychology text book (Myers Psychology for AP 1 st Edition; ISBN#= ) Replacement cost for AP Text Book= $120!!! AP Psychology Crash Course= You must purchase for $10-11 Handouts Student class notebook (3 subject or larger, seriously) Student class folder AP Course Outline: I. Psychology; History & Approaches; A. History of Psychology- Greeks, Empiricism, Wundt, Freud, Jung, etc. B. Schools of Psychology- Compare & Contrast; Structuralism, Functionalism & Psychoanalysis C. Focus on principal approaches D. Behavioral, Biological, Humanistic,, Psychodynamic & Sociocultural E. Identifying major psychological subfields of study II. Research Methodologies; A. Describe & Define the 4 Psychological Goals; - Describe, Control, Predict & Explain B. Experimental Methods - Sampling - Control - Correlational Methods i. Naturalistic Observation ii. Survey iii. Case Studies III. IV. C. Flaws in Experimental Research - Experimenter Bias - Placebo Effect - Confounding Variables D. Statistics - Descriptive & Inferential Biological Bases of Behavior; A. Comparing the interrelationship between Behavior & Biology (Nature vs. Nurture) B. Nervous System Functioning; - Examining the organization & functions of neurons, neurotransmitter s, synapses, etc. C. Methods of Brain of Diagnostics; EEG, MRI, FMRI, CAT, PET D. Identifying & Examining key structures of the brain; ex: examining behavioral genetics in relation to family, twin & adoption studies. Sensation & Perception; A. Absolute & Difference Threshold

2 B. Fechner s, Weber s Law, & Stevens Power Law C. Signal-Detection a. Hit, Miss, False Alarm, Correct Rejection D. Discussing the Concept of Sensory Adaptation E. Identifying sensation successions for smell, touch, vision, taste, & hearing Accessory structures Transduction Thalamus relay Brain Perception V. States of Consciousness; A. Define Consciousness B. Sleep Stages; Non-Rem vs. REM - Functions of Sleep - Sleep Cycles - Identifying specific sleep disorders C. Dreaming - Theories (origins of study- Freud) D. Hypnosis - Altered state theories E. Psychoactive Drugs - Depressants - Opiates - Stimulants - Psychedelics VI. Learning; A. Classical Conditioning - Pavlov s Experiment (Pavlov & Zimbardo experiments) - Taste Aversion (ex: taste aversion skittles activity) - Little Albert - Phobias (ex: arachnophobia) B. Operant Conditioning- B.F. Skinner (ex: pigeon experiments) VII. - Positive Reinforcement - Negative Reinforcement - Punishment (+ & -) - Extinction C. Schedules of Reinforcement - Fixed-Ratio - Fixed-Interval - Variable-Ratio - Variable-Interval D. Observational Learning/Vicarious Conditioning - Bandura s- Bobo Doll E. Define and Describe the 3 basic memory processes - Encoding; Semantic, Acoustic, Visual - Storage; Episodic, Procedural, Semantic - Retrieval; Recall & Recognition F. Distinguish between: Implicit & Explicit memory Declarative & Procedural Memory Episodic & Semantic Memory G. Describe the various measures of forgetting Decay Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve Cognition; A. Mental Representations: Ingredients of Thought - Maps - Schemas - Artificial & Natural Concepts B. Thinking Strategies Formal & Informal Reasoning

3 C. Identifying Problem Solving Strategies - Obstacles to Problem Solving - Decision-Making D. Identifying the elements of language - Understanding Speech - Stages of Language Development - How Language is acquired - Influence of prior knowledge and culture on language VIII. Motivation & Emotion; A. Sources of Motivation - Biological, Emotional,, Social B. Compare & Contrast theoretical perspectives on motivation - Instinct, Drive, Incentive, Arousal Theories C. Hunger and Eating - Biological Signals- role of the hypothalamus - Flavor, Cultural learning on food selection D. Eating Disorders - Obesity, Anorexia, Bulimia E. Achievement Motivation - Identifying the differences between men and women in need for achievement - Achievement & Success in the Workplace F. Maslow s Hierarchy - Physiological Needs IX. - Safety Needs - Belongingness & Love - Esteem - Self-Actualization G. Nature of Emotion - Identifying the biology of Emotion - Fight or Flight response H. Compare & Contrast the theories of emotion - James-Lange perception of peripheral responses - Cannon-Bard - Central Nervous System - Schachter-Singer - Interpretation Developmental Psychology; A. Discussing Development over the Life Span - Prenatal Development - Newborn - Infancy & Childhood Piaget s Stages of Developmen t - Puberty Erikson s Stages of Psychosocial Developmen t B. Identifying Kohlberg s stages of Moral Development C. Evaluating Kubler-Ross s research on death & dying X. Personality; A. Psychodynamic Approach

4 XI. - Freud- Id, ego, superego - Psychosexual Stages - Adler, Jung, Fromm, Erikson B. Trait Approach - Allport s Trait - Cattell s Factor- Analytic Approach - Eysenck s Biological Trait Big 5 Model of Personality C. -Behavioral Approach - Rotter s Expectancy - Bandura & reciprocal determinism - Mischel s personsituation theory D. Phenomenological Approach - Roger s selftheory - Maslow s Humanistic Psychology E. Assessing Personality - Objective Tests MMPI, NEO- PI-R F. Projective Tests - Rorschach Inkblot Test - Thematic Apperception Test Testing & Individual Differences; A. Testing & Individual Differences - Discussion standardization and norms - Checking a test for reliability and validity B. Use of Various types of tests - Ethics in testing - Q Testing- History and evolution of C. Nature vs. Nurture - Identifying the effects of genetics & environment on intelligence XII & XIII. Abnormal Behavior & Treatment of Abnormal Behavior; A. What is abnormal behavior? B. Explanations of Psychological Disorders 1. Supernatural Influences 2. Biological Factors 3. Psychological Processes 4. Sociocultural Context 5. Diathesis-Stress C. Classifying Psychological Disorders - Explaining the 5 major axes of DSM-IV D. Anxiety Disorders - Types & Causes- Biological and E. Somatoform Disorders - Biological & F. Dissociative Disorders - Biological & G. Mood Disorders - Biological & H. Depressive Disorders - Bipolar I. Schizophrenia - Symptoms, Treatments, Types, Causes J. Personality Disorders K. Discussing Mental Illness & the Law-

5 - The Insanity Defense (legitimate?) L. Identifying the Difference between a Psychiatrist & Psychologist M. Treatment of Psychological Disorders - Psychodynamic Psychotherapy- talking cure - Phenomenologic al Psychotherapy - Client-Centered Therapy- Rogers - Behavior Therapy - - Behavior Therapy i. RET- Ellis ii. Cognitiv e Restruct uring- Beck N. Types of Therapy 1. Group 2. Family 3. Couples XIV. Social Psychology; Describing how each of the following contributes to impression - Physical Appearance - Schemas - Stereotypes Social Perception - Schemas - First Impressions - Attribution- Sources - Fundamental- Attribution Error A. Attitudes - Forming and Changing of Attitudes - - Dissonance B. Prejudice and Stereotypes - Theories- Motivational,, Learning - How can we reduce prejudice C. Interpersonal Attraction Keys to Attraction - Environment, Similarity, Proximity, Physical Attractiveness D. Triangular of Love - Intimacy, Passion, Commitment - What makes a strong marriage? E. Social Influence Norms and Deindividuation F. Examining Stanley Milgram s Studies on Obedience G. Asch s Conformity Study- Why and When people conform H. Group Behavior - Conformity & Compliance - Bystander Effect (why does this occur in larger groups?) I. Aggression - Why are people aggressive? Genetic & Learned mechanisms - When are people aggressive? J. Altruism and helping behavior Why do people help? - Arousal; costreward theory - Empathy; Altruism - Evolutionary K. Cooperation, Competition, and Conflict

6 - Prisoner s Dilemma (Stockholm Syndrome & Zimbardo Studies) - Social Dilemma - Fostering Cooperation - Interpersonal Conflict L. Group Processes Group leadership- Task & personoriented