OCG - AP Psychology
School District of Oconee County
AP Psychology
Course Number: 437100AW
The AP Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the eld, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, analyze bias, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas.
NATIONAL STANDARDS – HIGH SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
1A: INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH METHODS
- 1A-1. Contemporary perspectives used by psychologists to understand behavior and mental processes in context
- 1A-2. Major subfields and career opportunities that comprise psychology
- 1A-3. Research strategies used by psychologists to explore behavior and mental processes
- 1A-4. Purpose and basic concepts of statistics
- 1A-5. Ethical issues in research with human and other animals that are important to psychologists
- 1A-6. Development of psychology as an empirical science
2A: BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR
- 2A-1. Structure and function of the neuron
- 2A-2. Organization of the nervous system
- 2A-3. Hierarchical organization of the structure and function of the brain
- 2A-4. Technologies and clinical methods for studying the brain
- 2A-5. Structure and function of the endocrine system
- 2A-6. How heredity interacts with the environment to influence behavior
- 2A-7. How psychological mechanisms are influenced by evolution
2B: SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
- 2B-1. Basic concepts explaining the capabilities and limitations of sensory processes
- 2B-2. Interaction of the person and the environment in determining perception
- 2B-3. Nature of attention
2C: MOTIVATION AND EMOTION
- 2C-1. Motivational concepts
- 2C-2. The role of biology and learning in motivation and emotion
- 2C-3. Major theories of motivation
- 2C-4. Interaction of biological and cultural factors in emotions and motivations
- 2C-5. Role of values and expectancies in determining choice and strength of motivation
- 2C-6. Physiological, affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of emotions and the interactions among these aspects
- 2C-7. Effects of motivation and emotion on perception, cognition, and behavior
2D: STRESS, COPING, AND HEALTH
- 2D-1. Sources of stress
- 2D-2. Physiological reactions to stress
- 2D-3. Psychological reactions to stress
- 2D-4. Cognitive and behavioral strategies for dealing with stress and promoting health
3A: LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT
- 3A-1. Development as a lifelong process
- 3A-2. Research techniques used to gather data on the developmental process
- 3A-3. Theories of development
- 3A-4. Issues surrounding the developmental process (nature/nurture, continuity/discontinuity, stability/instability, critical periods)
3B: PERSONALITY AND ASSESSMENT
- 3B-1. How to distinguish between personality and personality constructs
- 3B-2. Personality approaches and theories
- 3B-3. Assessment tools used in personality
4A: LEARNING
- 4A-1. Characteristics of learning
- 4A-2. Principles of classical conditioning
- 4A-3. Principles of operant conditioning
- 4A-4. Components of cognitive learning
- 4A-5. Roles of biology and culture in determining learning
4B: MEMORY
- 4B-1. Encoding, or getting information into memory
- 4B-2. Sensory, working or short-term, and long-term memory systems
- 4B-3. Retrieval, or getting information out of memory
- 4B-4. Biological bases of memory
- 4B-5. Methods for improving memory
- 4B-6. Memory constructions
4C: THINKING AND LANGUAGE
- 4C-1. Basic elements comprising thought
- 4C-2. Strategies and obstacles involved in problem solving and decision-making
- 4C-3. Structural features of language
- 4C-4. Theories and developmental stages of language acquisition
- 4C-5. Links between thinking and language
4D: STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
- 4D-1. Nature of consciousness
- 4D-2. Characteristics of sleep and theories that explain why we sleep
- 4D-3. Theories used to explain and interpret dreams
- 4D-4. Basic phenomena and uses of hypnosis
- 4D-5. Categories of psychoactive drugs and their effects
4E: INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
- 4E-1. Concepts related to measurement of individual differences
- 4E-2. Influence and interaction of heredity and environment on individual differences
- 4E-3. Nature of intelligence
- 4E-4. Nature of intelligence testing
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National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula 4 |
5A: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
- 5A-1. Characteristics and origins of abnormal behavior
- 5A-2. Methods used in exploring abnormal behavior
- 5A-3. Major categories of abnormal behavior
- 5A-4. Impact of mental disorders
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4 National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula |
5B: TREATMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
- 5B-1. Prominent methods used to treat individuals with disorders
- 5B-2.Types of practitioners who implement treatment
- 5B-3. Legal and ethical challenges involved in delivery of treatment
5C: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF BEHAVIOR
- 5C-1. Social judgment and attitudes
- 5C-2. Social and cultural categories
- 5C-3. Social influence and relationships
Required Instructional Materials and Resources: (List required materials including SDOC provided textbooks, including any fees that apply, etc.)
- Myers, David G. (2014) Myers’ Psychology for AP.New York: Worth Publishers
- Weseley, Allyson J. & McEntarffer, Robert. (2014) Barron’s AP Psychology.
Course Summary:
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