MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH HIGH SCHOOL

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY

Dr. Dearson: ddearson@mdyhs.net 2013-2014 Purpose: The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of behavior and mental processes of human beings and animals. Students are exposed to empirically supported psychological facts, principles, terminology, associated phenomenon, major figures and perspectives. Course Objectives: 1. Students will prepare to do acceptable work on the AP Psychology Examination. 2. Students will be able to compare and contrast the psychological perspectives. 3. Students will be able to state, define and apply psychological concepts to their own lives. 4. Students will be able to define key terms and use them in their everyday vocabulary. 5. Students will develop critical thinking skills. 6. Students will be exposed to each of the 14 topical areas covered on the AP Exam. a. History and Approaches b. Methods c. Biological Basis of Behavior d. Sensation and Perception e. States of Consciousness f. Learning g. Cognition h. Motivation and Emotion i. Developmental Psychology j. Personality k. Testing and Individual Differences l. Abnormal Psychology m. Treatment of Psychological Disorders n. Social Psychology Textbook: Kassin, Saul. Psychology, Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001 Supplemental Resource: Barrons AP Psychology, 5th Edition. Grading Policy: Attendance/Participation In-Class Work/Homework Test/Quizzes Presentations Behavior 1. It is the students responsibility to make arrangements to make up exams or other work missed. 2. Late work will not be accepted except in circumstances approved by Dr. Dearson.

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Course: Chapter 1: Introducing Psychology and Its Methods --What is Psychology? --Scientific Methods --Psychology Today Chapter 2: Behavioral Neuroscience --The Bodys Communication Networks --The Neuron --The Brain --Prospects for the Future Chapter 3: Sensation and Perception --Measuring the Sensation Experience --Sensation --Perception --Extrasensory Perception Chapter 4: Consciousness --Sleep and Dreams --Hypnosis --Consciousness-Altering Drugs Chapter 5: Learning --Classical Conditioning --Operant Conditioning --Observational Learning Chapter 5: Memory --An Information-Processing Model --The Sensory Register --Short-Term Memory --Long-Term Memory Chapter 7: Thought and Language --Concepts --Solving Problems --Making Judgments --Language --The Relationship between Thought and Language Chapter 8: Motivation --What Motivates Us? --Basic Human Motives --Social Motives --Motivating People at Work

Chapter 9: Emotion --The Physiological Component --The Expressive Component --The Cognitive Component --Human Emotion: Putting the Pieces Together Chapter 10: Infancy and Childhood --Basic Developmental Questions --The Unborn Child --The Remarkable Newborn --The Infant and Growing Child Chapter 11: Adolescence and Adulthood --Adolescence --Adulthood and Old Age Chapter 12: Intelligence --Intelligence Tests --The Nature of Intelligence --The Great Debates --Education Chapter 13: Social Influences --Social Perception --Social Influence --Social Relations Chapter 14: Social and Cultural Groups --Cross-Cultural Perspectives --Multicultural Perspectives --Gender: The Great Divide --Prejudice Chapter 15: Personality --Psychoanalysis --The Cognitive Social-Learning Approach --The Humanistic Approach --The Trait Approach Chapter 16: Psychological Disorders --Psychological Disorders: A General Outlook --Anxiety Disorders --Somatoform Disorders --Dissociative Disorders --Mood Disorders --Schizophrenic Disorders --Personality Disorders

Chapter 17: Treatment --Psychological Therapies --Perspectives on Psychotherapy --Medical Interventions Chapter 18: Health and well-Being --Mind over Matter --The self and Well-Bing --Stress and Health --Coping with Stress