Course Description: Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. When applied to humans, psychology covers everything people think, feel, and do. In many ways, you have been investigating human behavior all your life and have many understandings (and perhaps misunderstandings) of why you and others act as you do. Through studying the exciting and intellectually stimulating ideas of many great psychologists, you will refine and extend your abilities in understanding yourself and others. You will reflect upon the ideas of great psychologists and develop your own personal “truths” integrating your knowledge and understanding of human behavior.
Three Major Goals of Psychology:
1) Gain information and knowledge of basic concepts and understandings of the field of psychology.
2) Demonstrate ability to apply the knowledge of psychological principles to enhance understanding of yourself and others.
3) Utilize new learning to increase your personal and social intelligence so that you may lead a happier, more effective and fulfilling life.
Assignments and Grading: You will be assigned a section in the textbook to read each night. To ensure that students are keeping up with their reading assignments, pop quizzes
(10 points) may be given at the beginning of the following class period. There will be an exam for each chapter covered. The exams are made up of 25 multiple-choice questions and 2 short-answer questions totaling 60 points. If you are absent on the day of an exam, you have to make-up that exam before we complete the next chapter. Failure to make-up an exam before the next chapter test will result in a zero . Additional assignments, projects, and presentations will be assigned throughout the school year.
Textbook: Understanding Psychology (2003) by Richard A. Kasschau.
Class Expectations:
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NO FOOD OR DRINKS will be permitted in the classroom.
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Be prepared for class with all necessary materials (textbook, writing utensil).
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Read all assigned materials.
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Complete all assignments on time.
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Participate in class discussions.
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Respect others and their property.
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Be responsible. See teacher for assignments missed due to absence.
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Stay in your seat until the end of class.
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Follow school rules and procedures as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
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ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES!

Topics and Learning Objectives
Chapter 1 - Introducing Psychology
Psychology has evolved markedly since its inception as a discipline in 1879. There have been significant changes in the theories that psychologists use to explain behavior and mental processes.
Chapter 2 - Research Methods & Statistics
Psychology is an empirical discipline. Psychologists develop knowledge by doing research. Research provides guidance for psychologists who develop theories to explain behavior and solve problems.
Chapter 6 – Biopsychology
This chapter is an introduction to the relationship between physiological processes and behavior—including the influence of neural function, the nervous system and the brain, and genetic contributions to behavior.
Chapter 7 - Altered States of Consciousness
The study of variations in consciousness includes an examination of the sleep cycle, dreams, hypnosis, and the effects of psychoactive drugs.
Chapter 8 - Sensation & Perception
Everything that organisms know about the world is first encountered when stimuli in the environment activate sensory organs, initiating awareness of the external world. Perception involves the interpretation of the sensory inputs as a cognitive process.
Chapter 9 – Learning
This section of the course introduces students to differences between learned and unlearned behavior. The primary focus is exploration of different kinds of learning - classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
Chapter 10 - Memory & Thought
In this unit students learn how humans convert sensory input into kinds of information. They examine how humans learn, remember, and retrieve information.
Chapter 11 - Thinking & Language
This chapter will address problem solving, language, and creativity. Solving problems, creating ideas, and expressing our ideas through language are some of the most important skills we acquire in our lives.
Chapter 12 - Motivation & Emotion
In this part of the course, students explore biological and social factors that motivate behavior and biological and cultural factors that influence emotion.
Chapter 13 - Psychological Testing
An understanding of intelligence and assessment of individual differences is highlighted in this portion of the course.
Students must understand issues related to test construction and fair use.
Chapter 14 - Theories of Personality
In this chapter students will explore major theories of how humans develop enduring patterns of behavior and personal characteristics that influence how others relate to them. The unit also addresses various types of personality tests.
Chapter 16 - Psychological Disorders
In this portion of the course, students examine the nature of common challenges to adaptive functioning. This section emphasizes formal conventions that guide psychologists’ judgments about diagnosis and problem severity.