AP Psychology Project Options
As a culminating assignment for the semester, you may choose one of the options
below to complete. The assignment may be done individually or in groups (as
designated). The assignment is worth 50 points, and will be due Wednesday, May
23rd.
We will have several days in class to work on the projects; however you will also need
to do some work on your own outside of class time.
Make a Psych Movie (up to 4 group members)
 Must be at least 5 minutes in length
 Must include at least 20 terms (clearly defined/applied)
 Include a transcript of what is said in the movie
Illustrated Psych Book (up to 3 group members)
 Must include at least 20 terms (include definition or application of term)
 There should be at least 10 illustrations (either hand drawn or copied/printed)
 Neat, colorful, with correct spelling!
Re-Create an Experiment or Do Your Own (up to 4 group members)
 Must be approved by me before beginning process
 Signed consent forms for participants and debriefing
 Write up with purpose, hypothesis, method/procedure, participants (who,
how), results, conclusion & analysis
Break a Social Norm
 As part of the assignment, you will break a social norm (as long as it does NOT
harm yourself or others). You will need to get this preapproved by me.
 After you break this norm, you will write a 2 page (double-spaced) paper
describing:
o One piece of research that describes the social norm/behavior (please
cite the source of this information) – Why does it occur?
o How you broke the social norm
o Your experience as you broke the norm – How did you feel? What were
other people’s reactions?
Development Scrapbook or Timeline (individual)
 Include discussion of attachment and/or temperament
 Discuss gender development/typing/identity
 Include Piaget’s four stages & describe
 Include Erikson’s eight stages & describe (for four future stages, be creative
and write where/who you hope to be)
 Include photos of you or other illustrations/mementos for each stage or term
Article Reviews (individual)
 Four one-page article reviews (double-spaced)
 Give a summary of the article & identify what psychological principles are
discussed, and provide your reflection on its significance
 The websites below are a good place to start:
o
o
o
o
o
o
http://www.apa.org/topics/
http://www.psycport.com/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammind/
http://www.time.com/time/
http://www.newsweek.com/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
Psychology Soundtrack (individual)
 Select 10 songs that relate to principles in psychology we have discussed
 In 6-8 sentences (for each song), provide the specific lyrics within the song
and explain the principle(s) that is (are) described
 You do not need to make a CD – just provide the title and musician for the
songs
 Make sure the songs are school appropriate!
Movie Review
Select a movie from the list (on website) that you have NOT seen and write a 2-3
page double-spaced paper explaining:
 1 paragraph summary
 2-3 paragraphs on the psychological principles discussed (provide research if
necessary) – you should be able to explain at least 2 to 3 major concepts in
depth
 1 paragraph on your reflection: Did it accurately portray the concepts? What
were the inaccuracies, if any? Would you recommend this to a friend or fellow
psych student? What did or didn’t you like about the film?
 Signed slip stating you watched movie
Form to be signed and turned in for Movie Option:
Name: ________________________________ Class Period: _______
Movie Title: _________________________________________
Date film was viewed: ____________________________________
Student Signature: ________________________________________
Parental Signature: _______________________________________
Movie Options:
 Awakenings (1990, PG-13), Robin Williams, Robert de Niro Based on Oliver Sacks (author of our
summer reading), it tells the story of the effects of L-Dopa on catatonic patients and how they adjust to
their new life after many years in a catatonic state.

Temple Grandin (2010, PG), Claire Danes, Julia Ormond, David Straitham A biopic of Temple Grandin,
an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.

As Good as it Gets (1997, PG-13), Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt. A man with obsessive-compulsive
disorder befriends a waitress and neighbor who help him manage his disorder.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975, R), Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Danny de Vito Based
on the novel by Ken Kesey; McMurphy, a man with several assault convictions to his name, finds
himself in jail once again. Rather than spend his time in jail, he convinces the guards that he's crazy
enough to need psychiatric care and is sent to a hospital. He fits in frighteningly well, and his different
point of view actually begins to cause some of the patients to progress. Nurse Ratched becomes his
personal cross to bear as his resistance to the hospital routine gets on her nerves.

What About Bob (1991, PG-13), Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss. A successful psychiatrist loses his mind
after one of his most dependent patients, a highly manipulative obsessive-compulsive, tracks him down during
his family vacation.

Sybil (1976, NR), Joanne Woodward, Sally Field. The true story of a young woman named Sybil, whose
childhood was so harrowing to her that she developed at least 13 different personalities.

Memento (2000, R), Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano A man, suffering from short-term
memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man
he thinks killed his wife.

Donnie Darko (2001, R), Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone. A troubled teenager is plagued by
visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes, after narrowly escaping a
bizarre accident.

Benny and Joon (1993, PG), Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn. A mentally ill young woman
finds her love in an eccentric man who models himself after Buster Keaton.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007, PG-13), Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Kelli Garner. A delusional
young guy strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the Internet.

Girl, Interrupted (1999, R), Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie. Based on writer Susanna Kaysen's account of
her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the 1960s.

The Aviator (2004, PG-13), Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale. A biopic depicting the
early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career, from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s, who
suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If there is a movie not on this list you are interested in, please get it preapproved by
me before viewing.