Ψ 2014-2015 AP PSYCHOLOGY SUMMER ASSIGNMENT Ψ
The AP Psychology course is designed as an introductory study of the behavior and mental
processes of human beings and other animals. Students will gain exposure to a multitude of
psychological principles, theories, phenomena, facts, and experiments that are associated with the
major subfields of psychology. AP Psychology is a course that requires rigorous study and proper
time management. There are assignments that are to be turned in on a regular basis, and students
will be expected to use multiple resources when completing their work. The hope is that this class
paves the way for students to become accustomed to habits that are essential for students on a
university level.
Summer Portfolio
This summer, AP Psychology students are expected to complete a portfolio that will consist of
four different sections:
1. Personal Biography and Psychological Perspective
2. Readings on the History of and Major Perspectives in Psychology.
3. Important People of Psychology
4. A Personal Application of the Seven Major Psychological Perspectives
The directions on how to construct and complete the portfolio follow.
Constructing the Portfolio
The portfolio will consist of:
 Cover page which mudy include the following: 
Title: A.P. Psychology Summer Portfolio
Your Name 

School Year: 2014-2015
My Name: Mr. Reid 

 Part 1: Personal Biography and Psychological Perspective 

 Part 2: Notes on the History and Perspectives in Psychology 

 Part 3: Important People of Psychology 

 Part 4: Personal Application of Perspectives
Part 1: Personal Biography and Psychological Perspective
In this section, create a one page, typed biography that includes:
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 A picture that “represents” you 
 Background information about yourself (educational, family, cultural, etc.) 
 A description of your personality 
 Your reason for taking this course 
 Your goals for when you complete high school 
 A statement about your own personal psychological perspective. For the statement, you
might take into consideration what you believe psychology is, what role it has in your life or
within society, and your perspective of the role of nature or nurture when it comes to
individual differences. 
Part 2: Notes on the History of and Perspectives in Psychology
I.
Psychology: An Introduction
by Russell A. Dewey, PhD
Read and take notes on Parts 1 and 2
http://www.intropsych.com/ch01_psychology_and_science/tofc_for_ch01_psychology_and_scie
nce.
html
II.
Psychology Perspectives
Read and take notes on each of the following summaries:
http://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html
http://www.ccis.edu/courses/psyc101a/Major%20Perspectives%20in%20Psychology.htm
http://healthandfitnessbay.blogspot.com/2011/03/sociocultural-perspective-and.html
III. History of Psychology
Read and take notes on all of the following articles by Dr. C. George
Boeree, Shippensburg University:
1. Wilhelm Wundt and William James
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/wundtjames.html
2. Freud and Psychoanalysis
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/psychoanalysis.html
3. Behaviorism
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/beh.html
4. Gestalt Psychology
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/gestalt.html
5. Modern Medicine and Physiology
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/modmed.html
6. Psychology: The Cognitive Movement
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/ai.html
7. Psychology Today and Tomorrow
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/historyofpsychconclusions.html
**YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES WITHIN A GROUP ACTIVITY UPON OUR RETURN
TO SCHOOL**
Part 3: Important People of Psychology
For each of the following individuals, list the studies that they are associated with, and summarize
their ideas/findings (what they are famous for). Use the space provided below. This must be
handwritten.
Name
Mary Ainsworth
Solomon Asch
Albert Bandura
Alfred Binet
Noam Chomsky
Erik Erikson
Sigmund Freud
Studies (if applicable)
Ideas/Findings
Carol Gilligan
Harry Harlow
David Hubel and Torsten
Wiesel
William James
Lawrence Kohlberg
Elizabeth Loftus
Abraham Maslow
Ivan Pavlov
Jean Piaget
Robert Rescorla
Carl Rogers
Stanley Schacter
B.F. Skinner
John Watson
Benjamin Whorf
Wilhelm Wundt
Part 4: Application of Perspectives in Psychology
 Step 1: Choose and describe a specific behavior on the form provided. Choose a person from
pop culture whether it’s a movie or television character or star or even a singer/musician. It is
probably best to keep it to an individual that is easily recognized.
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 Step 2: Come up with as many possible explanations (causes) of the given behavior. You
must have at least one explanation for each of the seven major modern perspectives. 
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 Step 3: Through the “eyes” of each perspective, explain how each cause represents the
psychological perspective you associated it with. 
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 Step 4: Decide which of the explanations you believe to be most accurate and explain why. 
7 PERSPECTIVES in PSYCHOLOGY
Description of Behavior:
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PSYCHOLOGICAL POSSIBLE EXPLANATION
PERSPECTIVES
FOR BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL
BEHAVIORAL
PSYCHODYNAMIC
HUMANISTIC
COGNITIVE
HOW DOES EXPLANATION
REPRESENT PERSPECTIVE?
SOCIO-CULTURAL
EVOLUTIONARY
Based on your research which perspective do you find to be the most accurate? Using
your findings give examples to support your answer.
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