AP Psychology
Course Outline
UNIT I: Introduction, History, and Research Methods
2 Weeks
Essential Questions:
What is Psychology/ What is it not?
What are Psychology's roots?
What do Psychologists do?
What are the perspectives psychologists use?
How do Psychologists develop knowledge?
How do they interpret data?
UNIT II: Biopsychology and the Brain
2½ Weeks
Essential Questions:
How are genes and behavior linked?
How does the body communicate internally?
How does the brain influence behavior and mental processes?
UNIT III: Sensation and Perception
3 Weeks
Essential Questions:
How does stimulation become sensation?
How are the senses alike/how are they different?
What is the relationship between perception and sensation?
UNIT IV: States of Consciousness
2 Weeks
Essential Questions:
What is the nature of consciousness?
What are the cycles of consciousness?
What “other” forms can consciousness take?
What are the theories concerning the function of dreams?
UNIT V: Learning
2½ Weeks
Essential Questions:
How does classical conditioning explain learning?
How does one learn new behaviors by operant conditioning?
How does cognitive psychology explain learning?
UNIT VI: Cognition
Essential Questions:
What is memory?
How do we form memories?
Why does memory sometimes fail?
What are the components of thought?
What makes a “good thinker?”
2½ Weeks
UNIT VII: Motivation and Emotion
2½ Weeks
Essential Questions:
What do our emotions do for us?
Where do emotions come from?
How can emotions be controlled?
How does motivation control our actions?
How are the basic motivations alike/different?
What role does stress play on our bodies and minds?
UNIT VIII: Psychological Development
3 Weeks
Essential Questions:
How do psychologists explain development?
What capabilities do newborns possess?
What are the developmental tasks of childhood?
What are the developmental tasks of adolescence?
What changes take place in adulthood?
In what ways do people prepare for death?
UNIT IX: Personality
3 Weeks
Essential Questions:
What forces shape our personality?
What patterns are found in personality?
What theories do people use to understand each other?
UNIT X: Testing and Individual Differences
2 Weeks
Essential Questions:
How is intelligence measured?
What are the components of intelligence?
What are the types of intelligence?
How do psychologists explain IQ differences among groups?
UNIT XI: Psychological Disorders
3 Weeks
Essential Questions:
What is a psychological disorder?
How are psychological disorders classified?
What are the consequences of labeling people?
UNIT XII: Therapy
1 Week
Essential Questions:
What is therapy?
How do psychologists treat disorders?
How is the biomedical approach used for treatment of disorders?
UNIT XIII: Social Psychology
Essential Questions:
How do social situations influence behavior?
What influences our judgments of others?
What are the roots of violence and terrorism?
3 Weeks