General Psychology
Unit Plan
Unit 1
Introduction
Content Description
(Text Description)
In this unit we examine the fundamental beliefs of psychology. For example, we all should
know that behavior has multiple causes and that psychologists have different perspectives. This
unit will help lay the foundation for understanding psychology. After completing this unit,
students will be able to do the following:
• Analyze the important elements of the definition of psychology.
• Discuss what clinical psychologists do.
• Name the types of academic psychologists, and explain the basic research each might do.
• Name types of applied psychologists, and explain how they use psychological research.
• Describe the first psychologists and the origins of psychology as a science.
• Explain how 20th century psychologists changed the way that psychology was studied.
• Discuss how some of psychology’s groundbreakers helped advance gender and race equality.
• Explain the six contemporary psychological perspectives.
• Discuss three recent areas of psychological study.
• Define the nature-nurture issue and explain the key issues of the field of behavior genetics.
• Name and describe the elements of the genetic code (chromosomes, DNA, and genes).
• Discuss how twin studies and adoption studies are used to learn about the influences of nature
and nurture.
• Describe the research findings related to the environmental influences of early brain
development, parents, peers, and our culture.
• Explain the advantages of research over other ways of knowing.
• Understand the ways in which bias can influence research.
• Compare and contrast the advantages, disadvantages, and key characteristics of different
research strategies in psychology.
• Discuss the ethical guidelines that protect humans and animals in psychological research.
Schedule
4-5 weeks
23 class days
9/2/14 – 10/4/14
Unit Objectives
Enduring Understanding
Psychology attempts to understand and
solve human problems involving
behavior and thinking.
Essential Questions
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What is psychology, and what kind of topics do
psychologists study?
What different kinds of jobs do psychologists do?
Understanding the history and
perspectives of psychology is essential
to understanding the evolution of
psychology as a science.
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Behavior is influenced by both nature
and nurture.
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Understanding research strategies is
central to understanding the science of
psychology.
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How did the study of psychology as a science get
started?
In what ways did 20th century psychologists change
the way psychology was studied?
How did psychology’s groundbreakers help
advance gender and race equality?
How do current psychological theories explain
thinking and behavior?
What are the basic ideas behind three of
psychology’s developing areas?
What do we know about the human genetic code
and how it affects our thinking and behavior?
How do twin studies and adoption studies help
behavior geneticists study the influences of nature
and nurture?
How much do our parents, peers, and culture
influence us?
What advantage does research have over other
ways of knowing things?
What are some ways that bias can influence
research?
Why do psychologists use case studies?
Why is it impossible to conclude cause-and-effect
relationships from correlational data?
Why should we be cautious when applying data
obtained from surveys?
Why do psychologists conduct longitudinal and
cross-sectional studies?
Why are experiments the most powerful research
technique of all?
What ethical guidelines are in place to protect the
rights of human and animal research participants?
Classroom Activity and Assignment Schedule
DAY
DATE
TOPIC / ACTIVITY
1
9/2/14
Introduction and Expectations
2
9/3/14
Introduction to Psychology
3
9/4/14
Introduction to Psychology
READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Blair-Broeker + Ernst, M. 1 pg. 1-15
Quiz
4
9/5/14
5
9/8/14
6
9/9/14
7
9/10/14
8
9/11/14
9
9/12/14
10
9/15/14
11
9/16/14
12
9/17/14
13
9/18/14
14
9/19/14
15
9/22/14
16
9/23/14
17
9/24/14
18
9/26/14
19
9/29/14
20
9/30/14
Careers
9/11
9/11
Flashbulb Memories
Why?
21
10/1/14
Review for Unit 1 Exam
22
10/2/14
Exam: MC
23
10/3/14
Exam Review & Discussion
Key Terms
encoding
storage
retrieval
automatic processing
effortful processing
rehearsal
overlearning
serial position effect
semantic encoding
self-reference effect
mnemonic device
method of loci
peg-word system
chunking
sensory memory
short-term memory
long-term memory
flashbulb memory
long-term potentiation
explicit memory
implicit memory
recall
recognition
context effect
state-dependent memory
Hermann Ebbinghaus
permastore memory
proactive interference
retroactive interference
repression
misinformation effect
Sigmund Freud
Elizabeth Loftus