Course: AP Psychology
Instructor: Ms. Kloster (Ms. K.)
Room: CTE 206
Contact: erin.kloster@estl189.com
Course website: Mskloster.weebly.com
Welcome to AP Psychology! This course will mirror a college level
introductory to psychology course. It is the intention of this course to
serve as a college credit after you have successfully completed the
coursework and passed the AP exam. This class covers the breadth of
psychological theories, concepts, and applications of both.
Required materials:
 Folder
 Notecards – and something to keep them organized: box, notecard
ring, ect.
 Notebook or binder with paper for notes
 AP Psychology textbook aka your best friend
 Internet access for class lectures and study reviews for AP exam –
my room and the library will be available for use
 Bring something to write with everyday – pen or pencil will be
accepted
Grading: Your grade will be a reflection of your work in this course. Your
final grade will be compromised of the following:
 Vocabulary notecards: Each unit you will complete a set of
vocabulary notecards. These cards will be due before the exam and
you must keep all cards for the duration of this course. Success in
this course and on the AP exam are dependent on vocabulary. It is
your responsibility to pay attention to all vocabulary words in
addition to the ones assigned for your vocabulary card grade.
 In class assignments: You must be in class to complete an in class
assignment. Attendance is of upmost importance for your success
in this course.
 Do Nows / video note checks
 Projects: There will be in class and out of class projects. You will
receive detailed information on these projects as they are assigned.
 Quizzes: some units will not have a quiz
 Exams: There will be an exam after each unit. Each exam will serve
to prepare you for the AP exam. Exams will be 100 points and
contain multiple choice and free response questions.
 You are required to take the AP Psychology exam on Monday May
2nd, 2016 at 12:00pm
** late work will receive a 10% deduction per day and will not be
accepted after 2 days.
Goals: My goals for you this year are simple 
1. Have fun / learn some cool stuff about psychology
2. Get a feel for college level expectations
3. Pass the AP Psychology exam!
Units and objectives:
History and Approaches
Essential Question: How have philosophical perspectives shaped the
development of psychological thought?
Objectives:
 Describe and compare different theoretical approached in
explaining behavior
 Recognize the strengths and limitations of applying theories to
explain behavior
 Distinguish the different domains of psychology
 Identify major historical figures in psychology
Research Methods
Essential Question: How does psychology approach research? What are
the strengths and weaknesses of various types of research?
Objectives:
 Identify independent, dependent, confounding, and control
variables in experimental designs
 Predict the validity of behavioral explanations based on the quality
of research design
 Distinguish the purposes of descriptive statistics and inferential
statistics
 Interpretation and construction of graphs
 Identify how ethical issues inform and constrain research practices
Biological Bases of Behavior
Essential Question: Why study the nervous system and the glands?
Objectives:
 Identify basic processes and systems in the biological bases of
behavior
 Discuss the influence of drugs on neurotransmitters
 Discuss the effect of the endocrine system on behavior
 Describe the nervous system and its subdivisions and functions
 Predict how traits and behavior can be selected for their adaptive
value
Biological Bases of Behavior (cont) Sensation and Perception
Essential Question: How do we get information from the outside world
into our brains?
Objectives:
 Discuss basic principles of sensory transduction
 Describe sensory processes
 Explain common sensory disorders
 Discuss how experience and culture can influence perceptual
processes
 Challenge common beliefs in parapsychological phenomena
States of Consciousness
Essential Question: what does it mean to be conscious, and are there
different levels of consciousness?
Objectives:
 Describe various states of consciousness and their impact on
behavior
 Discuss aspects of sleep and dreaming
 Identify the major psychoactive drug categories
 Discuss drug dependence, addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal
Learning
Essential Question: What are the differences between principles of
classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning?
Objectives:
 Predict the effects of operant conditioning
 Predict how practice, schedules of reinforcement, and motivation
will influence quality of learning
 Interpret graphs that exhibit the results of learning experiments
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Apply learning principles to explain emotional learning, taste
aversion, superstitious behavior, and learned helplessness
Suggest how behavior modification, biofeedback, coping
strategies, and self-control can be used to address behavioral
problems
Cognition
Essential Question: What does it mean to think? Why study the nature of
thought?
Objectives:
 Compare and contrast various cognitive processes
 Describe and differentiate psychological and physiological systems
of memory
 Describe strategies of memory improvement
 List the characteristics of creative thought and creative thinkers
Motivation and Emotion
Essential Question: Why and how do psychologists study motivation an
emotion?
Objectives:
 Identify and apply basic motivational concepts to understand the
behavior of humans and other animals
 Discuss the biological underpinnings of motivation, including
needs, drives, and homeostasis
 Compare and contrast motivational theories
 Describe how cultural influences shape emotional expression,
including variations in body language
Developmental Psychology
Essential Question: How does psychology address development? What are
the links between development and nature and nurture?
Objectives:
 Explain the process of conception and gestation, including factors
that influence successful fetal development
 Discuss the maturation of motor skills
 Describe the influence of temperament and other social factors
on attachment and appropriate socialization
 Explain the maturation of cognitive abilities
 Compare and contrast models of moral development
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Discuss maturational challenges in adolescence, including related
family conflicts
Characterize the development of decisions related to intimacy as
people mature
Predict the physical and cognitive changes that emerge as people
age, including steps that be take to maximize function
Describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other
aspects of development
Personality
Essential Question: How do the major theories approach the study of
personality?
Objectives:
 Describe and compare research methods that psychologists use to
investigate personality
 Identify frequently used assessment strategies and evaluate
relative test quality based on reliability and validity of the
instruments
 Speculate how cultural context can facilitate or constrain
personality development, especially as it relates to self-concept
Testing and Individual Differences
Essential Question: What does it mean to think? Why are psychologists
interested in thinking?
Objectives:
 Define intelligence and list characteristics of how psychologists
measure intelligence
 Discuss how culture influences the definition of intelligence
 Compare and contrast historic and contemporary theories of
intelligence
 Explain how psychologists design tests, standardization strategies,
establishment of reliability and validity
 Interpret the meaning of scores in terms of the normal curve
 Describe relevant labels related to intelligence testing
 Debate the appropriate testing practices, particularly in relation to
culture-fair test use
Abnormal Behavior
Essential Question: What is abnormal behavior? Why study abnormal
behavior?
Objectives:
 Describe contemporary and historical conceptions of what
constitutes psychological disorders
 Recognize the use of the DSM
 Discuss the major diagnostic categories
 Evaluate the strengths and limitations of various approaches to
explaining psychological disorders
 Identify the positive and negative consequences of diagnostic
labels
 Discuss the intersection between psychology and the legal system
Treatment of Abnormal Behavior
Essential Question: Why is it important to study therapies for
psychological disorders?
Objectives:
 Describe the central characteristics of psychotherapeutic
intervention
 Describe major treatment orientations used in therapy
 Compare and contrast different treatment formats
 Summarize effectiveness of specific treatments used to address
specific problems
 Discuss how cultural and ethnic context influence choice and
success of treatment
 Describe prevention strategies that build resilience and promote
competence
Social Psychology
Essential Question: What factors influence people to conform to the
actions of others? Why study social psychology?
Objectives:
 Apply attribution theory to explain motives
 Describe the structure and function of different kinds of group
behavior
 Explain how individuals respond to expectations of others
 Discuss attitudes and how they change
 Predict the impact of the presence of others on individual
behavior
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Describe processes that contribute to differential treatment of
group members
Articulate the impact of social and cultural categories on selfconcept and relations with others
Anticipate the impact of behavior on a self-fulfilling prophecy
Describe the variables that contribute to altruism, aggression, and
attraction
Discuss attitude formation and change
Wise words for success:
 Stay on top of your reading! Reading is crucial in this course. You
are responsible for learning ALL of the material in the textbook.
Seriously, read. We have limited time and a lot to cover. Every time
there is assigned reading (and this will happen often) take it
seriously and read.
 Notice everything. Bolded words, graphics, tables, charts,
examples, sample AP questions….pay attention to everything.
 Manage your time wisely. Set aside time for school. Time
management will help you now and in the future. Become a master
of your time!
 You can do this! Positive affirmations will become your mantras.
You can and you will be successful in this and all of your courses!