Psychology Syllabus
Ms. Leon
Email: exl0373@lausd.net Room H7
Course Introduction and Description: This course will examine the systematic and
scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. Students are
exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the
major subfields within psychology.
Students will study the explorations and discoveries made by psychologist over the past
century. Examine the field of psychology through in-depth study, discussion, and handson activities. Will analyze and assess the differing approaches adopted by psychologist.
In addition, students will examine and evaluate the major concepts and theories of
psychology. Furthermore, students will learn and practice the basic skills of
psychological research and develop their critical thinking skills.
Course Requirements: This course will involve both lecture and discussion. Students
will be expected to prepare assignments carefully and thoughtfully and to participate
actively. For a successful class, all must be present and ready to question, discuss, and
debate the material and issues. Your active participation in class is required.
Objectives
o Strengthen students’ analytical and critical thinking skills
o Promote research, recognize bias in documents, and questioning,
o Increase students analytical skills by examining several resources
o Promote collaboration and discussion, Socratic seminars.
o Increase students’ ability to read for understanding
o Implement cooperative learning, group projects
Expectations: Students are expected
 To read, study and analyze all assigned readings before class every night
 Complete, examine and study all class and homework assignments
 Come to class with all required materials, prepared and ready to learn and discuss
 Bring their text, notebook and supplies to class every day.
 Attend class and be on time daily
A. Notebook: With all notes dated and organized, and all assignments must be kept
in the notebook.
B. Assignments: A 5-6 page typed doubled space research paper on any topic
covered in the class and a presentation is due at the end of the semester. Paper
will follow APA style and a minimum of 3-4 resources are required.
Grading Policy: Grades will be earned by points/grades earned on test, quizzes,
research journals, projects, class-work, homework, and class participation.
A= 90-100%
B= 80-89%
C= 70-79%
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D= 60-69%
F= 0-59%
Research Journals
Research Paper
Test
30 PTS
100 PTS
40 PTS
Presentation
Quiz
Final Exam
50 PTS
20 PTS
100 PTS
Homework Policy: All homework and assignments are to be turned in on due date. No
late assignments accepted! Exceptions are only for excused illness, emergency or
absences. Students must make-up missed assignments upon returning to class, not weeks
after returning.
For missed exams and quizzes, students are responsible for reminding teacher of their
previous absence on the day of the exam or quiz and need to make up. Teacher not
responsible for reminding students of missed assignments or exams.
Research Journals: Read journal article from American Psychologist, the Journal of
Educational Psychology, or the Journal of Social Issues, Times Magazine, or New
Weeks. Write a two-page summary and a one to two page critique of article. Four
journals are due a semester. Sign up for presentation date!!
Group Presentation: In groups of 3 or 4 choose a chapter of your interest to teach the
class. Use visuals, get students involved, role play or demonstrate what you are trying to
teach, theories, experiments etc.
Text Course Required Reading:
Sspencer A. Rathus, Psychology, Principles in practive. :Harcourt Bruce & Company,
Florida , 1998.
Week 1-2 Required Reading and Cornell Notes: Ch. 1 What is Psychology?
Essential Questions:
1. Define psychology and trace its historical development.
2. Explain the three early psychologies.
3. Compare and contrast the major psychological perspectives.
4. Examine and describe the two influential movements in psychology.
5. Explain and describe what psychologist do, research and practice.
6. How do psychologist use the scientific method to study behavior and mental
process?
Week 3
Ch. 2 Psychological Methods
1. Which methods of research are appropriate for the study of different behaviors?
2. How do psychologists draw appropriate conclusions about behavior from
research?
3. How do psychologists make ethical decisions about researching behavior with
human and animal subjects?
4. Identify basic elements of an experiment (variables, groups, sampling, population)
5. Explain correlational studies and cautions about correlations.
6. Describe the three measures of central tendency and measures of variation.
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7. Explain the advantages and limitations of experiments.
8. Examine and discuss the ethics of animal and human research.
9. Define: Descriptive Statistics and Inferential Statistics
Group 1 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 4
Ch. 3 Biology & Behavior
1. Explain evolution and natural selection.
2. Describe the Innate Human Characteristics.
3. What is the nature of language?
Group 2 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 5 Ch. 6 Learning
1. How do psychologist define learning?
2. What are the principles of Classical Conditioning?
3. Explain the process of acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery,
generalization, and discrimination.
4. Explain the process of operant conditioning, including the procedure of shaping.
5. Examine and explain the pros and cons of punishment.
6. Evaluate and describe the problems with rewards?
7. Describe observational learning.
8. Explain how biology influences learning.
9. Describe how cognition influences learning.
Group 3 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 6-7 Ch.20 Social Cognition, Ch. 21 Social Interaction
1. How do people explain(or attribute) the behavior of others?
2. Describe the importance of attribution in social behavior.
3. How are individuals affected by groups?
4. Under what conditions do people obey, conform, make friendships, find love, and
help others?
5. How do attitudes and actions influence individual and group behavior?
6. Discuss how group interaction can facilitate group polarization and groupthink.
7. How do psychologist define culture? What influences does culture have on
individuals and groups?
8. Identify the conditions in which people are more likely to conform and obey.
9. Explain how the presence of others influences actions.
10. Under what conditions are people more likely to help others?
11. Identify and explain the biological and social contributors to aggressive behavior.
Group 4 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 8 Ch. Ch 16 Gender Roles
1. How do males and females compare in terms of mathematical abilities?
2. Identify one way in which the communication styles of males and females differ.
3. According to social-learning theory, what two ways is gender-role behavior
acquired?
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4. Give three explanations for why males exhibit more aggression than females.
5. Compare the social-learning theory and the gender-schema theory of gender
typing.
WEEK 9 Ch. 8 Thinking & Language, Ch.9 Intelligence
1. How do we think?
2. Evaluate and explain formal reasoning (algorithms, Logic).
3. Evaluate and explain informal reasoning (heuristics, dialectical thinking).
4. Analyze and explain the Hindsight Bias.
5. Analyze and explain the Confirmation Bias.
6. How do psychologist define and study intelligence?
7. Explain how the use of intelligence tests evolved throughout the century?
8. Analyze and explain how testing scores differ between gender, race, ethnic groups
and socioeconomic groups?
9. Explain how group tests of intelligence differ from individual tests.
10. Explain how psychologist determine if a test is reliable/valid.
11. Examine and explain the difference between reliability and validity.
Group 5 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 9 Ch14. Theories Personality
1. How do psychologist define and study personality?
2. Explain Freud’s Psychoanalysis.
3. Describe personality structure of the id, ego, and the superego.
4. Examine and explain genetic influences on personality.
5. Examine and explain environmental influences on personality.
6. How does culture influence personality.
Group 6 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
Group 7 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 10-12 Ch 10 Infancy and Childhood, Ch 11 Adolescence, Ch 12 Adulthood
1. Discuss the course of prenatal development.
2. Illustrate development changes in physical, social, and cognitive areas in children.
3. Describe the benefits of a secure attachment.
4. Explain the impact of parental neglect and separation on childhood development.
5. Discuss the effects of body contact, familiarity, and responsive parenting on
attachments.
6. Explain influences on gender development.
7. Describe and explain how nature and nurture affect behavior.
8. Analyze how sex roles influence individual and social behavior throughout life.
9. Analyze the cognitive development of infants and children.
10. Explain the importance of social development in infants and children.
Group Presentation 8 and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 13 Ch. 17 Stress and Health
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1. Define stress and Identify the emotional and physiological responses to stress.
2. Evaluate how social support and positive emotional experiences contribute to
health and well-being.
3. How does stress influence health and behavior?
4. How can we reduce stress?
5. In what ways can stress be beneficial?
6. How do social factors affect the influence of stress on health and behavior?
Group 9 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 14 Ch. 18 Psychological Disorders
1. How do psychologist measure and define abnormal behavior?
2. How are the various psychological disorders identified and studied?
3. Identify the criteria psychologists use to diagnose psychological disorders.
4. Describe and explain the characteristics of mood (depression, bipolar) disorders.
5. Describe and explain the characteristics of anxiety (Panic, fears, phobias,
obsessions and compulsions) disorders.
6. Describe and explain the characteristics of somatoform disorders.
7. Describe and explain the characteristics of dissociative disorders.
8. Describe and explain the characteristics of schizophrenia disorders.
9. What are the characteristics of personality (criminals, psychopaths) disorders?
10. Explain the causes of dissociative disorders.
11. Describe the different treatments for the various types of psychological disorders.
Group 10 Presentation and 3 Journal Presentations
WEEK 15 Ch. 1 Methods of Therapy
1. Examine and explain when drugs are used as treatment.
2. Explain direct brain intervention.
3. Describe and explain Psychodynamic therapy.
4. Describe and explain behavior and cognitive therapy.
5. Describe and explain humanistic and existential therapy.
6. Describe and explain family and couples therapy.
7. Explain the effectiveness of psychotherapies.
8. Identify the forms of drug therapy and the use of electroconvulsive therapy.
9. Explain when therapy is beneficial? Why and when can therapy be harmful?
WEEK 16 Ch.13 Motivation and Emotion
1. What role do emotions play in behavior?
2. How does cognition affect emotions?
3. How do hormones affect emotions?
4. Explain how culture shapes emotions.
5. Describe physiological changes when people experience different emotions.
6. Determine the criteria for assessing gender differences in emotional expression.
FINAL PRESENTATIONS
FINAL EXAM
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