AP Psychology
Partial list of learning objectives for 2011-2012
st
1 Quarter
Unit I. Objectives
-Define Psychology and trace its historical development.
-Describe the various approaches from which psychologists work.
Unit II. Objectives
-Describe the major research methods of psychology, and discuss the nature and advantages of
experimentation.
-Discuss ways in which psychology might be potentially dangerous within the context of research
ethics.
-Identify ways in which descriptive and inferential statistics might be used in psychological
research.
Unit III. Objectives
-Explain the neurological techniques used to study the brain.
-Describe a neuron and explain how nerve cells communicate.
-Identify the major parts of the nervous system and describe their functions.
-Describe genetic and environmental contributions to our behavioral traits.
-Describe how the endocrine system sends information throughout the body.
Unit IV. Objectives
-Differentiate between difference and absolute thresholds.
-Describe the sequence of steps through which visual images are processed.
-Discuss the effects of past experience, expectancies, selective attention and contexts on
perception.
-Differentiate between bottom-up and top-down processing.
-Describe various monocular and binocular depth cues.
2nd Quarter
Unit V. Objectives
-Trace the significance of consciousness in the history of psychology
-Describe various stages of sleep, the major sleep disorders and the possible functions of
dreaming
-Describe the various theories of hypnosis
-Identify the major psychoactive drugs & describe their effects
Unit VI. Objectives
-Explain the basic principles of classical & operant conditioning
-Discuss several applications of learning principles
-Describe cognitive theories of learning including biological factors
Unit VII. Objectives
-Explain how new memories are formed and later retrieved for use
-Discuss how researchers think memories are physically represented in the nervous system
-Identify and describe the three building blocks of thought
-Explain how misuse of heuristics can result in irrational decision making
Unit VIII. Objectives
-Discuss evidence regarding intelligence as a stable general mental ability and/or as a diverse set
of abilities
-Discuss evidence for both genetic and environmental influences on intelligence
-Differentiate between issues of reliability and validity in regard to intelligence testing
-Describe the concepts of standardization and normalization as they relate to intelligence testing
(over)
AP Psychology
Partial list of learning objectives for 2010-2011
3rd Quarter
Unit IX. Objectives
-Differentiate drive-reduction, instinct, psychoanalytic, and humanistic theories of motivation
-Discuss the motivational basis for hunger and thirst motivation
-Discuss the role of physiological arousal, expressive behavior and conscious feelings and
thoughts in emotion
-Describe the effects of stress, both psychological and physical
Unit X. Objectives
-Differentiate between longitudinal and cross-sectional methods of research
-Describe the life-span approach to developmental psychology
-Explain the mechanisms of heredity and the methods by which scientists explore the nature and
nurture of behavior
-Describe developmental theories of Piaget, Kohlberg and Erikson
-Describe the normal patterns of development from the prenatal period through childhood
Unit XI. Objectives
-Explain and evaluate Freud’s theory of personality structure and development
-Explain and evaluate the trait perspective on personality
-Differentiate between Self-Concept and Self- esteem
-Describe the various personality assessment techniques
Unit XII. Objectives
-Describe disordered behavior and discuss the reasons for classification as well as the basis of
diagnosis
-Discuss the different theories of psychopathology
-Identify the major categories of psychological disorders and briefly describe the symptoms of
specific disorders
4th Quarter
Unit XIII. Objectives
-Describe the major approaches to therapy and treatment
-Differentiate between Insight, Behavioral and Cognitive psychotherapies and their overall
approach to treatment
-Identify and describe the drug therapies and discuss current issues regarding biomedical
therapies
-Discuss the current attempts to prevent psychological disorders by changing the social
environment
Unit XIV. Objectives
-Discuss how the presence of other may produce conformity, social facilitation, social loafing,
deindividuation or groupthink
-Identify the term attribution theory and factors associated with how we make behavioral
attributions to our own behavior and the behavior of others
-Differentiate between conformity, compliance and obedience
-Identify the factors effecting persuasion and attitude change
-Discuss the impact of biological & social factors in promoting aggression, altruism and
interpersonal attraction
Unit XV. Objectives
-Understand effective test taking strategies for the National AP Psychology Exam
-Identify areas of the AP Psychology curriculum where you need extra preparation for the AP
Psychology Exam
-Expand your knowledge of a specific area of psychology of your own choosing
Thought you may be interested in a different perspective on the class.
I. History and Approaches
History of Psychology
Modern Approaches
Biological
Behavioral
Cognitive
Humanistic
Psychodynamic
Sociocultural
Evolutionary/sociobiological
II. Research Methods
Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical Research
Correlational
Experimental
Statistics
Descriptive
Inferential
Ethical Issues in Research
III. Biological Bases of Behavior
Physiological Techniques
Neuroanatomy
1
Functional Organization of Nervous System
Neural Transmission
Endocrine System
Genetics
IV. Sensation and Perception
Thresholds
Sensory Mechanisms
Sensory Adaptation
Attention
Perceptual Processes
Unit Name or Timeframe:
2nd Quarter
V. States of Consciousness
Sleep and Dreaming
Hypnosis
Psychoactive Drug Effects
VI. Learning
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Cognitive Processes in Learning
Biological Factors
VII. Cognition
Memory
Language
Thinking
Problem Solving
VIII.Testing and Individual Differnces
Standardization and Norms
Reliability and Validity
Testing Ethics and Standards
Intelligence, Heredity and Environment
Human Diversity
IX. Motivation and Emotion
Biological Bases and Instinct
Theories of Motivation
Hunger, Thirst and Pain
3
Social Motives
Theories of Emotion
Stress
Unit Name or Timeframe:
3rd Quarter
IX. Motivation and Emotion
Biological Bases and Instinct
Theories of Motivation
Hunger, Thirst and Pain
Social Motives
Theories of Emotion
Stress
X. Developmental Psychology
Life Span Development
Research Methods
Heredity and Environment Issues
4
Developmental Theories
Dimensions of Development
Physical
Cognitive
Social
Moral
Sex Roles and differences
XI. Personality
Personality Theories and Approaches
Assessment Techniques
Self-concept, Self-esteem
Growth and Adjustment
XII. Abnormal Psychology
Defining Abnormality
Theories of Psychopathology
Diagnosis of Psychology
Anxiety Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Affective Disorders
Schizophrenic Disorders
Organic Disorders
Personality Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Major Assignments and/or Assessments:
Unit Name or Timeframe:
4th Quarter
XIII. Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Treatment Approaches
Insight Therapies
Behavioral Therapies
Cognitive Therapies
Biological Therapies
Modes of Therapy
Prevention of Disorders
XIV. Social Psychology
Group Dynamics
Attribution Theory
Interpersonal Perception
Conformity, Compliance and Obedience
Attitudes and Persuasion
Organizational Behavior
Aggression and Anti-Social Behavior
XV. Student Presentations