Intro to Psychology 2012
Mr. Ben Donnelly
Email: Benjamin_Donnelly@dpsk12.org
Phone: 720-424-1748
Office Hours: Tue-Thur 2:45-3:20 B104
Contacting Me: Email is the best way to contact me as I am constantly checking my
inbox. I will do my best to respond to all emails within 24 hours.
Rules:
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No food or drink in the classroom with the exception of H2O in a capped
bottle.
Use appropriate language.
Be respectful of yourself, of your classmates, and of the classroom
NO CELLPHONES!
Ipods, cameras or other recording devices may only be used with prior
approval.
Expectations:
- Come to class prepared and ready to learn every day.
- Complete all assignments on time and to the best of your ability.
- Actively participate in all activities and discussions.
- Keep an open mind.
- Take risks and make mistakes. Learning from our mistakes helps us grow.
- Be accountable. Own your mistakes and take responsibility for your actions.
- Maintain an environment of respect for both yourselves and others.
Materials: Being prepared means coming to class with all materials necessary for you to
succeed. Students should bring the following with them to class every day:
- Both a pen and a pencil
- Class specific three-ring notebook -or binder- with dividers and filler paper
(this is to be used only for this class and should not contain any work from
other classes)
- Any required readings or worksheets
- Online Psychology Laboratory class account (http://opl.apa.org/) more info on
this will be given in class
- Your brain
Course Overview: Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the mind and
behavior. In this course students will be introduced to the scientific method and the core
ideas of psychology. Throughout this course we will be exploring seven domains of
psychology: Scientific Inquiry, Biopsychology, Development and Learning, Cognition,
Sociocultural Context, Individual Variations, and Applications of Psychological Science.
As a result, students will obtain a foundation of knowledge and research skills that can be
applied to all fields of psychology, along with a deeper understanding of the complexities
and diversity of human thought and behavior.
The content of this course is based on the National Standards for High School
Psychology Curricula developed by the American Psychological Association. These
standards can be viewed by visiting: http://www.apa.org/education/k12/nationalstandards.aspx
Goals:
- To develop scientific attitudes and skills, including critical thinking, problem
solving, and an appreciation for scientific methodology
- To create an appreciation that psychological science and knowledge can be useful
in addressing a wide array of issues, from individual to global levels
- To develop the ability to relate psychological knowledge to everyday life
- To increase awareness of the importance of drawing evidence based conclusions
Grades: Grades will be available for parents and students through IC. I will also post
grades in the classroom on a weekly basis by student number.
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Standard Grading Scale: 100-90= A, 89-80= B, 79-70= C, 69-60= D
In accordance with district policy each quarter will be entered as a stand-alone grading
period. Each quarter will count as 45% of the semester grade with the remaining 10%
coming from the final semester assessment.
-
Example: Q1 (45%) + Q2 (45%) + Final (10%) = Final Semester Grade
Late Policy: Deadlines are an important part of life; therefore, they will be treated as
such in the classroom. Everyone makes mistakes, but there will be escalating
consequences.
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10% off for late work turned in within 24 hrs
50% off for late work turned in within 48 hrs
Zero credit for late work turned in after 48 hrs
Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is a fundamental principal of learning; therefore,
written or other work which students submit must be their own and must follow proper
citation guidelines. Please become familiar with the citation formats that will be used in
this class. Presenting someone else’s work as your own, no matter where it originated, is
cheating. If you choose to cheat on an assignment you will earn no credit for the
assignment and a referral will be sent to Mr. Loera.
Attendance: Please review and become familiar with DSA's attendance policies and
procedures in the Community Handbook. Please try to schedule any appointments or
other activities outside the school day as attendance is necessary to be successful.
** If you miss a class because of a school based absence you are responsible for all
assignments in accordance with the DSA Policy **
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Approaches to Psychology
- Research and applied Psychology
Field of Psychology
- History of Psychology
- Present day approaches to
understanding human behavior
- Experiments and procedures
Research Methods in Psychology
- Various other methods of research
- Ethics
Unit 2: Biology and Behavior
- Anatomy of the brain
Brain, Body and Behavior
- Brain communication
- Glandular system
- Process
Sensation and Perception
- Capabilities and limitations
- Interaction of person and environment
- Physical factors
Motivation and Emotion
- Motivational factors
- Emotion: Cognition and theory
- Defining
Consciousness
- Chronobiology
- Sleep and dreams
- States of consciousness
Unit 3: Cognitive Processes
- Classical conditioning
Principles in Learning
- Operant conditioning
- Social learning
- Cognitive psychology and learning
- Learning process
Acquiring, Processing and Memory
- Memory
- Defining intelligence
Intelligence and Creativity
- Understanding creativity
Unit 4: Human Development
- Heredity vs. Environment
Infancy and Childhood
- Developmental patterns
- Family and child development
- Sequences of development
- Development and language skills
- Physical changes
Adolescence
- Psychological issues
- Intellectual and moral changes
- Juvenile delinquency
- Early, Midlife and late adulthood
Adulthood and Aging
- The aging process
- Concerns in old age
- Psychological research examining
Gender Differences
gender identity and sexual orientation
- Compare and contrast gender identity
and sexual orientation
- Gender discrimination
- Gender roles and stereotypes
Unit 5: Personality, Adjustment and Conflict
- Psychoanalysis
Theories of Personality
- Behaviorism
- Humanistic theories
- Assessment techniques
Psychological Tests
- Reliability and validity
- Identifying potential sources of stress
Frustration, Stress and Drugs
- Physiological and psychological
consequences
- Drug abuse and substance related
disorders
- Depression
- Alcohol abuse
- Stress and coping
Steps Toward a Healthy Personality
- Behaviors and attitudes that promote
health
Unit 6: Psychological Disorders
- Perspectives on abnormal behavior
Mental Disorders
- Categories of psychological disorders
- Perspectives on treatment
Treatment and Therapy
- Categories of treatment
- Legal, ethical and professional issues
Unit 7: Social Psychology
- Influences
Social Cognition
- Diversity
- Social relations
Social Interaction
- Impact
* The scope and sequence of included topics may be expanded, reduced, or shifted to fit
class needs
Please sign and return by 8/30/12
Student Signature:
Date:
Parent Signature:
Date: