AP PSYCHOLOGY

Course Syllabus
Hialeah Gardens Senior High
Mrs. Borges

The purpose of AP Psychology is to introduce students to the studies of behavior and mental processes of
humans and animals. Students will be provided with a critical overview of the study of psychology,
focusing on the theories and research methods used in psychological science and practice. Because
psychology is a fascinating course, it is possible to explore the field using a variety of methods. The
course information will be presented through lectures, class participation activities, demonstrations, and
audio-visual aids.

COURSE TEXTBOOK
Weiten, W. (2004). Psychology: Themes and Variations (6th ed.).
California: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.

REQUIRED MATERIALS
• 2" (minimum) 3-ring binder (I give a lot of materials to help you along the way)
• 2 spiral notebooks (for notes, pages will not be ripped out!)
• 1 pack of dividers (for binder)
• 1 box of 12 colored pencils (12 minimum- 24 maximum)
• 1 box of markers (8-12)
• 1 highlighter (any color)
• 2 blue or black ink pens
• 2 pencils
• college ruled notebook paper (in notebook and refilled as needed)

COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to arrive to class on time, participate in class discussions and activities, and
complete all assigned reading and assignments. Any make-up assignments must be completed no later
than 2 days after returning to class and must be accompanied with an excused admit.

AP COURSE DEMANDS
It should be understood from the beginning of this course that the expectations of this class are
consistent with those of any Advanced Placement course. Students should expect a workload similar to
that of a college level course. This will involve extensive reading every night, active participation in class
discussions and activities, taking notes, completing projects, and doing research.

THE AP EXAM
One of the goals of this course is to prepare you for the AP Exam. A passing score will earn you
college credit for the class. The AP Psychology Exam is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11th.

GRADING SCALE
GradeNumber Value Grade Point Av.
A 90-100 3.5 - 4.0
B 80-89 2.5 - 3.49
C 70-79 1.5 - 2.49
D 60-69 1.0 - 1.49
F 0-59 0.0 - 0.99
COURSE PLAN

CHAPTER 1: The Evolution of Psychology- History and Approaches (1 week)

• Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science
• Historical Schools: Functionalism vs. Structuralism
• Approaches: Biological, Behavioral, Cognitive, Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Sociocultural, Evolutionary

CHAPTER 2: Research (1 week)

• Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical Research
• Nature of Science Inquiry: Sources of bias and error
• Statistics: Central tendency, variance, significance, correlation
• Ethics in Research: Human participants, animal subjects

CHAPTER 3: Biological Basis of Behavior (3 weeks)

• Neural Transmission
• Functional Organization of Nervous System
• Physiological Techniques
• Neuroanatomy
• Endocrine System
• Genetics and Heritability

CHAPTER 4: Sensation and Perception (2 weeks)

• Thresholds
• Sensory Mechanisms
• Sensory Adaptation
• Attention
• Perceptual Processes

CHAPTER 5: Consciousness (2 weeks)

• Sleep and Dreaming
• Hypnosis
• Psychoactive Drug Effects

CHAPTER 6: Learning (1 ½ weeks)

• Classical Conditioning: Pavlov, Watson, applications
• Operant Conditioning: Thorndike, Skinner, Bandura, behavior modification
• Cognitive Processes in Learning
• Biological Factors
• Social Learning

CHAPTER 7: Human Memory (1 ½ weeks)

• Memory: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval

CHAPTER 8: Language and Thought (1 ½ weeks)

• Language: Skinner and Chomsky
• Thought
• Problem Solving and Creativity

CHAPTER 9: Intelligence and Psychological Testing (2 weeks)

 • Heredity/Environment and Intelligence
• Human Diversity
• Extremes of Intelligence: Mental Retardation, Giftedness
• Standardization and Norms
• Reliability and Validity
• Types of Tests
• Ethics and Standards in Testing

CHAPTER 10: Motivation and Emotion (2 weeks)

• Biological Bases
• Theories of Motivation
• Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain
• Social Motives
• Theories of Emotion

CHAPTER 11: Human Development (3 weeks)

• Prenatal, Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood
• Research Methods: Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies
• Heredity–Environment Issues
• Nature vs. Nurture (maturation versus learning)
• Sex Roles, Sex Differences
• Influential Theories: Piaget and cognitive development, Freud and psychosocial development Kohlberg and
moral development, Gilligan and gender differentiation.

CHAPTER 12: Personality (2 weeks)

• Personality Theories and Approaches
• Assessment Techniques
• Growth and Adjustment

CHAPTER 13: Stress and Health (1 week)

• Nature of Stress
• Major Types of Stress
• Responding to Stress
• Effects of Stress
• Health-Impairing Behaviors

CHAPTER 14: Abnormal Psychology (3 weeks)

• Definitions of Abnormality
• Theories of Psychopathology
• Diagnosis of Psychopathology
• Types of Disorders: Anxiety, Somatoform, Mood, Schizophrenic, Organic, Personality, Dissociative

CHAPTER 15: Treatment of Psychological Disorders (2 weeks)

• Treatment Approaches
• Modes of Therapy
• Community and Preventive Approaches

CHAPTER 16: Social Psychology (3 weeks)

• Person Perception, Forming Impressions of others
• Attribution Process: Explaining Behavior
 • Interpersonal Attraction: Liking and Loving
• Attitudes: Making Social judgments
• Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
• Group Behavior
• Prejudice

REVIEW & PRACTICE

The remaining class time will be spent reviewing and practicing for the AP Psychology Exam.