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AP PSYCHOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE
History & Approaches and Research Methods Sensation and Perception
Textbook: Unit 1 (pages 2-15) Textbook: Unit 4 (pages 115-169)
Unit 2 (pages 19-46) Objectives:
Objectives: Contrast the processes of sensation and perception.
Define psychology and trace its historical development. Distinguish between absolute and difference thresholds.
Compare and contrast the seven major psychological Identify the structures of the ye and explain their function in
perspectives. vision.
Identify basic and applied research subfields of psychology. Describe the operation of the sensory systems (five senses).
Identify basic elements of an experiment (variables, groups, Assess the different theories of color vision.
sampling, population, etc.). Explain the monocular and binocular cues used in depth
Compare and contrast research methods (case, survey, perception.
naturalistic observation). Classify theories of form and motion perception.
Explain correlational studies. Identify the structures of the outer ear and explain their
Describe the three measures of central tendency and function in audition.
measures of variation. Explain the chemical senses of olfaction and gustation and
Discuss the ethics of animal and human research. how they interrelate.
Identify the specialized cells in pressure, pain, and
Biological Basis of Behavior temperature sensation.
Textbook: Unit 3 (pages 51-110) Compare kinesthesis to the vestibular senses
Objectives:
Describe the structure of a neuron and explain neural States of Consciousness
impulses. Textbook: Unit 5 (pages 175-210)
Describe neural communication and discuss the impact of Objectives:
neurotransmitters. Define the different levels of consciousness and theories of
Classify and explain major divisions of the nervous system. attention.
Describe the functions of the brain structures (thalamus, Describe the cyclical nature and possible functions of sleep.
cerebellum, limbic system, etc.). Compare differences between NREM and REM sleep.
Identify the four lobes of the cerebral cortex and their Identify the major sleep disorders.
functions. Discuss the content and possible functions of dreams.
Discuss the association areas of the cortex. Discuss hypnosis, noting the behavior of hypnotized people
Explain brain lateralization and the split-brain studies. and claims regarding its uses.
Describe the nature of the endocrine system and its Discuss the nature of drug dependence.
interaction with the nervous system. Describe the physiological and psychological effects of
depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens.
AP PSYCHOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE
Learning & Memory Motivation and Emotion
Textbook: Unit 6 (pages 215-249) Textbook: Unit 8 (pages 327-406)
Unit 7a (pages 255-294) Objectives:
Objectives: Compare the early theories to contemporary views on
Explain the process of classical conditioning and its motivation.
components (Pavlov’s experiments). Discuss the theories of hunger and hunger regulation.
Describe the process and elements of operant conditioning Define achievement motivation, including intrinsic and
(Skinner’s experiments). extrinsic motivation.
Describe the process of observational learning (Bandura’s Identify the three theories of emotion (James-Lange,
experiments). Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer).
Discuss the biological and cognitive factors in learning. Describe the physiological changes that occur during
Describe memory in terms of information processing, and emotional arousal.
distinguish among sensory memory, Explain how emotions are measured and studied.
short-term memory, and long-term memory. Describe the biological response to stress.
Distinguish between automatic and effortful processing.
Explain the encoding process (including imagery, Developmental Psychology
organization, etc.) Textbook: Unit 9 (pages 411-473)
Distinguish between implicit and explicit memory. Objectives:
Describe the importance of retrieval cues. Discuss the course of prenatal development.
Discuss the effects of interference and motivated forgetting Explain changes in physical, cognitive, and social
on retrieval. development throughout the lifespan according to Piaget,
Describe the evidence for the constructive nature of memory. Vygotsky, Erikson, Kohlberg, and Gilligan.
Differentiate between continuous and discrete models of
Thinking & Language development.
Textbook: Unit 7b (pages 298-322) Discuss the effect of body contact, familiarity, and styles of
Objectives: parenting on children’s temperament and attachments.
Explain the physiological structures involved in language. Describe the early development of self-concept.
Describe the components of language (phonemes, Distinguish between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.
morphemes, and grammar). Discuss the effects of age on cognitive abilities.
Identify the stages of language development.
Assess the theories of linguistic relativity.
Classify the kinds of thinking.
Explain the strategies and obstacles to problem solving.
Demonstrate an understanding of reasoning and logic.
Evaluate the elements of creativity.
AP PSYCHOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE
Personality Objectives:
Textbook: Unit 10 (pages 479-518) Differentiate and explain the various approaches to
Objectives: disorders.
Describe the psychodynamic theory of personality in terms Understand the aims of the DSM-IV and discuss the
of the interactions of the id, ego, and superego. potential dangers of diagnostic labels.
Identify defense mechanisms and how they protect the Describe each category of disorders and the explanations for
individual from anxiety. the cause from each perspective.
Compare Freud’s theory to neo-Freudian theories. Apply the five main approaches to psychotherapy to the
Discuss the humanistic perspective on personality. different classifications of disorders.
Trace the formation of the trait theory of personality and the Explain the strengths and weaknesses of each model of
methodologies used. psychotherapy.
Explain the role of biology in personality. Discuss eclectic approaches to psychotherapy.
Explain the uses of different projective and objective Identify the common forms of drug therapy and the use of
personality tests. electroconvulsive therapy.
Compare and contrast the different theories of personality. Examine the ethical issues of treating individuals with
disorders.
Intelligence
Textbook: Unit 11 (pages 523-556) Social Psychology
Objectives: Textbook: Unit 14 (pages 643-692)
List and explain the historical concepts of intelligence and Objectives:
intelligence testing. Explain the relationship between attitudes and behaviors and
Describe the importance and types of validity and reliability. how we form and change attitudes.
Evaluate the different contemporary approaches to List and describe attributional heuristics and biases.
intelligence. Assess the different theories of attraction and love.
Identify the factors that influence intelligence. Explain the concepts of obedience and conformity through
Summarize research on the nature/nurture debate concerning the research of Asch and Milgram.
intelligence. Discuss how group interaction can facilitate group
Discuss the two extremes of the normal distribution of polarization and groupthink.
intelligence. Describe the social, emotional, and cognitive factors that
Examine whether intelligence tests are culturally biased. contribute to the persistence of cultural, ethnic, and gender
prejudice and discrimination.
Abnormal Psychology Discuss the issues related to aggression.
Textbook: Unit 12 (pages 561-600) Identify the factors that may facilitate or inhibit
Unit 13 (pages 605-638) performance.
Trace the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviors.
AP PSYCHOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE
