Psychology 12 AP September 2016

Ms. Vangelista

Psychology 12 AP

Course Outline

Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology is designed to meet the curricular demands of that of a first year university/college psychology course. Students must be willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum that will include some self-directed units and readings. AP Psychology is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals in context. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Many of the topics include controversial subject matter and will require you to be mature, respectful, and think critically as well as possess an openness to others perspectives and theories. Students will learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice ( The pace of this course requires students to keep up to date with course readings, assignments and tests. If you are looking for “cutty – cutty, pastey – pastey projects”, this is NOT the course for you! There is an AP exam that requires preparation.

This year’s AP Psychology exam isMonday, May 1, 2017.

Copying assignments, projects or labs, looking at another's paper during a test or quiz, or any other means by which another's work is used for personal gain is considered cheating and academic dishonesty. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Such dishonesty is not a reflection of one's academic ability but rather is a reflection of one's character and or lack of time management and will result in meaningful consequences for all parties involved. If there are issues around deadlines, YOU MUST see me privately before deadlines to discuss the issues.

  • If you require assistance with proper research procedures and documentation, please seek help before the assignment is due!!!!

Parent Contact

Parents interested and concerned about their child's progress are encouraged to contact the classroom teacher by telephone at Burnaby Mountain at 604.296.6870 or by email at . Please be patient awaiting a response.

Unit by Unit Outline

Unit One: Methods, Approaches & History
A. Logic, Philosophy & History of Science
B. Approaches
  • Biological
  • Behavioral
  • Cognitive
  • Humanistic
  • Psychodynamic
  • Sociocultural
  • Evolutionary
C. Research Methods
  • Experimental, Correlational, & Clinical Research
  • Statistics
  • Descriptive
  • Inferential
  • Ethics in Research
/ Prologue & Chapter 1
2-4 % of Multiple Choice Section
Chapter 1
8-10% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit 2: Biological Bases for Behavior
A. Physiological
Techniques
(eg. imaging, surgical)
B. Neuroanatomy
C. Functional Organization
of Nervous System
D. Neural Transmission
E. Endochrine System
F. Genetics
G. Evolutionary
Psychology / Chapter 2 & Chapter 3
8-10% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Three: Sensation & Perception
A. Thresholds & Signal Detection
B. Sensory Mechanisms
C. Attention
D. Perceptual Processes / Chapter 5 & Chapter 6
6-8% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Four: States of Consciousness
A. Sleep & Dreaming
B. Hypnosis
C. Psychoactive Drug Effects / Chapter 7
2-4% of Multiple Choice Section
MIDTERM EXAM
Unit Five: Learning
A. Classical Conditioning
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Cognitive Processes
D. Biological Factors
E. Social Learning / Chapter 8
7-9% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Six: Cognition
A. Memory
B. Language
C. Thinking
D. Problem Solving & Creativity / Chapter 9 & Chapter 10
8-10% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Seven: Motivation & Emotion
A. Biological Bases
B. Theories of Motivation
C. Hunger, Thirst, Sex, & Pain
D. Social Motives
E. Theories of Emotion
F. Stress / Chapter 12, Chapter 13 & Chapter 14
6-8% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Eight: Developmental Psychology
A. Life-Span Approach
B. Research Methods
C. Heredity –Environment Issues
D. Developmental Theories
E. Dimensions of Development
  • Physical
  • Cognitive
  • Social
  • Moral
F. Sex Roles & Gender Roles / Chapter 4
7-9% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Nine: Personality & Intelligence
Personality
A. Personality Theories & Approaches
B. Assessment Techniques
C. Growth & Adjustment
Intelligence
D. Testing & Individual Differences
E. Standardization & Norms
F. Reliability & Validity
G. Types of Tests
H. Ethics & Standards in Testing
I. Intelligence Issues / Chapter 15 & Chapter 11
10-14% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Ten: Abnormal Psychology
A. Definitions of Abnormal
B. Theories of Psychopathology
C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology
D. Types of Disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Somatoform
  • Mood
  • Schizophrenic
  • Organic
  • Personality
  • Dissociative
/ Chapter 16
7-9% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Eleven: Treatment of Psychological Disorders
A. Treatment of Approaches
  • Psychodynamic
  • Humanistic
  • Behavioral
  • Cognitive
  • Biological
B. Modes of Therapy
C. Community & Preventative Approaches / Chapter 17
5-7% of Multiple Choice Section
Unit Twelve: Social Psychology
A. Group Dynamics
B. Attribution Theory
C. Individual Perception
D. Conformity, Compliance, & Obedience
E. Attitudes & Attitude Change
F. Organizational Behavior
G. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior
H. Cultural Influences / Chapter 18
8-10% of Multiple Choice Section
AP EXAM
May 1, 2017
Review Sessions

1