AP Psychology
AP Psychology
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AP Psychology provides an overview of current psychological research methods and theories. Students will explore the therapies used by professional counselors and clinical psychologists and examine the reasons for normal human reactions: how people learn and think, the process of human development and human aggression, altruism, intimacy, and self-reflection. They’ll study core psychological concepts, such as the brain and sense functions, and learn to gauge human reactions, gather information, and form meaningful syntheses. Along the way, students will also investigate relevant concepts like study skills and information retention. The equivalent of a 100-level college survey course, AP Psychology prepares students for the AP Exam and for further studies in psychology and life sciences.
The content aligns to the scope and sequence specified by the College Board and to widely used textbooks.
Prerequisites: Biology
Recommended Grades: For qualified AP students
Length: One semester |
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Unit 1: History and Perspectives of Psychology
Lesson 1: History and Perspectives of Psychology
Study: Development of Psychology as a Science
Learn about the development of psychology from early philosophy to modern science.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: What Do You Know about Psychology? A Common Sense Test
Take a quick quiz to test your knowledge in the field of psychology.
Duration: 0hr 15min
Discuss: Getting Acquainted
Introduce yourself to students and instructor. Share information about yourself, your school, and your interest in psychology
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Study: Modern Perspectives in Psychology
Learn about eight of the most common perspectives in modern psychology.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the history and perspectives of psychology.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Study: Fields in Psychology
Learn about psychologists psychiatrists and counselors.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Careers in Psychology
Match various psychology career titles to their activities.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Practice: Identifying Perspectives in Psychology
Read and sort various scenarios into the corresponding psychological perspectives they represent.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the history and perspectives of psychology.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 point
Lesson 2: Research Methods
Study: Introduction to Psychological Research
Get some explanations regarding the world of psychological research.
Duration: n/a
Explore: Why Learn about Psychological Research? An Introduction
Learn the key elements of how research should be conducted and designed so that you can better evaluate reports that may seem confusing.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Observational Studies
Learn about surveys and other types of information-gathering studies where the researcher does not exert control over the subjects.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Experiments
Learn about studies where the researcher exerts control over the subjects and observes how they react.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Hypothesis Testing
Learn how science answers important 'yes or no' questions.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Hypothesis Testing in Current Research
Explore current research that uses hypothesis testing.
Duration: 1hr
Study: Correlational Research
Learn how to analyze the relationship between two variables such as TV watching and grades.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Discuss: Evaluating Research Design and Ethics
Evaluate the research design and ethical standards of several research proposals.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Practice: Evaluating Scientific Information
Using two different sources, one credible and one noncredible, evaluate the research design of each resource.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Practice: Comprehension Check
See how much you know about basic research methods in psychology.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Discuss: Should Animals Be Used in Research?
Share views and explore the pros and cons of animal research and experimentation in psychology.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of research methods in psychology.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 3: Basic Statistics
Study: Basic Statistics
Learn basic measures of central tendency (averages) and variation (standard deviation).
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: The Normal Distribution z-Scores and Percentiles
Learn how the common 'bell curve' is used to determine probabilities and percentiles.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Descriptive Statistics
Practice what you have learned about descriptive statistics. (Additional Practice)
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Basic Statistics
Calculate, organize and identify basic statistical data.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of basic statistics.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of basic statistics.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 4: History and Perspectives of Psychology Wrap-Up
Review: History and Perspectives of Pyschology
Review the material to prepare for the test.
Duration: 3hr
Review: Advanced Placement Essay Writing
Write Advanced Placement Essays
Duration: 0hr 20min
Test (TS): History and Perspectives of Psychology
Test your understanding of the key concepts covered in this unit.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 60 points
Lesson 5: Diagnostic
Diagnostic: History and Perspectives of Psychology
Test your understanding of the key concepts covered in this unit.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 52 points
Unit 2: Perception and Consciousness
Lesson 1: The Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Study: Organization of the Nervous System
Learn about the main components of the human nervous system and how they work together.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: A Tour of the Brain
Learn about the most complicated system in the known universe.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Hemisphere Specialization
Learn more about brain function and hemisphere specialization.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Methods for Studying the Brain
Learn about the amazing tools that have given rise to exciting new discoveries about the brain.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Neuron Activity
Label the structures of a neuron and complete the accompanying fill-in-the blank activity.
Duration: 0hr 15min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the nervous system, the neuron basic brain structures and their functions, and how scientists study the human brain.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Study: The Endocrine System
Learn about the system of hormones and glands that affects emotions and important processes such as growth.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Sheep Brain Dissection
Learn about brain structures and functions by exploring a sheep's brain which is so similar to our own.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Brain Biology
Create a brain model that displays the various brain structures and outlines their various functions.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the nervous and endocrine systems
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 2: Genetic Influences
Study: Genetics and Genetic Diseases
Learn the basics of genes chromosomes and how they affect behavior.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Nature-Nurture and Twin Studies
Learn more how genes and the environment affect our behavior.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Discuss: Nature or Nurture?
Explore the topic of nature vs. nurture. Use concrete examples to support your view on how environmental or biological factors affect who and what we are.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of genetic influences.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 3: Sensation and Perception
Study: Sensation
Learn how our sense organs take in information from the environment.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Theories of Vision and Hearing
Learn details about how our eyes and ears work.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Theories of Taste Smell and Position
Explore research and details about how we sense tastes and smells.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Explore: Senses of Touch Position and Balance
Explore research and details about the sense of touch position and balance.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Explore: Fun with Your Senses
A fun interactive that teaches you about senses.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Perception
Learn how the brain organizes and interprets information from sense organs.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Perception and Optical Illusions
Explore the connection between perceptual expectations and optical illusions.
Duration: 1hr
Discuss: Extrasensory Perception
Share your view and provide specific examples to support your opinion about whether or not you believe in the existence of ESP.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Explore: Sensation and Perception Jeopardy
Check your understanding of Sensation & Perception with an on-line Jeopardy game.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of sensation and perception.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 4: Consciousness
Explore: Theories of Consciousness
Explore different views on what it means to be conscious.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Study: Sleep and Dreaming
Learn about the stages of sleep and some popular theories about dreaming.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Sleep Inventory and Tips for Sleeping Well
Take a sleep inventory to assess the quality of your sleep and then visit a website for tips on sleeping well.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Discuss: Sleep
Discuss which sleep disorder you think would be the hardest with which to cope. Expand your discussion to also talk about the effect of getting too much or too little sleep on your waking life.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Practice: Stages of Sleep
Discuss the characteristics of the four stages of sleep and explain the distinguishing characteristics of REM and non-REM sleep.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Explore: Dream Interpretation
Keep a dream journal for a night then go on-line to examine its possible latent and manifest content.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Study: Hypnosis
Learn what hypnosis is and how it's used.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of sleep and hypnosis.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Study: Psychoactive Drugs
Learn the major classes of drugs and what they do.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of consciousness.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 5: Perception and Consciousness Wrap-Up
Review: Perception and Consciousness
Review the material to prepare for the test.
Duration: 3hr
Test (TS): Perception and Consciousness
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 60 points
Lesson 6: Diagnostic
Diagnostic: Perception and Consciousness
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 53 points
Unit 3: Thinking and Feeling
Lesson 1: Classical and Operant Conditioning
Study: Classical Conditioning
Learn about the famous experiments with salivating dogs and how a stimulus can become paired with a response.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Little Albert and the Classical Conditioning of a Phobia
Explore a classic and controversial experiment about classical conditioning in human babies.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Study: Operant Conditioning
Learn how rewards and punishments can be used to shape behavior.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of operant conditioning.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Discuss: Conditioning
Using your knowledge of classical and operant conditioning, discuss how phobias develop and how they can be treated.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of classical and operant conditioning
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 2: Cognitive and Social Approaches to Learning
Study: Cognitive and Social Approaches to Learning
Explore some modern theories about how humans learn through problem-solving and working in groups.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: How Do We Teach Our Children?
Use personal examples and supporting content to explain how your parents have used classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning to shape your behavior.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of cognitive and social approaches to learning.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 3: Memory
Study: Memory
Learn about the mechanisms behind memory.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Testing Memory
Try some activities to test your memory and learn some things you can try to improve it.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Forgetting
Identify examples of retroactive and proactive interference, and retrograde and anterograde amnesia.
Duration: 1hr
Explore: Mnemonic Devices
Learn how to use mnemonic devices to improve your recall of content.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Discuss: Mnemonic Devices
Use what you have learned in this lesson to explain how mnemonic devices can be used to improve study time and rate of retention. Give an example of a mnemonic device you created for this unit.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Practice: Memory Practice
Review the “Encoding”, “Storage”, and “Memory Construction” sections in chapter 9 of your textbook.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of memory.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 4: Cognition Problem Solving and Creativity
Study: Cognition
Learn some theories about how we think.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Problem Solving and Creativity
Learn how problem-solving and creativity have been defined and studied.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of cognition problem solving and creativity.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Practice: Making Decisions and Forming Judgments
Students will distinguish between availability and representative heuristics, framing, and schemas.
Duration: 1hr
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of cognition, problem solving, and creativity.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 5: Language
Study: Language Development
Learn how people acquire and use language.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Case Study: Genie the Wild Child
Examine a historical case study of a child raised in isolation.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Discuss: Do Animals Think?
Use concrete examples to support your opinion about whether you believe animals are self-aware and whether they use language.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of language.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 6: Motivation and Emotions
Study: Overview of Motivation
Learn some important theories about motivation including how it can be driven by biological needs.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Motivation of Hunger and Sex
Learn about two basic human drives.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Overview of Emotions
Learn some important theories about how emotions are triggered and created.
Duration: n/a
Explore: Facial Expressions
Explore the role of facial expressions in emotion.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Discuss: Achievement
Using your knowledge of achievement, discuss what you would do as a coach or boss to motivate players or employees to achieve more.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Practice: Theories of Emotion
Student will read a series of scenarios and determine the matching theory of emotion.
Duration: 1hr
Practice: Comprehension Check
Check your understanding of motivation and emotion.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of motivation and emotion.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 7: Stress Health and Coping
Study: Stress Health and Coping
Learn theories about how people respond to stress and how to better cope with it.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Measuring Your Stress Level
Take an on-line evaluation of your current stress level.
Duration: 0hr 15min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of health, stress, and coping.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of stress, health, and coping.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 8: Thinking and Feeling Wrap-Up
Review: Thinking and Feeling
Review material to prepare for the test.
Duration: 3hr
Test (TS): Thinking and Feeling
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 60 points
Lesson 9: Diagnostic
Diagnostic: Thinking and Feeling
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 52 points
Unit 4: Development Testing and Individual Differences
Lesson 1: Studying Child Development
Study: Dimensions of Development
Learn the main dimensions of development including physical cognitive and moral.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Developmental Research
Learn the complex problems and ingenious solutions for studying how people change over time.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Developmental Timeline
Create a timeline that outlines key cognitive, social, and moral developmental stages.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of child development.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 2: Major Theories of Human Development
Study: A Survey of Perspectives and Theories of Development
Learn about some of the most important theories about how people develop.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Parenting Styles
Explore different styles of parenting.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Discuss: Attachment
Discuss how attachment and different parenting styles affect human development.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of theories of development.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the theories of human development.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 3: Personality
Study: Psychodynamic Theories of Development
Learn theories about the role of unconscious conflicts in development.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Personality
Learn about perspectives on personality that stem from ideas about the unconscious.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: The Id, Ego and Superego
Use the on-line activity to develop a mastery of key terms and ideas about psychoanalytic personality theory.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Other Perspectives on Personality
Learn personality from cognitive, humanist, and social perspectives.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Theories of Personality
Explain how the various theories of personality account for an introverted or extroverted personality.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Explore: Personality Testing
Visit designated website to take an on-line personality assessment (Myers-Briggs).
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of personality.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Discuss: Personality
Discuss two theories of personality that you feel best explain the development of your personality.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of personality.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 4: Testing and Individual Differences
Study: How Tests Are Created and Used
Learn about how tests can be used and how they're designed to be as accurate and valid as possible.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Common Types of Psychometric Tests
Learn about tests for intelligence personality and other traits.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Howard Gardner: The World of Multiple Intelligences
Discover your multiple intelligences profile.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Discuss: Intelligence
Apply what you have learned about intelligence to answer one of these questions using examples to support your opinion. Is there a difference between men and woman? Is intelligence a measure of innate ability or simply hard intellectual work? Is intelligence determined at birth or is it something in our lives that we can improve or change?
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Practice: Theories of Intelligence
Match descriptions to their corresponding theories of intelligence.
Duration: 1hr
Practice: Looking at Cultural Bias in I.Q. Testing
Are some students really "smarter" than others, or does culture give some students an unfair advantage in testing?
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of testing and individual differences.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 5: Development Testing and Individual Differences Wrap-Up
Review: Development Testing and Individual Differences
Review the material to prepare for the test.
Duration: 3hr
Test (TS): Development Testing and Individual Differences
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 60 points
Lesson 6: Diagnostic
Diagnostic: Development Testing and Individual Differences
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 50 points
Unit 5: Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology
Lesson 1: Abnormal Psychology
Study: Overview of Abnormal Psychology
Learn how labels such as 'mentally' ill are applied and misapplied.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Major Categories of Disorders
Learn how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual categorizes disorders.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Discuss: Psychological Disorders
Select a psychological disorder that you find intriguing. Discuss the symptoms of the desire and explain why and how you find it interesting.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Study: Diagnosing Disorders
Practice diagnosing disorders according to how they're defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: The Puzzle of Diagnosis
Examine several cases and diagnosis the psychological disorder.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Diagnosing Psychological Disorders
Examine a set of five case studies and give a diagnosis and explaination of the possible psychological disorder based on the symptoms described.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of psychological disorders.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of abnormal psychology.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 2: Treatments
Study: Types of Therapies and Therapists
Learn about different approaches taken by therapists.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Pharmacological Approaches to Treatment
Learn how prescription medications are used to treat mental illness.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Explore: Rogerian Therapy
Experience a short Rogerian therapy session.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Practice: Therapy and Treatment
Explain the differences between various treatment and therapy techniques.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 30 points
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of treatments.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of treatments and therapies.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 3: Attitudes and Social-Cognitive Theories
Study: Attitudes and Social-Cognitive Theories
Learn how people's attitudes and thoughts affect their social behavior.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Examine the Zimbardo Prison Study on the Power of Roles
Examine Zimbardo's historical case study to discover the power of roles and whether it explains the Iraqi prisoner abuse.
Duration: 1hr
Explore: Famous Studies in Social Psychology
Explore famous studies about group influence on individual behavior.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Discuss: Social Psychology
Provide a real life example you have witnessed to support or refute the findings of one of the studies of the prominent researchers in Social Psychology.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Practice: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of attitudes and social-cognitive theories.
Duration: 0hr 10min
Study: Friendliness Friendship and Love
Learn more about what brings people together and prompts them to help each other.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of attitudes and Social-Cognitive theories.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 4: Groups and Intergroup Relations
Study: Concepts in Groups and Intergroup Relations
Learn about a basic concept in social psychology: the group. Learn important ideas and theories about how groups behave and interact.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Study: Contact Theory
Learn how contact between individuals in different groups can increase understanding and cooperation.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Prisoner Dilemma: A Problem of Cooperation vs. Competition
Explore the effect of cooperation and competition on individual decision making.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Explore: Dissonance Theory Persuasion and Consumer Behavior
Use commercials or print advertisement to examine how advertisers entice you to purchase their products.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Discuss: Television and Aggression
Discuss whether violence shown on TV and/or video games creates or releases aggression in teens.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 10 points
Quiz: Comprehension Check
Answer questions to assess your understanding of groups and intergroup relations.
Duration: 0hr 20min Scoring: 10 points
Lesson 5: Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology Wrap-Up
Review: Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology
Review the material to prepare for the test.
Duration: 3hr
Test (TS): Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 60 points
Lesson 6: Diagnostic
Diagnostic: Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 50min Scoring: 53 points
Unit 6: Course Review and Exam
Lesson 1: Course Review
Review: Myers Review Materials
Review the material you studied in this course and get a refresher on how to write a good exam essay.
Duration: 6hr
Lesson 2: Final Course Exam
Exam: Final Course Exam
Take the course final exam to assess your understanding of the content from this semester.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 190 points
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