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Course Description
Course Description
Psychology is the science of understanding and predicting human behavior. This elective course examines the scientific study of all forms of behavior: e.g. learning, growth and development, thinking, feeling, perceiving, social behavior, personality development, typical behavior and the physiological process underlying behavior.
Quarter 1
Unit 1: Intro to Psychologists and Research Methods
Time Allocation: 5 weeks
I can explain what psychology is and describe the positive psychology movement.
I can discuss the roots and early scientific foundations of psychology.
I can summarize the main themes of the approaches to psychology.
I can evaluate the areas of specialization and careers in psychology.
I can explain the scientific method.
I can describe the three types of research that are used in psychology and common research settings.
I can explain research samples and settings.
I can distinguish between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
I can describe some research challenges that involve ethics. Explain the need to think critically about psychology research
Unit 2: Understanding the Brain
Time Allocation: 5 weeks
I can describe the parts and functions of the nervous system.
I can explain what neurons are and how they process information.
I can identify the brain’s levels, structures, and functions.
I can state what the endocrine system is and how it affects behavior.
I can describe the brain’s capacity for recovery and repair.
I can explain how genetics increases our understanding of behavior.
I can describe basic principles of sensation and perception.
I can explain how the visual system enables us to see and, by communicating with the brain, to perceive the world.
I can understand how the auditory system registers sound and how it connects with the brain to perceive it.
I can explain how the skin, chemical, kinesthetic, and vestibular senses work.
I can identify the everyday practices associated with protecting vision and hearing.
Quarter 2
Unit 3: Personality Traits and Development
Time Allocation: 4 weeks
I can define personality and summarize the psychodynamic perspectives.
I can describe humanistic perspectives.
I can describe the trait perspectives.
I can describe the personological and life story perspectives.
I can describe the social cognitive perspectives.
I can describe the biological perspectives.
I can characterize the main methods of personality assessment
Unit 4: Development
Time Allocation: 2 weeks
I can explain how psychologists think about development.
I can describe children’s development from prenatal stages to adolescence.
I can discuss adult development and the positive dimensions of aging.
I can discuss important factors in successful adult psychological development.
I can describe and define learning.
I can explain classical conditioning.
I can explain operant conditioning.
I can understand observational learning.
I can describe the role of cognition in learning.
I can identify biological, cultural, and psychological factors in learning.
Unit 5: Abnormal Psychology and Mental Disorders
Time Allocation: 2 weeks
I can define the characteristics, explanations, and classifications of abnormal behavior.
I can distinguish amongst the various anxiety and anxiety-related disorders.
I can compare disorders involving mood and emotion.
I can describe dissociative disorders. Characterize schizophrenia.
I can identify the behavior patterns typical of personality disorder
READING, WRITING, SPEAKING & LISTENING STANDARDS (Integrated Throughout)
I can cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
I can determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships between the key details and ideas.
I can evaluate authors' differing points of view on the same historical event or issue by assessing the authors' claims, reasoning, and evidence.
I can integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, and in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
I can write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
I can conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem.
I can gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively.
I can initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on historical topics, texts, and issues building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
I can present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, and alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed.
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