First Semester

I. Introduction to Psychology (p. 6-18)

A. Wundt to today: Psychology History
B. 5 Perspectives to Psychology
C. Psychology's Occupations
+Locus of Control Experiment
¤Introduction Test

II. Methodology (p. 26-42)

A. Methods of Research
B. Statistical Analysis
C. Experimental Ethics
+Statistical Experimentation
+*lntroductory Experiment and Write up
¤Methodology Test

III. The Brain (p. 47-64, 66-74, 76-83)

A. Neuron functioning / Neurotransmitters
B. Nervous System
C. Parts of the Brain and their Roles
D. Split Brain / Diseased Brain Imaging
+Left-Right Brain Experiment
+*Autonomic Nervous System Experiment & Writing
Brain Mapping
¤Brain Test

IV. The Senses (p. 87-122)

A. How the Senses Work: A Background
B. The 7 Senses
Sensation Project
+Sensation Experiments
¤Sensation Test

V. Perception (p. 126-131, 133-156)

A. Perceptual Illusion
B. Gestalt Psychology and Laws
C. Attention
+Perception Experimentation
¤Perception Test

Vl. Consciousness (161-167, 169-177, 180-187)

A. A guide to the Mind
B. Sleep, Dreams and Types of Dream Analyses
C. Drugs and Altered Consciousness
*+Dream Analysis and Writing
*DEA Psychoactive Drug Research & Writing
¤Consciousness Test

Vll. Learning (p. 192-196, 200-220, 223-224)

A. Classical Conditioning
B. instrumental / Operant Conditioning
C. Observational / Skill Learning
+Virtual Rat Conditioning
¤Learning Test

VlIl. Memory (p. 228-248, 251-260)

A. Memory: Storage Retrieval and more
B. Mnemonics
C. Forgetting and Amnesia
+Word Memory / Number Memory Experiment
+*Tic Tac Toe Memory Experiment and Write up
¤Memory Test

IX. Cognition (p. 265-277, 278-295)

A. Thought Processes, Reasoning & Scaffolding
B. Mental Sets and other False Thought Processes
C. Language Acquisition
D. Creativity and Problem Solving
+Language Experiment
¤Cognition Test

X. Emotion / Motivation (p. 337-348, 357-377)

A. Theories of Emotion
B. How we are Motivated: Achievement & Conflict
C. Hunger, Thirst & Disorders
+Emotion / Motivation Project
¤Emotion Motivation Test

+*Final Semester Experiment Write up
Final Exam

Second Semester

I. Intelligence (p. 304-331)

A. What is Intelligence? Definitions and Background
B. Intelligence Theories / Nature v. Nurture
C. Mental Deficiency
+*lntelligence Experiment and Write up
¤Intelligence Test

II. Gender and Love (p. 412-414, 588-592)

A. Gender and Definitions
B. Freudian/Modern Psychoanalytic Love Theories
C. Triangular Theory / Developmental Perspective D. Behaviorist Theory of Love
+Gender Bias Experiment
+*Love Case Study and Writing
¤Gender / Love Test

III. Personality (p. 458-485)

A. Psychodynamic Approach
B. Humanistic Approach
C. Cognitive - Behaviorist Approach
D. Trait Approach
Interview and personality analysis
*Personality Analysis Writing
¤Personality Test

IV. Childhood (383-398, 402-407, 408-412)

A. Piaget's Stages
B. Erickson's Stages
C. Freud's Stages
+*Children's Journal and Comparison Write up
¤Childhood Test

Vl. Adolescence / Adulthood (p. 420-425)

A. Marcia's Adolescent Identity Development
B. Stages of Adulthood
C. Thanatology
+Yearbook Experiment / Cool Hunting
+Adult Attitude Experiment
¤Adolescent / Adulthood Test

Vll. Health and Stress (p. 430-443, 445-447, 449-454)

A. Stress: The Physiological Role
B. Stress: Coping Techniques
C. How Healthy are You?
*Stress Journal and Writing
+Healthy Behavior Project
¤Health / Stress Test

VlIl. Abnormal Psychology / Mental Health (p. 491-499, 501-504, 507-528, 532-548, 557-562)

A. What is Abnormal?
B. Disorders: Definitions and causes
C. Disorders: Treatment and therapy
*Abnormal l-Search Write up
¤Abnormal Test

IX. Social Psychology (p. 570-586, 596-611, 614-618, 620-625)

A. Stanley Milgram to Stanford Prison
B. Attitude, Altruism and Aggressiveness
C. Cooperation, Competition & Conflict
+Social Situation Experiments
¤Social Psychology Test

+*Final Semester Experiment Write up
Final Exam
Disclaimer: This is an honors class with college credit available. Therefore it will include more work on your part. This class may be too advanced or fast-paced for some high school students or you may not have the time in your schedule for all the work necessary. Yet this may be your most valuable class - that is up to you. The keys to this class are as follows:

¤Memory - You will be expected remember many terms, theories and names in psychology. Each unit test will taken without the use of notes. Only on the final exam will students be allowed to use any and all notes. This is Retention - the ability to retain what you need to know.

Analysis / Research - You will be responsible for reading and critically understanding psychology, its theories and what impact this has made on our world. Some information will come from lecture, some from the book In other instances, self-analysis will be used to help us understand psychological concepts. This is Analytical Intelligence - an important skill necessary in thinking.

+Experimentation - There will be an attempt to make this as much of a "hands-on" class as possible. Like other science classes, learning is accomplished through trial and error. But unlike other science classes, many experiments are done on human beings. Laws and ethics preclude us from many experiments on human test subjects, though when appropriate, some may be performed in class. You will then be expected to design your own experiment to conduct at the end of the semester. This is Creative Intelligence - the ability to take your knowledge and see it in a different light.

*Writing - You will be expected to properly write out the conclusions to your individual experiments. You will be expected to use the proper style of notation adopted by the American Psychological Association (APA Style). You will also be expected to write at a much higher level than the average student at North. That includes NO grammatical, syntax or punctuation errors. This is Practical Intelligence - the ability to use what you know.

Grading scale

100-92 A 79-78 C+ 61-60 D-
91-90 A- 77-72 C
89-88 B+ 71 -70 C Anything below 59% is
87-82 B 69-68 D+ a failure and will receive an
81-80 B- 67-62 D F grade

Course Grades

Your final grade will be comprised of your quarter grades, final paper and final exam. The breakdown is as follows:

40% First Quarter 40% Second Quarter 10% Final Paper 10% Final Exam