Course Overview

In this High School course, students investigate why human beings think and act the way they do. This is an introductory course that broadly covers several areas of psychology. Instructional material presents theories and current research for students to critically evaluate and understand. Each unit introduces terminology, theories, and research that are critical to the understanding of psychology and includes tutorials and interactive exercises. Students learn how to define and use key terms of psychology and how to apply psychological principles to their own lives. Unit topics in this one-semester course include methods of study, biological basis for behavior, learning and memory, development and individual differences, and psychological disorders.

Course Outline

Unit 1: History: Methods of Study

Students are introduced to some of the history of psychology and learn about theories, research methods, and ethical concerns.

• What is Psychology?
• Early Attempts to Understand Behavior
• First Psychology Laboratory
• Theories and Approaches
• Research Methods and Ethical Concerns

Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior

Students learn how the brain and the nervous system affect behavior.

• How the Brain is Studied
• The Brain
• The Neuron and the Nervous System
• Sensation
• Perception
• Consciousness

Unit 3: Learning and Memory

Students explore the concepts of classical and operant conditioning, and investigate how memory works.

• Classical Conditioning
• Operant Conditioning
• Social-Cognitive Learning
• Memory
• Retrieval and Forgetting

Unit 4: Development and Individual Differences

Students learn about developmental stages of children and adults and consider the concept of nature vs. nurture.

• Prenatal Development and Infancy
• Childhood and Adolescence
• Adulthood
• Personality and Individual Differences
• Testing and Individual Differences

Unit 5: Stress and Mental Illness

Students learn about stress and the history of abnormal behavior and investigate some of the major disorders and treatment options.

• Stress
• History of Abnormal Behavior
• Disorders
• Treatment of Psychological Disorders