Psychology

Why do people act the way that they do? Human behavior is complex, and the reasons behind why people act the way they do can be confusing. In this introductory Psychology course students will delve into the biological, social, cognitive, and developmental forces that shape everything we do. Students will begin to answer questions such as, Why do we sleep? What effect does stress have on our mental health? What is consciousness? How do we learn? And how do our differences affect who we are and how we behave?

Although Psychology is a social science, everything we know about psychology is based on scientific research and inquiry. The course begins by introducing scientific research methods and continues this scientific lens throughout the course. The course will also focus on highlighting diverse voices in the study of psychology. This will be accomplished through the psychologists students study, the psychological research used, and a focus on how multiculturalism and gender influence how individuals view the world. The course is closely aligned with the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula by the American Psychological Association.

Students will use a variety of sources, including an online textbook and case studies, to gain a rich understanding of biological, cognitive, developmental, abnormal, and social psychology. Students will apply their growing knowledge and interpretation of psychology through weekly engagement in discussions as well as written responses demonstrating their synthesis of multiple perspectives. Students will have regular opportunities to apply psychology and psychological principles to their lives and the world around them.

In this standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their coursework.

Acknowledgements

This course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.

Course Objectives

Course Essential Questions:

How does Psychology explain human behavior?
How is the field of Psychology driven by scientific evidence?
How do our innate differences and experiences interact to shape who we are and how we see the world?

Course Learning Objectives:

Describe psychology as a discipline and identify its goals as a science.
Evaluate how biology, the environment, development, and social and cultural factors shape behavior and mental processes.
Apply psychological concepts and skills to real-life scenarios to explain behavior.
Analyze psychological studies to evaluate data and draw valid conclusions about human behavior.
Explain how applied psychological science promotes healthy living and contributes to well-being.