Psychology

Theme 1: History of Psychology

• History
  • Identify each theorist with respective theory/perception. (1.1.A)
  • Recognize theory components. (1.1.B)
  • Classify specifics of career requirements in psychology. (1.1.C)
  • Explain the work of a psychologist (1.1.D)
  • Summarize the careers and specialized fields in psychology. (1.1.E)
  • Outline requirements needed to becomes a psychologist. (1.1.F)
  • Describe psychologists’ contributions to everyday life. (1.1.G)
• People, Groups, and Cultures
  • Identify parts of the brain and their  inter-relationships. (1.5.A)
  • Identify the four nervous systems (1.5.B)
  • Illustrate the four nervous systems and their functions. (1.5.C)
  • Examine how the body adapts to the demands of its environment. (1.5.D)
  • Investigate the stages of awareness, including sleep, reaction to drugs, daydreaming, and controlled consciousness processes. (1.5.E)
  • Identify and describe the parts and functions of the nervous system. (1.5.F)
  • Identify and discuss the structure, functions and different ways psychologists study the brain. (1.5.G)
  • Give examples of the effects of heredity and environment on behavior and summarize research on the effects of heredity and environment on behavior. (1.5.H)
  • List, describe and summarize the states of consciousness (sleep, hypnosis, biofeedback, meditation, and drug use.) (1.5.I)
  • Identify, define, and describe the nature and functioning of sensory organs and the principles involved in perception. (1.5.J)

Theme 2: Learning and Thinking Processes

• History
  • Identify the basic theories regarding memory, thought, and learning. (2.1.A)
  • Compare and contrast views on intelligence. (2.1.B)
  • Describe and outline the principles and techniques of classical conditioning and operant conditioning. (2.1.C)
• People, Groups, and Cultures
  • Describe three processes and stages of memory. (2.5.A)
  • Demonstrate principles of memory processes. (2.5.B)
  • Propose how learning environment can enhance or inhibit learning abilities. (2.5.C)
  • Identify and cite the principles involved in cognitive learning, modeling and behavior modification. (2.5.D)
  • Explain the three processes of memory and  describe the processes involved in forgetting. (2.5.E)
  • Describe the theories of motivation and emotion, including Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. (2.5.F)

Theme 3: Developmental & Social Psychology

• History
  • Identify the various developmental theorists and their ideas, including  Piaget’s  theories of cognitive development, Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning and Erikson’s stages of Psychosocial Development (3.1.A)
• People, Groups,  and Cultures
  • Explain how biological, intellectual, emotional, and moral development affect behavior. (3.5.A)
  • Demonstrate appropriate developmental task for people at varying ages. (3.5.B)
  • Compare and contrast the various developmental theories. (3.5.C)
  • Appraise the effectiveness of various theories in explaining human development. (3.5.D)
  • Describe the physical and perceptual development of newborns and children. (3.5.E)
  • Summarize the cognitive-development theory. (3.5.F)
  • Describe theories of social development. (3.5.G)
  • Describe the physical changes that characterize adolescence. (3.5.H)
  • Describe research related to the sexual attitudes and roles of adolescents. (3.5.I)
  • Describe and outline the processes that characterize adolescence. (3.5.J)
  • Describe and characterize the physical, social, and emotional changes that occur during adulthood. (3.5.K)
  • Identify and summarize how people physically, mentally and socially adjust to old age. (3.5.L)

Theme 4: Personality and Individuality

• History
  • Explain how individuals adjust to societal mores. (4.1.A)
  • Examine the environment for cliques, their values, and taboos. (4.1.B)
  • Trace the origin of attitudes and describe their function. (4.1.C)
• People, Groups,  and Cultures
  • Summarize the communication and persuasion processes. (4.5.A)
  • Describe attitude changes and prejudice in relationship to stereotypes and roles. (4.5.B)
  • Identify and discuss group dynamics and the influence of groups on an individual’s behavior. (4.5.C)
  • Identify, describe and explain types of groups and the interactive patterns within groups. (4.5.D)
  • List, discuss and explain the factors involved in interpersonal and personal relationships including friendship, parent/child, and love relationships. (4.5.E)
  • Hypothesize factors essential to long-term relationships. (4.5.F)
  • Specify the biological and cultural influences that affect gender role. (4.5.G)
  • Identify differences in psychological disorders. (4.5.H)
  • Delineate between syndromes for a variety of mental disorders. (4.5.I)
  • Assess the concepts of abnormality. (4.5.J)
  • Differentiate stress reactions and alternative responses. (4.5.K)
  • Identify and define the types and sources of stress, explain the psychological, physical and behavioral reactions to stress, and explain and describe strategies for coping with stress. (4.5.L)
  • Distinguish between the concepts of normality and abnormality. (4.5.M)
  • Define psychological disorder, identify, describe and explain the major types of disorders, and assess the forms of therapy for disorders. (4.5.N)

Theme 5: Research

• History
  • Interpret maps, statistics, charts, diagrams, graph, pictures, audiovisual materials, continua, written resources, art and artifacts. (5.1.A)
  • Examine Wilhelm Wundt’s impact on psychological research.  (5.1.B)
• People, Groups,  and Cultures
  • Develop a research plan and identify appropriate resources for investigating social studies topics. (5.5.A)
  • Distinguish between and analyze primary sources and secondary sources. (5.5.B)
  • Distinguish between fact and opinion and analyze sources to recognize bias and points of view. (5.5.C)
  • Create maps, charts, diagrams and graphs to assist in analyzing and visualizing concepts in social studies. (5.5.D)

Theme 6: Current Events

• History
  • Examine current events as they relate to psychology. (6.1.A)
• People, Groups,  and Cultures
  • Integrate the disciplines of social studies into psychology by examining current and multicultural perspectives. (6.5.A)