This one credit elective course is an introduction to the study of human behavior through a highly personalized examination of traditional topics. Specific content areas include the brain and nervous system, consciousness, emotions and stress, sleep and dreams,sensation and perception, learning and conditioning, human sexuality, and abnormal psychology. Methods of study include experiments, case studies, independent research and a seminar approach.

Course Content by Month:

September/February    October/March    November/April    December/May    January/June

September/February

Standards/Units

Introduction to psychology. Consciousness Brain and Nervous System.

Benchmarks

Identify and evaluate methods of psychological research. Describe levels and states of consciousness. Describe the hypnotic state. Distinguish between instincts, drives, and reflexes. Map the lobes and hemispheres of the brain and explain their functioning.

Assessments

Application of research methods. Brain research project. Participation in discussions. Quizzes/Tests.

Activities/Events

ESP Demonstration. Video analysis. Self-analysis of hemisphere dominance. Biofeedback training.

Career Links

Investigate careers in neurology and brain research.

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October/March

Standards/Units

Sleep and Dreams. Emotions. Stress

Benchmarks

Describe a normal sleep pattern. Investigate the causes and symptoms of major sleep disorders. Compare and contrast various dream theories. Analyze theories of emotions. Interpret kinesics cues. Identify causes of stress. Investigate the role of stress in pathology. Analyze theories and symptoms of depression/suicide.

Assessments

Assignments on sleep and sleep disorders. Interpretation of experiments/studies. Analysis of types of conflict. Participation in discussions. Quizzes/Tests.

Activities/Events

Field trip to sleep disorder center. Maintain a dream notebook. Dream analysis activity. Self analysis of emotional temperament. Video analyses. Individual stress assessments.

Career Links

Investigate careers in sleep pathology. Investigate careers in psychoneuroimmunology.

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November/April

Standards/Units

Sensation and Perception. Learning, conditioning, and memory intelligence.

Benchmarks

Review how the various senses function. Analyze human perceptual organization and influences. Explain the principles involved in the various types of learning. Distinguish between classical and operant conditioning. Explain short-term vs. long-term memory. Identify and compare theories on intelligence. Evaluate reliability/validity of measurements of intelligence. Describe the two extremes of intelligence.

Assessments

Participation in discussions. Design a classical conditioning experiment. Quizzes/Tests.

Activities/Events

Demonstration of subliminal messages in advertising. Experiments on mnemonic devices. Sample I.Q. testing.

Career Links

Investigate careers in experimental psychology and psychological testing.

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December/May

Standards/Units

Personality Theory. Psychology of Love and Sex.

Benchmarks

Describe, analyze, and compare various personality theories. Compare psychodynamic theories with behavioral, humanistic, and trait approaches. Ivcestigate methods used to evaluate personality. Examine psychosexual roles and their development from a cross-cultural approach. Analyze data from studies on human sexuality. Analyze choices in mate selection and resulting relationships.

Assessments

Case studies. Data analysis. Quizzes/Tests.

Activities/Events

Video analyses. Guest speaker on personality testing. Examination of data collected by Kinsey, Masters & Johnson.

Career Links

Investigate/describe careers in sex therapy.

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January/June

Standards/Units

Abnormal Psychology.

Benchmarks

Identify and describe the role of various defense mechanisms. Classify and describe psychological disorders. Describe and evaluate the various psychotherapies.

Assessments

Group projects/presentations. Quizzes/Tests.

Activities/Events

Use of the DSM-IV. Case studies. Video analyses.

Career Links

Investigate and describe careers in psychotherapy and psychiatry.

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