AP Psychology

Avon Lake City Schools 

Curriculum Framework

AP Psychology

Course Overview:

The AP Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of

human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies

that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts,

and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation

and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing

and individual differences, treatments of psychological disorders, and social psychology.

Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including

ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, evaluate claims and evidence, and

effectively communicate ideas.

The AP Psychology course is designed to be the equivalent of the Introduction to Psychology

course usually taken during the first college year.  Students are required to take the AP exam in May

Prerequisite: Junior or Senior Status. An “A” semester grade in the Social Studies course the student is taking at the time of recommendation day, a”B” grade or better semester grade in AP US History, or an “A” grade in regular Psychology, along with teacher recommendation and department approval for both.

Textbook (Title and Publishing Company): 

Myers’ Psychology for AP (second edition), Worth Publishers

Online/Supplemental Materials:

College Board AP Classroom, Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google 

Forms, EdPuzzle, Kahoot

Assessments: 

Quarter 1: Summative Assessments, Formative Assessments, Projects

Quarter 2: Summative Assessments, Formative Assessments, Projects

Quarter 3: Summative Assessments, Formative Assessments, Projects

Quarter 4: Summative Assessments, Formative Assessments, Projects, AP Exam




Content/Topics/Learning Goals

Subject to Pacing and Schedules

1st Quarter- 

  • Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

    • Historical figures in psychology

    • Theoretical approaches to describing behavior

    • Branches of Psychology

    • Research methods used by psychologists

    • Application of research design and statistical analysis

    • Ethical guidelines

  • Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior

    • Interaction of inherited traits, environment, and evolution in shaping behavior

    • Structures/functions of biological systems, including endocrine and nervous system

    • Brain function, neural firing, and the influence of medication

    • Study of the brain and research techniques for studying structure and function

    • States of consciousness, including sleeping and dreaming

    • Addiction and drug dependence

2nd Quarter- 

  • Unit 3: Sensation and Perception

    • Basic principles of how humans experience and process stimuli

    • The role of experience and culture in perception

    • The mechanisms of the 5 senses and sensory disorders

  • Unit 4: Learning

    • Influential researchers and theories of learning

    • Results of famous learning experiments

    • Types of learning

    • Types of conditioning and their effects

    • Social and cognitive factors in learning

3rd Quarter- 

  • Unit 5: Cognitive Psychology

    • The cognitive and physiological processes that make up memory

    • Forgetting and typical memory errors

    • The biological basis of short- and long-term memory

    • Creative thinking and problem-solving strategies

    • Biases and errors in thinking

    • Defining and measuring intelligence

    • The processes of learning and using language

  • Unit 6: Developmental Psychology

    • Physical and social development in childhood

    • Theories of cognitive development in childhood

    • Adolescent development and challenges

    • Adulthood and aging

    • Theories of moral development

    • Gender and sexual orientation

  • Unit 7: Motivation, Emotion, and Personality

    • Theories of motivation behind human and animal behavior

    • Major theories of emotion

    • The effects of stress

    • Conceptions of personality, including behaviorist, social cognitive, humanistic, and trait theories

    • Research and assessments to measure personality

4th Quarter -  

  • Unit 8: Clinical Psychology

    • Standards for diagnosing and approaches to explaining psychological disorders

    • Neurodevelopmental and schizophrenic spectrum disorders

    • Bipolar, depressive, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders

    • Dissociative, somatic, and trauma- and stress-related disorders

    • Substance abuse, eating disorders, personality disorders, and related conditions

    • Historical developments in psychological treatment

    • Modern treatment options and methods

  • Unit 9: Social Psychology

    • How social and cultural categories like gender and race can impact self-concept and behavior

    • The factors that lead people to form and change attitudes

    • Group dynamics, including conformity, compliance, and obedience to authority

    • Types of behavior caused by the presence of others

    • Bias, prejudice, and discrimination

    • Altruism and aggression

    • The variables that contribute to attraction

Last Updated:

September, 2023