Atkins Academic & Technology High School

AP Psychology

This course is an introduction to psychology, the study of human behavior and the mind. As a survey course for an entire topic, the curriculum is very broad. We will cover history and approaches, research methods, biological bases of behavior, developmental psychology, sensation, perception, states of consciousness, learning, cognition, testing and individual differences, motivation, emotion, personality, abnormal psychology, treatment, and social psychology. After the AP exam, we will read The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo. In order to mimic the rigor of a college class, there is reading every night in the textbook. The primary grades are a quarter test and a quarter paper, adding up to 8 major grades the entire year. This is a challenging course, but the content is enjoyable.