Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the mind and behavior. In a high school psychology course, students are introduced to the scientific method and the core ideas and theories of psychology. As a result, students gain an understanding of the complexities and diversity of human thought and behavior.

Scientific Inquiry

SS.P.1

Development of psychology as an empirical science:

  • Define psychology as a discipline and identify its goals as a science.
  • Describe the emergence of psychology as a scientific discipline.
  • Describe perspectives employed to understand behavior and mental processes.
  • Explain how psychology evolved as a scientific discipline.

SS.P.2

Major subfields within psychology:

  • Discuss the value of both basic and applied psychological research with human and non-human animals.
  • Describe the major subfields of psychology.
  • Identify the important role psychology plays in benefiting society and improving people’s lives.

SS.P.3

Research methods and measurements used to study behavior and mental processes:

  • Describe the scientific method and its role in psychology.
  • Describe and compare a variety of quantitative (e.g., surveys, correlations, experiments) and qualitative (e.g., interviews, narratives, focus groups) research methods.
  • Define systematic procedures used to improve the validity of research findings, such as external validity.

Biopsyhological

SS.P.4

Structure and function of the nervous system in human and non-human animals:

  • Identify the major divisions and subdivisions of the human nervous system.
  • Identify the parts of the neuron and describe the basic process of neural transmission
  • Differentiate between the structures and functions of the various parts of the central nervous system.
  • Describe lateralization of brain functions.
  • Discuss the mechanisms of, and the importance of, plasticity of the nervous system.

SS.P.5

Structure and function of the endocrine system:

  • Describe how the endocrine glands are linked to the nervous system.
  • Describe the effects of hormones on behavior and mental processes.
  • Describe hormone effects on the immune system.

SS.P.6

The interaction between biological factors and experience:

  • Describe concepts in genetic transmission.
  • Describe the interactive effects of heredity and environment.
  • Explain how evolved tendencies influence behavior.

SS.P.7

Methods and issues related to biological advances:

  • Identify tools used to study the nervous system.
  • Describe advances made in neuroscience.
  • Discuss issues related to scientific advances in neuroscience and genetics.

SS.P.8

The processes of sensation and perception:

  • Discuss processes of sensation and perception and how they interact.
  • Explain the concepts of threshold and adaptation.

SS.P.9

The capabilities and limitations of sensory processes:

  • List forms of physical energy for which humans and non-human animals do and do not have sensory receptors.
  • Describe the visual sensory system.
  • Describe the auditory sensory system.
  • Describe other sensory systems, such as olfaction, gustation, and somesthesis (e.g., skin senses, kinesthesis, and vestibular sense).

SS.P.10

Interaction of the person and the environment in determining perception:

  • Explain Gestalt principles of perception.
  • Describe binocular and monocular depth cues.
  • Describe the importance of perceptual constancies.
  • Describe the nature of attention.
  • Explain how experiences and expectations influence perception.

Cognition

SS.P.11

Encoding of memory:

  • Identify factors that influence encoding.
  • Characterize the difference between shallow (surface) and deep (elaborate) processing
  • Discuss strategies for improving the encoding of memory.

SS.P.12

Storage and retrieval of memory:

  • Describe the differences between working memory and long-term memory.
  • Identify and explain biological processes related to how memory is stored.
  • Analyze the importance of retrieval cues in memory.
  • Discuss strategies for improving the retrieval of memories.

SS.P.13

Basic elements comprising thought:

  • Define cognitive processes involved in understanding information.
  • Define processes involved in problem solving and decision making.
  • Discuss non-human problem-solving abilities.

SS.P.14

Obstacles related to thought:

  • Describe obstacles to problem solving.
  • Describe obstacles to decision making.
  • Describe obstacles to making good judgments.

Development and Learning

SS.P.15

Classical conditioning:

  • Describe the principles of classical conditioning.
  • Describe clinical and experimental examples of classical conditioning.
  • Apply classical conditioning to everyday life.

SS.P.16

Operant conditioning:

  • Describe the Law of Effect.
  • Describe the principles of operant conditioning.
  • Describe clinical and experimental examples of operant conditioning.
  • Apply operant conditioning to everyday life.

Sociocultural Context

SS.P.17

Social cognition:

  • Describe attributional explanations of behavior.
  • Describe the relationship between attitudes (implicit and explicit) and behavior.
  • Identify persuasive methods used to change attitudes.

SS.P.18

Social influence and relations:

  • Describe effects of others’ presence on individuals’ behavior.
  • Discuss how an individual influences group behavior.
  • Discuss the nature and effects of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.
  • Describe determinants of prosocial behavior.
  • Discuss influences upon aggression and conflict.
  • Discuss factors influencing attraction and relationships.

SS.P.19

Social and cultural diversity:

  • Define culture and diversity.
  • Identify how cultures change over time and vary within nations as well as internationally.
  • Discuss the relationship between culture and conceptions of self and identity.
  • Discuss psychological research examining race and ethnicity.
  • Discuss psychological research examining socioeconomic status.
  • Discuss how privilege and social power structures relate to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.

Individual Variations

SS.P.20

Perspectives on motivation:

  • Explain biologically based theories of motivation.
  • Explain cognitively based theories of motivation.
  • Explain humanistic theories of motivation.
  • Explain the role of culture in human motivation.

SS.P.21

Perspectives on emotion:

  • Explain the biological and cognitive components of emotion.
  • Discuss psychological research on basic human emotions.
  • Differentiate among theories of emotional experience.

SS.P.22

Perspectives on abnormal behavior:

  • Define psychologically abnormal behavior.
  • Describe historical and cross-cultural views of abnormality.
  • Describe major models of abnormality.
  • Discuss how stigma relates to abnormal behavior.
  • Discuss the impact of psychological disorders on the individual, family, and society.

SS.P.23

Categories of psychological disorders:

  • Describe the classification of psychological disorders.
  • Discuss the challenges associated with diagnosis.
  • Describe symptoms and causes of major categories of psychological disorders (including schizophrenic, mood, anxiety, and personality disorders).
  • Evaluate how different factors influence an individual’s experience of psychological disorders.

SS.P.24

Perspectives on treatment of Psychological Disorders:

  • Explain how psychological treatments have changed over time and among cultures.
  • Match methods of treatment to psychological perspectives.
  • Explain why psychologists use a variety of treatment options.

Application

SS.P.25

Career options:

  • Identify careers in psychological science and practice.
  • Identify resources to help select psychology programs for further study.

SS.P.26

Educational requirements:

  • Identify degree requirements for psychologists and psychology-related careers.
  • Identify resources to help select psychology programs for further study.

SS.P.27

Vocational applications of psychological science:

  • Discuss ways in which psychological science addresses domestic and global issues.
  • Identify careers in psychological science that have evolved as a result of domestic and global issues.