| Topic | Lesson Topic | Subtopics | Objectives |
| 1 |
The History of Science In Psychology |
- Origins of Psychology Theories and Methods
- Applied Psychology
- Nature Versus Nurture
|
Define psychology and describe the 4 goals of psychology.
Identify the origins of the field of psychology and analyze how various methods, people and theories have impacted early psychology to evolve into contemporary psychology.
Identify career options in the psychology field, predict future opportunities in the field, and discuss how each career advances or improves the discipline of psychology.
Describe the phrase “nature vs. nurture” and explain how biological and environmental factors influence and determine behavior.
Describe the discipline and practice of sociocultural psychology.
Propose ways in which psychologists can apply their expertise in society.
Analyze how race, culture, and ethnicity influence behavior.
Compare and contrast sub-fields of psychology.
|
| 2 |
Scientific Method In Psychology |
- Scientific Method
- Research Methods
- Ethics and Research In Psychology
|
Define the concept hypothesis and theory, analyze the requirements for using the scientific method in psychology, and identify the importance of objectivity in psychological research.
Analyze research methods in psychology and explain the descriptive research designs.
Identify experiments using correlational and experimental research methods.
Compare and contrast ethical and unethical research, analyze the use of nonhuman animals in research, and identify the ethical principles associated with these studies.
|
| 3 |
Biology and Behavior |
- The Nervous System
- Genetics and Behavior
|
Define the nervous system and analyze how the body works with the nervous system to generate behavior.
Compare and contrast the central, peripheral nervous systems, somatic, and autonomic nervous systems.
Compare and contrast the affects of heredity and experience on behavior.
Identify genes and chromosomes and explain how dominant and recessive genes affect physical and behavioral traits.
|
| 4 |
Sensation and Perception |
Understanding Sensory Processes
Sensory Perception
|
Define sensation and analyze the relationship between sensation and stimuli.
Distinguish among the Gestalt principles and identify the process of sensory perception.
Give examples demonstrating how individual and cultural factors influence perception.
Define Weber's Law and examine how Weber influenced the study of sensory perception.
Identify the effects of sensory restriction.
|
| 5 |
States of Consciousness |
Sleeping and Dreaming
Altered States of Consciousness
Drug Use
|
- Define the stages of sleep and explain the cyclical nature of sleep.
- Compare and contrast REM and non-REM sleep features.
- Distinguish between the states of consciousness and identify and how scientists study psychological states.
- Identify how hypnosis and meditation can affect consciousness.
- Summarize the effects of drug addiction and dependence and produce real life scenarios resulting from drug abuse.
|
| 6 |
Cognitive Development |
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Social Cognition
|
Identify the key features of the definition of learning.
Define classical conditioning and summarize Ivan Pavlov's influence on psychology.
Compare and contrast the conditioning principles of human behavior.
Identify and explain the process of operant conditioning including its connection to the law of effect.
Distinguish between positive and negative reinforcement.
Explain cognitive-social approaches to learning.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of observational and latent learning.
|
| 7 |
Memory |
Remembering and Information Processing
Forgetting
The Biological Memory
|
Identify the three systems of memory theory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
Classify the stages of information processing.
Compare and contrast the four major theories associated with forgetting: decay theory, interface theory, schema theory, and motivated or memory trace theory.
List the synaptic theories of memory. Create an original diagram showing the regions of the brain that influence memory.
|
| 8 |
Intelligence and Reason |
Thinking and Reasoning
Problem Solving
Intelligence
|
Define cognition and identify the processes that underlie decision-making.
Distinguish between concept and prototypes.
Classify and describe the stages of problem solving.
Identify the importance of framing and emotional factors in decision making.
Define intelligence and compare and contrast opposing theories regarding intelligence. Differentiate among the biological, genetic, and cultural explanations for intelligence.
|
| 9 |
Motivation and Emotion |
Perspectives On Motivation
Levels of Motivation
Emotions
|
Distinguish between motivation, emotion, and instinct.
Explain the biological and psychological regulation of hunger and thirst.
Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
Identify Maslow's hierarchy of motives and describe each approach.
Explain the function of emotions.
Identify and classify the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory, and the cognitive theory of emotion.
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| 10 |
Developmental Psychology |
Theory of Basic Processes
Embryo to Childhood
Developmental Stages of Adolescence
Adulthood
|
Define developmental psychology and identify major research approaches.
Describe the interplay of nature and nurture in development.
Identify stages of development from fertilization to infancy.
Identify the cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of development during childhood.
Identify the cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of development from childhood to adolescence.
Identify and describe the research results on adolescent development.
Explain physical and psychological changes during puberty.
Identify the cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of development during adulthood.
Identify and describe the psychological, biological, and cognitive changes involved with aging.
|
| 11 |
Gender and Sex |
Gender Identity
Gender Differences
Sexuality
|
Distinguish among the definitions of sex and gender.
Define gender identity and gender role and develop real life scenarios that explain how these constructions impact individual behavior.
Identify and describe research regarding gender similarities and differences.
Distinguish between biological and evolutionary theories of gender differences.
Define the psychoanalytic and social learning theories of gender differences.
Analyze and describe the different forms of forced sexual behavior.
Identify the sexual anatomy of males and females.
Identify the human sexual response cycle and explain the biological and evolutionary function of sex.
Describe how AIDS impacted sexual practices and identify the infectious agents that cause STD's .
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| 12 |
Personality |
Trait Influence
Biological and Social Influence
Personality Assessment Methods
|
Define personality and explain how trait theory accounts for individual personality.
Compare and contrast Allport's trait theory with the “five-factor” trait theory.
Identify and describe biological, evolutionary, social, and psychodynamic approaches to understanding personality.
Identify Carl Jung's influence on the study of psychosexual development.
Compare and contrast methods and theories for measuring and assessing personality.
List the ethical issues concerning the usefulness, accuracy, and validity of personality tests.
Discuss the use of objective tests such as the MMPI-2, projective personality test, and the Rorschach test.
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| 13 |
Stress and Health |
Stress and Coping
Effects of Stress on Health
|
Define stress and List examples of each of the sources of stress.
Distinguish between the levels of stress.
List and describe the stages of coping. Identify and describe the methods psychologists use to measure stress.
Define pain and develop pain management techniques.
Describe the human response to stress and list factors that influence reactions to stress.
Explain the relationship between health and stress.
Identify Type A personality and describe the relationship between Type A personality and heart disease.
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| 14 |
Psychological Disorder |
Normal and Abnormal Behavior
Types of Disorders
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
|
Define abnormal behavior and identify different views of abnormal behavior, including biological, cognitive, social, and medical theories.
Distinguish between phobia, social phobia, and agoraphobia.
Distinguish between anxiety disorder and panic anxiety disorder and identify causes for anxiety. Distinguish among psychological and organic brain disorders.
Compare and contrast somatoform and dissociative disorders.
Define psychotherapy and describe the ways it is used to help people.
List the ethical standards for psychotherapy.
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| 15 |
Social Psychology |
- Social Influence
- Attitude and Behavior
- Prejudice
|
- Define social psychology describe its application.
- Define attitude and identify three components of attitudes.
- Compare and contrast the characteristics of the speaker, the message, and the listener that affect persuasive communication.
- Identify the relationship between prejudice and stereotypes and describe how these constructions affect our attributions about other people's behavior. Distinguish among the explanations for prejudice and identify some effective techniques for combating prejudice.
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Good
It's a good course. The key to passing the course is getting to know the principles from the book.
It's a good course. The key to passing the course is getting to know the principles from the book.
A lot of work, but worth it.
A lot of work, but worth it.
You must retain a lot of information. The questions on the final exam are very tricky.
As long as you read the book and pay attention to what you read you will do fine in this class.
This course is about general psychology.
Very good course for a general introduction to psychology.
Very good course for a general introduction to psychology.
This is a good but difficult course. I learned a lot about every aspect of psychology and it gave me many opportunities to seek help if I needed it.
This is a good but difficult course. I learned a lot about every aspect of psychology and it gave me many opportunities to seek help if I needed it.
Good
You must retain a lot of information. The questions on the final exam are very tricky.
This is a basic and simple overview of psychology.
L
As long as you read the book and pay attention to what you read you will do fine in this class.
This course is about general psychology.
This is a basic and simple overview of psychology.
L
lengthy but interesting
It's mostly based on book information. The online model seemed obsolete when it comes to the tests.
It was very helpful to know how to find things in the book associated with this class.
This course was very interesting. This was my first time learning this, and straighterline's textbook was very clear and I understood everything. I would forsure recommend it to anyone!
You must read the text because the tests are based upon the text and not the slides that are posted online
Basic psychology, mind and body
The course was fun, and the textbook and information are well chosen. however, the answers tend to be incorrect on the exams and I always need to double check with the course people. It is a little tedious.
I felt I learned more from this course rather than a traditional one. Plus, I was able to do the course on my own schedule.
Enjoyed it overall as psychology is a topic that has always interested me.
I like it that i could take it online and learn about the mind people go through
I like the fact that I can do these courses on my own time, with affordable costs.
I liked the class presentations and reading assigments.
I liked the flexibility of when and how I would complete the course.
I liked the review games!
I really like the additional resources throughout the lessons, like the videos and interviews.
The assignments we fine and easy
The computer lessons were interesting and fun.
The course was direct to the point, read, study, do review activities, and test. Perfect.
The lesson presentations were very helpful and went along with the chapter/chapters that it was covering. The review activities were also very helpful.
The review activities are very helpful, it helps break up the monotony of reading my textbook.