This document outlines the course structure and content for a Year 10 psychology class that runs for one semester with 4 periods per week. It will include several graded assessment tasks like empirical research reports, presentations, and tests. Some of the topics that will be covered include the history and methods of psychology, adolescent behavior, human relationships, dreams, intelligence and personality testing, happiness, sport psychology, the brain, and forensic psychology. Students will also be required to find a psychology-related article over the holidays and write a one paragraph summary.

1. YEAR 10 PSYCHOLOGY 2012

2. UNIT OUTLINE
• Year 10 psychology runs for one semester
• There will be 4 periods a week
• It is a requirement that all course work be
completed in order to achieve an „S‟- satisfactory
completion
• There will also be several graded assessment
tasks throughout the semester, for example
“empirical research activity” report, multimedia
presentations, tests.

3. Psychology as a Science
• Based on observable evidence
• Systematic and methodical
• Objective
• Alters current theories in light of new evidence

4. SOME AREAS OF INTEREST IN
THE STUDY OF PSYCHOLOGY

5. Psychology past and present
• History of psychology
• Areas of psychology
• Methods of research

6. Adolescent Behaviour
• Hikikomori
• Brain development

7. Human Relationships
• Body Language
• Facial Expressions
• Can you spot a liar?

8. In Your Dreams
• Why do we sleep?
• What are dreams?
• Theories of dreaming

9. Mind Matters
• Psychological assessment
• Intelligence testing
• Personality testing

10. Rorschach Ink Blot test
• Popular responses- bat, butterfly, moth.
• When seeing card I, subjects often inquire on how they should proceed,
and questions on what they are allowed to do with the card (e.g. turning it)
are not very significant. Being the first card, it can provide clues about how
subjects tackle a new and stressful task. It is not, however, a card that is
usually difficult for the subject to handle, having readily available popular
responses.
• http://successintegrated.com/assets/Uploads/MBTI/Simpsons-
Personality-Test.pdf

11. Intelligence Test Questions
• Rearrange the following letters to make a word and choose the category in
which it fits.
RAPETEKA
A. city, B. fruit, C. bird, D. vegetable
• Which number should come next in this series?
25,24,22,19,15
A. 4, B. 5, C. 10, D. 14
• Which word does not belong?
apple, marmalade, orange, cherry, grape
• The day before the day before yesterday is three days after Saturday. What
day is it today?
A. Monday, B. Tuesday, C. Wednesday, D. Thursday, E. Friday

12. The Pursuit of Happiness
• Positive psychology
• Happiness and humour
• Study of
habits, practices and
ways of thinking that
help people stay
mentally well

13. Winning Attitudes: sport psychology
/performance psychology
• Goal setting
• Motivation
• Visualisation

14. Beautiful Minds
• Birth of the brain
• Anatomy of the brain
• Tricks of the brain

15. Brain Function and Structure
• http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=HVGlfcP3ATI

17. Forensic Psychology
• Criminal and civil involvement
• Organised and Disorganised crime
• Role of the forensic psychologist
• Profiling

18. Holiday Homework
• Find one article from a magazine, newspaper or
online source on a psychology-related topic of
interest to you.
• Write a one-paragraph summary on your
article, covering what it‟s about and why you
found it interesting.
• Bring the article and your summary back with
you on Day 1 next year.
▫ http://www.netvibes.com/bvanderkley#Year_10_Psychology