Social Psychology (Grade 10-12) 1/2 Credit

Prerequisite: None

Psychology is the study of the human and animal mind and behavior. Social Psychology is the study of how the social environment affects an individual’s behavior and personality.  This course will provide the best that Psychology and Sociology have to offer.  In addition to providing a general overview of the discipline of psychology, students will learn how individual psychology is impacted by the cultural values, beliefs, and norms that are transmitted through agents of socialization.  Social Psychology topics will range from the study of the functional: methods of psychology/sociology, consciousness, memory, behavior, human psychosocial development, socialization, cultural variation; to the dysfunctional: mental disorders, crime, deviance, power differences, and discrimination.  Students will also develop an understanding of the different approaches psychologists and clinicians take in explaining many aspects of human behavior.  This class will be project based and students will be expected to read case studies, watch and analyze movies, participate in group discussions and create projects. The class will end with a capstone project in which students will apply what they have learned in the course to analyze fictional characters in popular literature/film (D.C. or Marvel heroes/villains, Star Wars characters, Harry Potter, Disney, etc)  This is a great class for those students interested in Sociology and Psychology and/or are looking to study these fields in college.