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Variations in Individual & Group Behaviour

Unit Plan

Psychology 40S

Julie Lex

University of Winnipeg

Practicum Block V

November 24h, 2022

UNIT PLAN – PSYCH 2

Variations in Individual & Group Behaviour

Big Questions:

• How do we process and use information about social experiences? What about bias?
• How do our attitudes and behaviour change in response to other people?
• What are the patterns of behaviour in groups? How do groups influence our attitudes and
behaviour?
• How do our attitudes develop and change?
• How do you differentiate between normal, abnormal, and disordered behaviour?
• How do psychological disorders affect behaviour?
• How do you treat psychological disorders?

Unit Overview:
The unit focus is Theme 5 from the Manitoba curriculum: Variations in Individual and Group
behaviour. The intended topics to be covered include psychopathology and social psychology.
Subtopics can be found in the list below.
Lesson Style:
• Lessons will be mini presentations using google slides.
• Lessons will be structured to ensure holistic student understanding.
• Following lectures, students will either work on assigned associated mini activities or
classroom assignments.
• All google slides presentations as well as resource handouts will be uploaded to google
classroom.
• Lessons will involve visual, auditory, and participatory components.
• Lessons will include formative and summative assessment.
• Lessons may be differentiated to meet student needs.
Topics to be covered (time permitting):
• Intro to Psychopathology
o Anxiety Disorders
o Obsessive–Compulsive and Related Disorders
o Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
o Dissociative Disorders
o Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
o Mood Disorders
o Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
o Personality Disorders
• Intro social psych
o Attitudes
o Prejudice and Discrimination
o Attraction and Love
o Social Perception
UNIT PLAN – PSYCH 3

o Social Influence
o Aggression
o Group Behaviour
Additional Resources:

o The Experiment (movie)

o Lie to Me (tv show)
o Bailey Sarian (youtube)
o Textbook (Intro Psych 6 by Spencer A. Rathus)
o Handouts as required
o Weblinks as required
o 4x videos for FFF (Famous Fun Fridays)
o Social Psychology Resources (Tara Winger)
Assessment Types:
• Mini activities following lectures
o E.g., web quest, handout with questions, mini oral quiz – whatever pertains to the
lecture as needed
o These will be pass/fail
• 2x small assignments (one for each main topic)
o Typography assignment
▪ Students will create a typographic image of a serial killer or researcher of
their choosing
▪ Assignment will involve research on the person and integrate knowledge
from lectures
▪ Assignment may utilize CAD or be hand-drawn
▪ Template will be provided
▪ Rubric will be provided
o Playlist assignment
▪ Students will select a psychological disorder, research characteristics of
the disorder, and create a playlist that describes it
▪ Students will integrate knowledge from lectures
▪ Students must explain why they chose the songs they did according to
psychological research
▪ Outline will be provided
▪ Rubric will be provided
• Final culminating assignment
o Body language research assignment
o Students will research body language in regards to truthfulness, deception,
emotion, etc. and create a “how-to guide” to analyzing behaviour
o Guide may be written, drawn, audio-recorded, or other
o Rubric will be provided
UNIT PLAN – PSYCH 4

Weighting:
Typography Assignment …………………………………………………………..…………..25%
Playlist Assignment ……………………………………………………………….………..…25%
Body Language Research Assignment …………………………………………………….….30%
Mini Activities (FFF included) (pass/fail) …………………………………………………….20%
Total: …………………………………………………………………………………………100%

Additional Comments:
• Students may hand in work at any time up until the final marking date for the term.
• Alternative formatting will be provided for students who require it.
• Differentiation of assignments is possible by student request.
• Students may turn in work that is hand-written or typed.

Important Dates:
Thursday November 24th: Begin Practicum Teaching Block V
Monday December 5th: Sharon Ste. Marie Observation (Psychology)
Wednesday December 14th: Last day for students to hand in work for marking
Monday December 12th: Sharon Ste. Marie Observation (Psychology)
Wednesday December 21st: End of Practicum Teaching Block V

Curriculum – Grade 12 Psychology:

Curriculum goals to be attained (time permitting)

Topic 1: Psychological Disorders and Treatments

• 5.1.1 Differentiate between normal, abnormal, and disordered behaviour.

• 5.1.2 Discuss the major categories of disorders.
• 5.1.3 Distinguish the common characteristics of disorders and cite examples.
• 5.1.4 Identify the principal methods used to treat individuals with psychological
disorders.
UNIT PLAN – PSYCH 5

Topic 2: Social and Cultural Dimensions of Behaviour

• 5.2.1 Demonstrate an understanding of person perception, attraction, social judgment,

and attitude formation.
• 5.2.2 Identify basic social and cultural categories and discuss how these affect behaviour.
• 5.2.3 Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of the presence of others on individual
behaviour.
• 5.2.4 Describe how social structure can affect intergroup relations.
• 5.2.5 Discuss the nature and effects of bias and discrimination toward groups such as
indigenous peoples, immigrants, and refugees.
• 5.2.6 Discuss the circumstances under which conformity, compliance, and obedience are
likely to occur.
• 5.2.7 Discuss the nature and benefits of altruism in society. Demonstrate an
understanding of the role of aggression in society.