Unit 5 - Lesson 3
AP Psychology Lesson: Neurodevelopmental and Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders
Unit: Mental and Physical Health | Lesson: 3 of 8 | Topic: Neurodevelopmental and Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders
AP Exam Weighting: 15%–25%
Instructions: Complete this lesson during class by filling in the blanks and answering questions. All information needed is provided or will be researched in class. This lesson prepares you for the AP Psychology exam by exploring neurodevelopmental and schizophrenic disorders. Use the provided spaces to write your answers clearly, focusing on applying concepts critically.
Warm-Up
Purpose: Get you thinking about how brain-based disorders affect behavior.
Questions:
- How might a child’s difficulty with social skills indicate a disorder?
- Why might someone with hallucinations struggle in daily life?
Your Answers: Write a short response (1–2 sentences) for each question.
Key Concepts
Instructions: Read the information below and answer the questions to learn core AP concepts. For definitions, write them in your own words based on the content or look up a different definition if directed by your teacher (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar).
Content: Neurodevelopmental disorders include conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD, affecting brain development and behavior (e.g., social challenges in ASD). Schizophrenic spectrum disorders involve symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking (e.g., schizophrenia). Example: A child with ADHD struggles to focus in class, impacting learning. The dopamine hypothesis links schizophrenia to excess dopamine activity. These disorders influence behaviors like communication or emotional regulation. Genetic and environmental factors (e.g., prenatal stress) contribute to their development. Diagnosis relies on DSM-5 criteria.
- Define neurodevelopmental disorders in your own words: _______________________________
- Define schizophrenic spectrum disorders in your own words: _______________________________
- Define dopamine hypothesis in your own words: _______________________________
- Explain how a neurodevelopmental disorder influences a behavior, using a specific example:
- Explain how a schizophrenic spectrum disorder influences a behavior, using a different example:
- How does the dopamine hypothesis explain symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Why might environmental factors contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders?
- How could DSM-5 criteria ensure accurate diagnosis of these disorders?
Guided Activity
Instructions: Work in pairs to complete the two tasks below. Write your answers and be prepared to share one key point from each task with the class.
Task 1: Scenario Analysis: Scenario: A child with autism struggles to make friends due to social challenges. Analyze how a neurodevelopmental disorder and DSM-5 criteria contribute to their diagnosis. For example, consider how symptoms or diagnostic standards guide identification.
Your Response for Task 1: Explain the role of each concept in the diagnosis.
Class Share for Task 1: Note one point you’ll share.
Task 2: Case Application: Imagine a person with schizophrenia hears voices, disrupting their work. Apply the concepts of schizophrenic spectrum disorders and the dopamine hypothesis to explain their behavior. For example, evaluate how symptoms or brain chemistry affect their actions.
Your Response for Task 2: Apply the concepts to explain the behavior.
Class Share for Task 2: Note one point you’ll share.
Class Assignment: Refer to the assignment file for this lesson
Instructions: Complete the tasks below to deepen your understanding of neurodevelopmental and schizophrenic disorders.
Study Summary 1: A 2019 study found that early intervention improved social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Question 1: How does this study demonstrate the impact of neurodevelopmental disorders on behavior, and what might enhance intervention outcomes?
Study Summary 2: A 2020 study showed that dopamine imbalances were linked to hallucinations in schizophrenia patients.
Question 2: Evaluate how this study illustrates the dopamine hypothesis, and suggest one limitation of its findings.
AP Exam Connection: This practices analyzing and evaluating research, a key skill for FRQs.
AP Exam Practice
Instructions: Answer the question below. We’ll review answers as a class to learn exam strategies.
Free-Response Question (FRQ):
Explain how neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenic spectrum disorders, and the dopamine hypothesis interact to influence a specific behavior (e.g., social interaction or emotional regulation). Provide one example for each factor (neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenic spectrum disorders, dopamine hypothesis) and analyze how they interact to shape the behavior.
Closure
Instructions: Write a brief summary (2–3 sentences) of two key ideas you learned today about how neurodevelopmental and schizophrenic disorders affect behavior.
Extended Practice
Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.
- Review your answers from this lesson.
- Write a detailed paragraph (5–7 sentences) applying today’s topic to a real-life scenario (e.g., how a disorder affects someone’s school or work life). Include references to neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenic spectrum disorders, and the dopamine hypothesis, and explain their interaction.
- Find a short article or study on neurodevelopmental or schizophrenic disorders (e.g., via apa.org) and write 2–3 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).