by: Anaiya Patel

AP Psych (AP Psychology) is an Advanced Placement course for high school students that introduces the systematic, scientific study of human behavior and mental processes, covering topics like brain function, learning, cognition, motivation, personality, and social behavior.

Ap Psych isn’t just your average class, but rather it’s a life-long lesson. Mr. Spoerer, the AP Psychology teacher at IA says, “We live in a world where we are constantly interacting with others.” Mr. Spoerer thinks there are not many jobs where you’re working alone, so it’s a class worthy to take, as it’s something that applies to everyone regardless of pathway.

Fun Fact: Although it’s virtually impossible to increase your IQ, EQ, or emotional intelligence, is a skillset that can be actively developed through conscious practice, unlike IQ, which is largely influenced by genetics and tends to remain stable throughout adulthood.  AP Psychology plays a role in sharpening and honing EQ. Mr. Spoerer states, “AP Psych teaches discipline throughout life and big goals; it’s not just a grade but instead about what you get out of it.” Compared to other classes, students learn about the basis of behavior and biological responses such as epigenetics. Examples of classwork and projects students participate in and work on during class would be how neurons transmit hormones or character brain mapping project. According to Mr. Spoerer, the character brain mapping project is where students choose a character designated for each component of the brain corresponding to their personality or what they do. To put into perspective, let’s take Taylor Swift. Students will connect the mic she’s uses to sing to the Brocas, which is a part of the brain whose purpose is for speech production. Mr. Spoerer states, “These group-based projects help students understand the brain as it associates with something students are passionate about because it’s easier to learn something that you are already familiar with.”

Mr. Spoerer thinks AP Psychology is useful because it teaches others how to be empathetic, think, and behave. Empathy is an important skill to learn as it allows you to form a bond with people on a deeper level, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively. AP Psychology is more than just a class, it’s fulfilling as it gives students an understanding of their families, friends, peers, and themselves. Humans are naturally social creatures. We are drawn to community and desire a sense of belonging. Fitting in isn’t about submitting to social norms but rather understanding them, how they work, and why there are set up in the first place. Once you grasp these key aspects and factors, you will be able to learn to empathize with others, learn to manage situations, regulate emotions, and much more. The great thing about psychology is that it’s limitless. For example if you interested in the well-known perplexing question of nurture vs. nature as it continues to trouble minds with its complexity well then you’re in luck as AP Psychology offers not just fascinating dilemmas but actually dives and explores into the functions of the brain in correlation to the many wonders of the world.

All in all, AP Psychology helps foster and establish relationships, improves self-awareness, provides the foundation for critical thinking skills, and overall benefits both individuals and overall society.