These resources were designed to help high school psychology teachers infuse diversity and representation across the high school psychology curriculum. They align to the five content pillars of the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula (APA, 2022).
Resources for each pillar (i.e., broad content area of the course) include:
- Research summaries that demonstrate how psychological science explores the diversity of human experience
- Profiles of psychologists that enhance the visibility of those who have historically been underrepresented in textbooks
- Guiding questions designed to cultivate a culturally informed perspective to the study of psychology
- Additional resources such as videos or data points
In keeping with APA’s focus on eradicating racism, the first set of resources focused on racialized identity. A second set of resources focused on disability and neurodiversity posted online in August 2024. APA’s Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) has committed to a third set of resources to focus on national origin and immigration status, expected to be published in 2025. The Committee will consider how to expand the resources in the future to include additional aspects of human diversity. TOPSS welcomes feedback on these resources.
This set of resources is an APA TOPSS Committee initiative supported by funding from the American Psychological Foundation David and Carol Myers Fund to Support Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools. The resources on racialized identity were developed by Eric Castro, Shawn C.T. Jones, PhD, Allyn Olsen, and Catherine Sanderson, PhD. These resources on disability and neurodiversity were developed by Kara Ayers, PhD, Emily Lund, PhD, Erika Sanborne, and Allison Shaver.
Biological pillar
Includes units on biological bases of behavior, sensation, and consciousness
Cognition pillar
Includes units on cognition, memory, perception, and intelligence
Development and learning pillar
Includes units on life span development, learning, and language
Social and personality pillar
Includes units on social, personality, multiculturalism and gender, and motivation and emotion
Mental and physical health pillar
Includes units on disorders, health, and therapies