Psychology is definitely one of the more popular under this section, probably because it looks at human behavior more objectively than the other two in that psychology is considered a science. Psychology is also popular in the media- as seen in popular television series such as Criminal Minds. Students are exposed to psychology in and outside of school, which makes it more applicable to them than other areas of study.
I think it is important to incorporate all three of these sub-topics into every day teaching because it helps students become more well-rounded. When they are studying history, they will be able to understand the choices people made thanks to their understanding of the human psyche. In my classroom, I want to add more empathy to my lessons so even when we are talking strictly history, students can get in the shoes of the people of the past and understand the shifts in culture, the choices made, and the occasional tormented figure- what led people like Adolf Hitler into infamy? Was it genetic? Embellishing history with the interesting topics covered in sociology, anthropology, and psychology makes learning about the past more interesting because the people of the past become more real. One great tool for teaching the behavioral sciences in the classroom is this PBS link which explores the impact that war has on people- thus tying war and psychology. Psychology of War
The BIG QUESTION- How can we get anthropology some recognition in high school?
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