PSY 111: Basic Principles of Psychology (Fall, 2001)
Dr. Stephen Dine Young
Office: Science Center 156
Office Hours: MW 1-3; T 12-1; & by appointment
Phone: 866-7319
e-mail: youngst@hanover.edu
Class Times: MWRF; 9-9:50
Text
Tavris, C. & Wade, C. (2001). Psychology in perspective (3rd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Course Description and Goals
The primary goal of this course will be to introduce students to the basic conceptual approaches of modern academic psychology. This introduction will come through a combination of lectures, class discussions, class demonstrations, readings and writing assignments. Learning in different ways and on different levels will be emphasized.
Psychology is an extremely diverse discipline and a wide range of topics will be discussed, such as the neuroanatomy of the brain, the training of animal behavior, the workings of memory, the behavior of people in crowds, and the interpretation of dreams. These topics will be drawn together by looking at psychological phenomenon through the lense of five different perspectives--biological, behavioral (learning), cognitive, sociocultural and psychodynamic. When taken together, these psychological perspectives will help to illuminate the ways that people think and act in the world.
Exams
There will be 3 regular in-class exams (worth 100 point each) and one final exam (worth 125 points). The final exam will be partially cumulative. The questions will be of a variety of types including multiple choice, definition, short answer and short essay. Many of the broad, framing questions from which test questions will be drawn will be given in lecture from class to class, and class activities will serve to answer the questions. Some questions will be drawn exclusively from reading material not directly covered in class. A study guide articulating broad topic areas will be provided to students prior to each exam.
Written Work & Homework Assignments
Throughout the course of the semester, there will be five homework assignments worth 10 points each. Most of these will involve a small amount of writing. These assignments are intended to enhance learning by encouraging students to think critically and by preparing students for particular classroom activities. These assignments may be announced the day before they are due. Homework turned in a day late will be subject to a 5 point deduction. Homework turned in later will not be accepted.
A final project worth 100 points will be due the last week of class. This project can be on just about any topic related to psychology. The main goal of the final project will be to demonstrate students’ assimilation of the five perspectives. The project will document specific insights/study results/speculations/theories/observations, etc., that are closely associated with each of the perspectives. The paper will have a research component to it. The assignment will be explained in more detail as the course progresses, and there will be several check-in dates for different phases of the project. Late projects will be subject to a 10% reduction for each weekday they are late.
Attendance, Preparation & Participation
Class attendance is expected and will be taken for each class. Students are allowed two unexcused absences throughout the term without penalty. Unexcused absences after the first two will result in a deduction of 5 points per class from the student’s overall grade.
Also, regular, informed participation is expected. This means that not only should students speak up, they should be prepared for class. Participation will be worth 25 points and will be factored in based on the following scale:
Outstanding 25 points
Very Good 20 points
Good 15 points
Average 10 points
Below Average 5 points
Poor 0 points
Students will have the opportunity to make suggestions about what participation grade they think they deserve.
Extra Credit
Throughout the semester, there may be a few extra credit opportunities for participation in psychological research being done by faculty and other students. Students will receive 4 points for every ½ hour of participation time, up to a maximum of 16 extra credit point. After that, it’s for fun. [Note: There will be alternative activities available for each research opportunity so that students will not feel coerced into participating in research.]
Grading
(Total of 600 points)
540-600 A
480-539 B
420-479 C
360-419 D
359 & Below F
Assignment of +’s & -’s will be made based the overall distribution of scores and special considerations such as degree of improvement.
Class Schedule
Date Topic Chapter
9/3 Introduction to Psychology 1
.
9/5 Introduction to the Perspectives 1
9/6, 9/7 & 9/10 Research Methods 2
9/12 Intro to the Biological Perspective 3
9/13 Human Similarities; Language Development 3
9/14 Human Differences; Heritability 3
9/17 & 9/19 Neurons & Neurotransmitters 4
9/20 The Brain 4
9/21 Clinical Neuropsychology --
9/24 Evaluating the Biological Perspective Essay #1
9/26 Exam #1; Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & Essay #1
9/27 Introduction to the Learning/Behavioral
Perspective; Classical Conditioning 5
9/28 Skinner & Operant Conditioning 5
10/1 Evaluating the Learning/Behavioral Perspective Essay #2
10/3 Intro to Cognitive Perspective 7
10/4 Social Learning & Gender 6
10/5 Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study --
10/8 & 10/10 Piaget & Cognitive Development 7
10/11 Intelligence 7
10/12 Reasoning; Cognitive Errors 7
10/15 Fall Vacation--No Class
10/17 & 10/18 Memory 8
10/19 Evaluating the Cognitive Perspective Essay #3
10/22 Exam #2; Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 & Essays #2, 3 --
10/24 Intro to the Sociocultural Perspective/
Group Behavior 9
10/25 & 10/26 Authority & the Milgram Study 9
10/29 Attitudes & Motivation 9
10/31 Cultural Psychology 10
11/1 Cross Cultural Relationships 10
11/2 Culture and the Self 10
11/5 Evaluating the Sociocultural Perspective Essay #4
11/7 Intro to Freud & Psychodynamic perspective 11
11/8 More Freud 11
11/9 Jung 11
11/12 Evaluating the Psychodynamic perspective Essay #5
11/14 Exam #3; Chapters 9, 10, 11 & Essays #4, 5 --
11/15 Putting It All Together--Sex & Drugs Essay #6
11/16 Putting It All Together--Movie Viewing --
11/19 Erikson & The Development of Identity 11
11/21- 11/23 No Class; Thanksgiving Break
11/26 Interpretation of Dreams; Process of Interpretation --
11/28 Creativity & Imagination --
11/29 The Humanistic Perspective 11
11/30 Kohlberg, Gilligan & Moral Development 7
12/3-12/7 Mental Disorders & Treatment 12
Final Projects Due 12/3
Week of 12/10 Final Exam (as per college schedule)