Syllabus

PSY/103 Version 6

Syllabus
College of Social Sciences
PSY/103 Version 6
Introduction to Psychology
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Course Description
This course provides an overview of basic psychological principles that underlie human behavior and reactions
to everyday life. Students are provided an opportunity to apply critical-thinking skills to psychological problems
and issues. The basic tenets of psychology are presented from a historical perspective, with attention to
research-based behavioral science.
Policies
Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained
within the following two documents:

University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document.
Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies
may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed
modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.
Course Materials
Carpenter, S., & Huffman, K. (2010). Visualizing psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Introduction to Psychology

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

1.1 Describe the development of the discipline of psychology.

1.2 Compare and contrast research methods used to examine
psychological phenomena.
1.3 Explain biological influences on the human brain.

Readings

Read Ch. 1 & 2 of Visualizing Psychology.

Review this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Days 1-7

Discussion
Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Days 1-7

Individual
Origins of
Psychology and

Complete the Origins of Psychology and Research Methods

Worksheet located on the student web page.

Day 7

10

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Week Two: Awareness and Learning

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

2.1 Identify processes related to sensing and perceiving information

from the environment.
2.2 Describe factors that influence states of human consciousness.
2.3 Distinguish between different types of learning.

Readings

Read Ch. 46 of Visualizing Psychology.

Review this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Days 1-7

Discussion
Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Days 1-7

Individual
Critical and Creative
Thinking Questions I

Resource: Visualizing Psychology

Read questions 1, 2, & 4 located in Critical and Creative Thinking
Questions in Ch. 4 of Visualizing Psychology.
Answer each question in at least 50 words.

Day 7

Individual
Learning Experience
Paper

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper describing a single, informal

learning experience that someone could have.

Day 7

10

You may describe, for example, how someone could

become afraid of heights, why a particular food or smell moves
him/her emotionally, or why he/she dislikes elevators. The
experience must be concrete and can be a singular experience
or an experience that occurs over a longer period.
Describe the experience by applying learning theories to the steps
involved in the learning experience. Be sure to include the following
in your paper
Identify what you learned from the experience or
experiences.
Describe how your learning could have occurred through
classical conditioning. Identify the unconditioned stimulus, the
unconditioned response, the conditioned stimulus, and the
conditioned response.
Explain how your learning could have occurred through
operant conditioning. Describe the behavior, consequence, and
reinforcement. Indicate the schedule of reinforcement, if
applicable.
Address how your learning could have occurred through
cognitive-social learning.

Conclude by comparing and contrasting classical

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conditioning, operant conditioning, and cognitive-social learning.

Include at least two references from the University Library.
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Week Three: Remembering, Feeling, and Thinking

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

Describe influences on memory functions.

Explain relationships among motivation, emotion, and behavior.
Evaluate major theories of emotion.
Summarize relationships among thinking, intelligence, and
creativity.

Readings

Read Ch. 7, 8, & 11 of Visualizing Psychology.

Review this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Days 1-7

Discussion
Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Days 1-7

Individual
Remembering,
Feeling, and
Thinking Worksheet

Complete the Remembering, Feeling, and Thinking worksheet

located on the student web page.

Day 7

10

Learning Team
Influences on
Behavior and
Psychological
Disorders
Presentation Outline

Create an outline for Week Fives Influences on Behavior and

Psychological Disorders Presentation.
Include the following:

Day 7

10

Introduction
o
o

Include all introductory points.

Include a thesis statement.

Body of presentation
o
Address all main topics and subtopics in the body of
the presentation.
o
Cite original works within the body of the outline
following APA guidelines.

Conclusion: Include preliminary concluding statements.

Reference list: List four references formatted using APA
guidelines.

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Week Four: Development: Physical and Self

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

4.1 Describe influences on physical and cognitive development.

4.2 Explain theories of social, moral, and personality development.
4.3 Compare and contrast personality theories.

Readings

Read Ch. 9, 10, & 12 of Visualizing Psychology.

Review this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Days 1-7

Discussion
Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Days 107

Individual
Lifespan
Development and
Personality Paper

Developmental psychology seeks to address various aspects of

human development, including physical, cognitive, social, moral, and
personality development.

Day 7

15

Due

Points

Discuss the influences on physical and cognitive development in a

1,050- to 1,400-word paper. Select one of the following stages of
development as the focus of your paper.

Infancy (birth to 1 year)

Early Childhood (2-6 years)
Middle Childhood (6-12 years)
Adolescence (12-18 years)
Early Adulthood (18-40 years)
Middle Adulthood (40-60 years)
Late Adulthood (60+ years)

Address the following in relationship to the stage of development

selected:
What factors affect physical development? Consider both
hereditary and environmental influences. Provide examples.
What factors affect cognitive development? Consider both
hereditary and environmental influences. Provide examples.
What factors affect social, moral, and personality
development? Describe the factors by explaining at least two
theoretical perspectives associated with moral, social, and
personality development.
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Include at least
two references from the University Library.

Week Five: Psychological Health and the Social Context

Details

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Objectives

5.1 Explain the role of biological influences on physical and mental

health.
5.2 Evaluate the role of various therapies in treating maladaptive
behavior or mental illness.
5.3 Identify social influences on human thought, feelings, and
behavior.

Readings

Read Ch. 3 & 1315 of Visualizing Psychology.

Review this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Days 1-7

Discussion
Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Days 1-7

Individual
Critical and Creative
Thinking Questions
II

Resource: Visualizing Psychology

Read questions 1-6 located in Critical and Creative Thinking
Questions in Ch. 15 of Visualizing Psychology.
Answer each question in at least 75 words.

Day 7

Learning Team
Influences on
Behavior and
Psychological
Disorders
Presentation

Some psychologists specialize in the study and treatment of

psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia, mood disorder,
eating disorders, and anxiety disorders. For your Learning Team
presentation, research and explain various elements that influence
physical and mental health and behavior.

Day 7

20

Create a 15- to 20-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on one

of the following psychological disorders:

Depression
Bipolar disorder
Anorexia nervosa
Antisocial personality disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Schizophrenia
Borderline personality disorder

Include the following in the presentation:

Describe the general behaviors associated with the disorder.

o
Explain how biological influences play a role.
o
Are there biological reasons why an individual may
exhibit behaviors related to the disorder? Explain your
answer.

Describe how altered states of consciousness related to

sleep, psychoactive drugs, or meditation and hypnosis affect
individuals with the disorder.
Describe how the disorder could affect memory.

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o
Provide a brief description of any biological
influences on the memory of individuals with this disorder.
o
Are there any memory distortions commonly
involved with the disorder?
o
Select two personality theories. Compare and
contrast the theories, describing each theorys application to
your chosen disorder.
o
Evaluate the effectiveness of at least two therapies
used to treat the disorder.
Incorporate at least four scholarly references.
Include detailed speaker notes on each slide. For Local Campus
students, these are oral presentations accompanied by PowerPoint
presentations; for Online Campus and Directed Study students,
these are PowerPoint presentations with speakers notes.
Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines.

Week One Discussion Questions

Psychologists use critical thinking and scientific evidence to meet the goals of psychology. What other areas
could psychologists work in besides therapy? What skills do psychologists possess to support those other
areas? Consider searching the American Psychological Associations website at http://apa.org/ for a
comprehensive list of subdisciplines.

Which of the perspectives of psychology appeals to you most? Why?

Where do you stand on the nature versus nurture debate? What do you think influences our daily behaviors
and decisions more, nature or nurture? Why?

Watch the National Geographic video entitled Cool Quest located on your WileyPlus site.
Open WileyPlus by clicking on the link located on the student website.

Click on Read, Study, Practice.

Select Chapter Two.
Click on National Geographic Videos: Cool Quest.

o
What effects could the study on cool have on the fields of marketing, advertising, business, and
sales? Explain your answers
Week Two Discussion Questions
How do sensation and perception influence learning? Provide examples of how sensation and
perception can support or distract your own learning.

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The reasons why people dream have continually been a mystery. Do you agree with Freuds
explanation of dreaming? Why or why not?
Do you have any superstitions or have you taken part in any superstitions, such as knocking on wood?
What forms of learning occurred to create those superstitions? Provide an example of how specific types of
learning could cause you to stop believing in those superstitions.
How does hypnosis work? Why do you believe it seems to work more effectively with some individuals
than with others?
Week Three Discussion Questions
In a typical workday, which of the needs noted in Maslows hierarchy motivates you to engage in
various activities? Provide specific examples.
How do you define creativity? Are we all creative? What types of things do you think display creativity?
Provide explanations for your responses.
Cultural bias in intelligence testing has been a significant concern of educators and psychologists in
recent decades. Explain the nature of this controversy. What are your own concerns regarding this
controversy? Explain your answer.
What are the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation? Do you believe that age and
gender are influences that drive one to be more intrinsically or extrinsically motivated? Why or why not?
Week Four Discussion Questions

Do you believe that all children progress through the four stages of intellectual development as posed by
Piaget? Why or why not? Provide specific examples.

Do you believe that all individuals experience Eriksons eight stages of psychosocial development? Why or
why not?

Can psychological defense mechanisms be beneficial to humans emotionally or physically? Why or why
not? Provide specific examples.

Objective personality tests are frequently used in hiring practices. Do you agree or disagree that this is a
valid hiring practice? Why?

Week Five Discussion Questions

How are groupthink, conformity, and obedience similar? How are they different? Have you experienced
conformity in a beneficial or detrimental way?

It is common for individuals in stressful careers to experience burnout. What are some occupations that
typically fall into this category? What are some stress management strategies that can help reduce the
prevalence of burnout among employees in those careers?

What are the benefits and risks of using diagnostic labels to describe maladaptive behavior? Explain your
answers.

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Which type of therapy is most interesting to you? Why?

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