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CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF BIHAR

SCHOOL OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE
SUBJECT: PSYCHOLOGY-I [GENERAL AND
CRIMINAL PSYOLOGY]
CODE: PSY 361

B.A. LL.B. (HONS.)

SIXTH SEMESTER

FACULTY:

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Objective of the Course:
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by
an organism's physical state, mental state and external environment. It makes one understand as
to why people behave as they do. To the lawyers it helps in understanding whether they are
competent enough to stand trial, and prepare psychological reports to help judges decide on the
most appropriate course of action. Through the psychological theories we can advance our
understanding of a diverse array of practices and processes within the criminal justice system. It
is hoped that after this course the students will have a better understanding of the human persona
and the functioning of brain and will also be able to deal more effectively with human problems.

Objectives of the Course:

 To give an introductory design of the functioning of human mind and persona.

 To help the students in being more effective in understanding and dealing with people.
 To use these skills in their profession.

Teaching Learning Methodology:

 Lecture Method
 Discussion Method
 Presentation/Case analysis
 Court Room Exercise

Evaluation Scheme
 Continuous Assessment (Modular / Snap / Problems Solving) 30%
 Attendance 05%
 Mid-Term Examination 15%
 End-Term Examination 50%

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 COURSE OUTLINE

Module I – Introduction to Psychology:

 Psychology as a Science of Behaviour

 Definition, Nature and Scope
 Research Methods of Psychology
 Fields of Psychology
 Schools of Psychology
 Historical Background

Required Readings:
 Coon,D. Introduction to Psychology U.S.A. Wadworth. 2006 Ch.1, Pp.1-23
 Fernald, A. Introduction to PsychologyWm.C.Brown Publishers, U.S.A.1999 Ch.1, Pp.5-
29
 Morgan, King and Robinson Introduction to Psychology New York:TataMcGraw Hill
2002 Ch.1,Pp.1-34

Module II – Perception:

 Nature and Determinants

 Perceptual Organization
 Form, Space and Depth Perception

Required Readings:

 Morgan, King and Robinson; Introduction to Psychology, New York: Tata McGraw Hill
2008.
 Baron, R.A. (2006). Psychology (5th edition). New Delhi: Pearson Education.

Module III - Learning:

 Meaning and Procedures,

 Classical conditioning (Theory by Pavlov) -Acquisition, Extinction, Generalization,
Discrimination,

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  Instrumental conditioning (Theory by Skinner)- Reinforcers, Shaping of behaviour,
Escape learning, Avoidance learning,
 Cognitive learning (Theories by Menzel, Kohler)- Cognitive maps, Latent learning,
Insight learning

Required Readings:

 Coon,D. Introduction to PsychologyU.S.A.Wadworth. 2006 Ch.9, Pp.274-306

 Fernald, A. Introduction to Psychology. Wm.C.Brown Publishers, U.S.A.1989 Ch.4,
Pp.178-205
 Morgan, King and Robinson Introduction to Psychology New York: TataMcGraw Hill
2008 Ch.4, Pp.177-201
 Martin,G.Pear,J. Behaviour Modification New Jersey: Prentice Hall 2005 Ch.2, Pp. 28-87

Module IV – Memory:

 Basic distinctions about memory

 Stages of memory
 Theory of general memory functions
 Information processing theories (Theories by Atkinson&Shiffrin)
 Short term memory and Long term memory
 Forgetting- Factors affecting forgetting
 Mnemonics- Memorization methods

Required Readings:

 Coon,D. Introduction to PsychologyU.S.A.Wadworth. 2006 Ch.10, Pp.310-338

 Fernald, A. Introduction to Psychology. Wm.C.Brown Publishers, U.S.A.1989 Ch.4,Pp.
206-236
 Morgan, King and Robinson Introduction to PsychologyNew York:TataMcGraw Hill
2002 Ch.5, Pp.202-259
 Martin,G.Pear,J. Behaviour Modification New Jersey: Prentice Hall 2003 Ch.9, Pp. 295-
382

Module V- Motivation :

 Meaning and Rationale

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  Theories of Motivation
 Forces that Push and Pull
 Primary motives and homeostasis
 Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivation
 Social motives- Learned Motives

Required Readings:

 Atkinson, R.C. and Shiffrin, R.M. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation

New York: Academic Press 1998 Ch.6, Pp.265-289

 Baron, R.A. Psychology India: Pearson Education. 2005 Ch.5, Pp.368-409

Module VI – Personality:

 Meaning and Concept

 The Trait approach- Classification by Jung, Kretschmer and Sheldon,
 Psychoanalytic Theory by Freud
 Behaviouristic Theories of Personality by Pavlov, Skinner and Watson.
 Humanistic theory By Maslow and Rogers
 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
 Personality assessment.

Required Readings:

 Coon, D. Introduction to Psychology U.S.A.Wadworth. 2006 Ch.12, Pp.479-513

 Fernald, A. Introduction to Psychology. Wm. C. Brown Publishers, U.S.A.1989 Ch.9,
Pp.397-425
 Morgan, King and Robinson Introduction to Psychology New York: Tata McGraw Hill
2002 Ch.5, Pp.563-611
 Hurlock, E.B. Personality Development New York: Tata McGraw Hill 1993 Ch.1, Pp.5-
17

Module VII – Anxiety Disorders:

 Panic disorders and Generalized anxiety disorder

 Phobias

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  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
 Acute and Post-traumatic stress disorder

Required Readings:

 Coleman, E. Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life India: TaraporevalaSons&Co. Pvt.

Ltd. 2001 Ch.7, Pp.217-256
 Sue,D. Sue,D. and Sue,S. Understanding Abnormal BehaviourNew York: Houghton
Mifflin Company 2007 Ch.5, Pp.126-165

Module VIII – Personality Disorders and Impulse Control Disorders:

 Disorders of impulse control- Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Kleptomania, Pyromania,

Pathological Gambling, Trichotillomania.
 Anti-Social PD
 OCPD
 Paranoid PD
 Schizoid PD
 Department PD
 Histrionic PD
** PD= Personality Disorder

Required Readings:

 Coleman, E. Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life India: TaraporevalaSons&Co. Pvt.

Ltd. 2001 Ch.4, Pp.85-134
 Sue,D. Sue,D. and Sue,S. Understanding Abnormal BehaviourNew York: Houghton
Mifflin Company 2007 Ch.8, Pp.230-263

Module IX - Psychotherapeutic Interventions:

 Introduction
 Biological based treatment
 Psychoanalytic therapy,
 Behavior therapy
 Humanistic therapy
 Cognitive Behavior Therapy
 Forensic Clinical Psychology.

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Required Readings:

 Korchin, S.J. Modern Clinical Psychology New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers 1996
Ch.8, Pp.281-423

Module X- Forensic Pshychology

 The meaning of ‘forensic’, The origins of legal psychology

 The Psychology of confession: Voluntary false confessions, Interrogational tactics,

Coerced false confessions, Deliberations in the jury room, Eyewitness testimony:
Eyewitness memory, false memory
 The psychology of investigation: The cognitive interview, Detecting lies and deceit,
Information processing during the trial, Detecting deception

 Miscellanies: The lie detector test, Juries -Group processes in action, Effects of pre trial
publicity

References:
1. Aronson,E., Wilson T.D., &Akert R.M. Social Psychology United States: Addison-Wesley
educational Publishers Inc.,1997 Module 3, Pp570-590
2. Baron,R,A. and Byrne, D. Social Psychology India: Pearson Education, 2004 Ch 13, Pp.583-
595
3. Brewer,M. and Hewston,M. Applied Social Psychology U.K. Blackwell Publishing. 2004
Ch.3, Pp.111-225.
4. M. Jennifer Brown., A. Elizabeth Campbell. The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic
Psychology, 2010.
5. Morgan, King and Robinson Introduction to Psychology New York:TataMcGraw Hill 2002

Supplementary Readings:

1. Atkinson, R. C. and Shiffrin, R. M. (1998) The Psychology of Learning and Motivation New
York: Academic Press.
2. Aronson, E., Wilson T.D., & Akert R.M.(2007) Social Psychology United States: Addison-
Wesley educational Publishers Inc.
3. Baron, R.A. (2005) Psychology India: Pearson Education.
4. Baron,R,A. and Byrne, D.(2004) Social Psychology India: Pearson Education.
5. Borich, G.D. and Tombari. M.L.(1997) Educational Psychology New York: Addison Wesley
Educational Publishers.
6. Brewer,M. and Hewston,M. (2004) Applied Social Psychology U.K. Blackwell Publishing.
7. Coleman,E. (2001) Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life India:
TaraporevalaSons&Co.Pvt. Ltd.

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8. Coon,D. (2006) Introduction to Psychology U.S.A.: Wadsworth.
9. Fernald, A. (1999) Introduction to Psychology.
10. Hurlock,E.B. (2001) Personality Development New York : Tata McGraw Hill
11. Korchin, S.J.(1996) Modern Clinical Psychology New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers.
12. Martin,G. Pear,J.(2003) Behaviour Modification New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
13. Morgan, King and Robinson (2002) Introduction to Psychology New-York: Tata McGraw
Hill.
14. Solso,R.L. (2001) Cognitive Psychology India: Pearson Education.
15. Sue,D. Sue,D. and Sue,S.(2003) Understanding Abnormal Behaviour New York: Houghton
Mifflin Company.