Download South Portland, Maine 04106 Title: Introduction to Psychology

South Portland, Maine 04106
Title: Introduction to Psychology
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Jan Veinot
Office Hours:
Catalog Number: PSYC 100
Total Contact Hours: 45
Office : 101 Harborview
Email : [email protected]
Course Syllabus
Course Description :
This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the field of Psychology. Special attention will be given to helping the student
become a better thinker, by learning to take charge of ideas one has about psychology. The goal of this course is to think consciously,
deliberately and skillfully about human behavior. Topics such as physiological psychology, perception, learning, cognition, emotions,
health psychology, psychological disorders, as well as others are included.
Prerequisite(s): none Corequisite(s): ENGL-050, ENGL-075
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Define psychology as a discipline and explain its history, and how it is distinct from and related to other disciplines.
2. Explain how psychology is a science and become familiar with the research methods used by psychologists, including different
research designs, limitations of research findings, and APA ethical principles.
3. Explore the subject matter of the field of psychology and become familiar with the vocabulary, major concepts, theories, and
research findings of psychology.
4. Further develop critical thinking skills by applying them to the field of psychology
5. Become a cautious and analytical consumer of psychological information that is proclaimed to be scientific or based on research
and recognize the usefulness and limitations of research findings.
6. Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organization issues.
7. Become aware & respectful of diversity issues which affect behavior & psychological processes and recognize that sociocultural
contexts may influence the development and application of psychological principles.
Learning Outcomes Competencies:
Critical Thinking: Upon Completion of this course students will have:
1. Read and demonstrated an understanding of complex ideas by identifying key concepts in the field of psychology.
2. Applied theory to practice using problem solving techniques and data analysis.
3. Analyzed and evaluated research data to produce a well-reasoned argument or position on an issue.
Global Citizenship: Upon Completion of this course students will be able to use psychology concepts to:
1. Explain how social interactions are influenced by local, regional, national, and/or global cultures.
2. Recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of human behavior and social interaction.
3. Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of cultures that are diverse from their own.
Text, Tools and / or Supplies:
King, L.A, The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View, 2nd Edition
Topical Outline of Instruction/Course Calender:
Introduction and Research Methods – Chapter 1 & 2
1. Contemporary perspectives used by psychologists to understand behavior and mental processes in
context
2. Major subfields and career opportunities that comprise psychology
3. Research strategies used by psychologists to explore behavior and mental processes
4. Purpose and basic concepts of statistics
5. Ethical issues in research
6. Development of psychology as an empirical science
Biological Basis of Behavior – Chapter 3
1. Structure and function of the neuron
2. Organization of the nervous system
3. Hierarchical organization of the structure and function of the brain
4. Technologies and clinical methods for studying the brain
5. Structure and function of the endocrine system
6. How heredity interacts with the environment to influence behavior
7. How psychological mechanisms are influenced by evolution
Sensation and Perception – Chapter 4
1. Basic concepts explaining the capabilities and limitations of sensory processes
2. Interaction of the person and the environment in determining perception
3. Nature of attention
States of Consciousness – Chapter 5
1. Nature of consciousness
2. Characteristics of sleep and theories that explain why we sleep
3. Theories used to explain and interpret dreams
4. Basic phenomena and uses of hypnosis
5. Categories of psychoactive drugs and their effects
Learning – Chapter 6
1. Characteristics of learning
2. Principles of classical conditioning
3. Principles of operant conditioning
4. Components of social, observational, and cognitive learning
5. Roles of biology and culture in determining learning
Memory – Chapter 7
1.Encoding, or getting information into memory
2. Sensory, working or short-term, and long-term memory systems
3. Retrieval, or getting information out of memory
4. Biological basis of memory
5. Memory constructions
6. Methods for improving memory
Thinking, Intelligence and Language – Chapter 8
1. Basic elements comprising thought
2. Strategies and obstacles involved in problem solving and decision-making
3. Influence and interaction of heredity and environment on intelligence
4. Nature of intelligence and intelligence testing
5. Structural features of language
6. Theories and developmental stages of language acquisition
7. Links between thinking and language
Life Span Development – Chapter 9
1. Development as a lifelong process
2. Research techniques used to gather data on the developmental process
3. Theories of development
4. Issues surrounding the developmental process (nature/nurture, continuity/discontinuity,
stability/instability, critical periods)
Motivation and Emotion – Chapter 10
1. The role of biology and learning in motivation and emotion
2. Major theories of motivation
3. Interaction of biological and cultural factors in emotions and motivations
4. Role of values and expectancies in determining choice and strength of motivation
5. Physiological, social cultural, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of emotions
6. Effects of motivation and emotion on perception, cognition, and behavior
Gender, Sex, and Sexuality – Chapter 11 (Optional)
1. Defining sex and gender
2. Theories of gender development
3. Gender differences
4. Sexual orientation
5. Sexuality
Personality and Assessment – Chapter 12
1. How to distinguish between personality and personality constructs
2. Personality approaches and theories
3. Assessment tools used in personality
Social and Cultural Dimensions of Behavior – Chapter 13
1. Social judgment and attitudes
2. Social and cultural categories
3. Social influence and relationships
Industrial and Organizational Psychology – Chapter 14 (Optional)
1. Origins of Industrial and organizational psychology
2. Organizational culture
Psychological Disorders – Chapter 15
1. Characteristics and origins of abnormal behavior
2. Classifying abnormal behavior
3. Major categories of abnormal behavior
4. Impact of mental disorders
Treatment of Psychological Disorders – Chapter 16
1. Prominent methods used to treat individuals with disorders
2. Types of practitioners who implement treatment
3. Challenges involved in delivery of treatment
Stress, Coping, Health – Chapter 17 (Optional)
1. Sources of stress
2. Physiological reactions to stress
3. Psychological reactions to stress
4. Cognitive and behavioral strategies for dealing with stress and promoting health
Course Requirements:
Critical Thinking Requirement:
Introduction to Psychology is designated as a Critical Thinking course. Keep in mind that 25% of the student’s grade will be derived
from critical thinking assignments and/or assessments.
Information Literacy:
One way to include IL skills in the course is through assignments. Modifying current practice create opportunities for students to gain
the needed abilities while at the same time learning the academic content of a course: Students in this course must be able to critically
evaluate information and discern credible from non-credible material. This course will include an assignment to introduce students to
the library resources.
Metacognition:
One of the major goals of this class is to strengthen the students’ ability to be an engaged and motivated learner. An assignment
involving Attribution Theory and Locus of Control will be utilized in this course to help the student identify their motivation to learn.
Assessment of Textbook Reading:
Students should be able to locate and integrate information using analysis of the meaning and form of the text. Students should be
able to provide specific text support for inferences, informative statements, and comparisons within and across readings. Students will
be required to complete assessments of assigned readings prior to class.
Student Evaluation and Grading:
This course will include writing, discussions, lectures, group projects, and student participation. Other requirements are as
follows:
1.
Regular attendance/In class work
25%
2.
4 Application Assignments
25%
3.
Article Analysis
25%
4.
Quizzes
25%
Course Grading System
A 93-100
B- 80-82
D+ 68-69
A- 90-92
C+ 78-79
D 63-67
B+ 88-89
C 73-77
F Below 60
B 83-87
C- 70-72
Individual/Group projects will mostly be done in-class. There will be no make-up opportunities for this. Incomplete will be given
only in extraordinary circumstances. Grades of W, AF will follow SMCC policy as outlined in the student handbook.
In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for all courses. Students can now evaluate their
SMCC courses online and anonymously by going to Academics on the SMCC homepage and choosing Course Evaluations. This
feature is typically available the last two weeks of every class (in most cases, this will be the last two weeks of the semester).
ADA Syllabus Statement
Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please
call 207-741-5798.
If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services
offered by SMCC, you must register with the disability services coordinator, Mark Krogman, who can be reached at 741-5629. There
will be some documentation for your teachers that must be supplied before accommodations can be given. Further information about
services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number.
SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy
Students can print 150 pages per semester free of charge. If you print over 150 pages, you will be charged 10 cents per page to your
student billing account for tuition and fees.
Leftover pages from each semester will not be rolled over to the following semester.
The College’s pay-for-print system monitors printing on all public printers (i.e. those in general access labs, library printers, the
Academic Achievement Center, Noisy Lounge and technology labs). Each time you log-in to the system, the print station displays the
remaining print quota. Once the printing quota has been exceeded, users will be charged $ 0.10 per page or $.05 per side if the printer
prints on both sides on their student accounts on a monthly basis. Color printouts will be charged at 11 page units. This means each
color printout will count as 11 pages toward the quota and will cost $1.10.
Why? To save trees and reduce costs!
Due to exponential increases in paper and toner costs, and the volume of printing being done, it became necessary to look for ways to
conserve. Not to mention that saving paper is good for the environment.
Add-Drop Policy
Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and spring semesters and the first three days of summer
sessions receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course that meets for less than the
traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks, has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund for non-attendance.
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The withdrawal period is
the second through twelfth week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through ninth week of twelve-week summer courses.
This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate
course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls, please). The designation “W” will appear on the
transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial
aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund
associated with a withdrawal.
Plagiarism Statement
Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for work done
by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person
without clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student Code of Conduct. If
it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed such a violation, the faculty member
should refer the matter to the College’s Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct.
Sanctions may include suspension from the course and a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to
the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.