SS-510 Intro to Psychology - Course Content

Peter Alimaras, Ph.D.

Introduction to Psychology: SS - 510

THE NATURE OF PSYCHOLOGY (Text - read chapter 1)

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1. Body, mind and behavior
2. The field of psychology
3. Is psychology a science?
4. Theories in psychology

METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY (Text - read chapter 1)

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5. Experimental method
6. 1. Survey and correlation
   2. Natural observation
   3. Clinical method

BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (Text - read chapter 2)

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7. The neuron and the nervous system
8. Localization of function in the brain
9. The split brain

STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS (Text - read chapter 4)

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10. Sleep and dreaming
11. Hypnosis
12. 1. Meditation
    2. Drug-induced states
13. Films:
    1. “The Mind Awake and Asleep”
    2. “The Mind Hidden and Divided”

Exam #1: this will cover chapters 1, 2 and 4 from the text plus anything discussed in class.

LEARNING (Text - read chapter 5)

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15. Classical conditioning
16. Operant conditioning
17. Cognitive factors in learning
18. Film: “Learning”

MEMORY (Text - read chapter 6)

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19. 1. Film: “Remembering and Forgetting”
    2. Short-term and long-term memory
    3. Forgetting

MOTIVATION AND EMOTION (Text – read chapter 8)

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20. Theories of motivation
21. Hunger, thirst and sexual motivation
22. 1. Stimulus motives
    2. Learned motives
23. Emotion

PERSONALITY (Text – read chapter 10)

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24. Trait theories
25. Psychodynamic theories
26. 1. Humanistic theories
    2. Behavioral theories
27. 1. Are traits consistent?
    2. Cognitive-social learning theories
    3. Personality testing

EXAM #2: this will cover chapters 5, 6 8 and 10 from the text, plus anything discussed in class since the last test.

STRESS AND COPING (Text – read chapter 11)

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29. 1. Sources of stress
    2. Effects of stress
    3. Stress-related disorders
30. Coping with stress
31. Stress, anxiety and defense mechanisms

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS (Text – chapter 12)

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32. 1. What is normal?
    2. The DSM-IV
    3. Anxiety disorders
33. 1. Dissociative disorders
    2. Somatoform disorders
34. 1. Sexual disorders
    2. Mood disorders
35. 1. Schizophrenia
    2. Personality disorders
36. Causes of psychological disorders
37. Film: “Psychopathology”

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (Text – read chapter 14)

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38. Attitude formation and change
39. 1. Forming interpersonal attitudes
    2. Liking
    3. Prejudice
40. 1. Group characteristics
    2. Problem solving
    3. Risk taking
    4. Conformity
41. 1. Altruism
    2. Obedience
42. Film: “Obedience”

FINAL EXAM: this will cover chapters 11, 12 and 14 from the text, plus anything discussed in class since the last test. Date to be announced.