GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 101
VIDEO AT HOME
Fall 2004
PROFESSOR: Vanessa Mitchell
OFFICE: Livingston Center
OFFICE PHONE: 823-7065; 1-800-563-8220 Ext 203
e-mail: vanessa.mitchell@volstate.edu
REQUIRED TEXT(S): INVITATION TO PSYCHOLOGY
WADE AND TAVRIS
3ND EDITION
WRITING PAPERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
ROSNOW AND ROSNOW
6TH EDITION
Special Notice:
It is the intent of Volunteer State Community College to fully comply with Executive Order 11246, as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended, and all regulations implementing those laws and orders, for the promotion and ensuring of equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or status as a qualified disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. It is the intent of VSCC to be free of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical appearance. It is the intent of VSCC to fully comply with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the CRA of 1991, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended, the Age discrimination in Employment Act of 1976, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicable state status and all regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY I
PSY 101 VIDEO COURSE
This course is the first in a series of two general psychology classes designed to provide an overview of the field of psychology and human behavior. This course includes the topics of philosophical perspectives; history; biology; learning; personality; human sexuality; abnormal behavior; therapies; and applied psychology.
This course in psychology is offered by videotapes, which involves independent study, reading, and reporting. It is the equivalent of a full-semester course and therefore, requires that the student dedicate sufficient time to study and preparation of examinations.
The videotapes for the course may be checked out directly from the Volunteer State Community College library, or from the bookstore on the campus where the course is being offered. These tapes do not coincide exactly with the material in the textbook. They are designed to provide a broader view of the subjects relating to the study of general psychology.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are required to attend ALL of the scheduled meetings for this course. Attendance for the exams is MANDATORY. There are NO alternative exam dates and it is not my policy to leave tests at the college at home desk. If you miss the midterm exam you should drop the course. Withdrawing from the course is the student’s responsibility. The last day to withdraw from a class is November 10, 2004.
If you miss the final exam, you will receive a “0” for the work due at that time. A makeup test will ONLY be allowed in the event of an unavoidable emergency (illness, accident, family, emergency, etc.) for which the student can provide appropriate documentation.
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY I
PSYCHOLOGY 101 VIDEO COURSE
GENERAL EDUCATION GOAL:
The general education goal of this course is to provide the student with a foundation for studying psychology and human behavior. In this section the student will develop a basic knowledge regarding the history of psychology and its development as a science; research and methodology; the biological and physiological aspects of behavior; important psychological concepts and terminology; and the theorists and theories that have shaped the field of psychology.
OTHER GOALS:
This course also seeks to provide the student with opportunities to acquire and develop critical thinking skills; skills for the assessment or personal values; and an understanding of how these values impact mental and physical well-being. It further provides an opportunity to explore issues regarding problem-solving, communication, interpersonal relationships, and academic and personal development.
GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES:
As a result of successful completion of this course, the student will have demonstrated an acceptable level of mastery of psychological concepts, theories, and vocabulary. The student will also have demonstrated an understanding of how these concepts are applies as the individual develops and functions within contemporary society.
Mastery of the course content will indicate sufficient acquisition of skills for pursing further course work in fields of psychology.
ASSESSMENT:
Competency will be measured through objective multiple choice, essay, or writing assignments.
Students will also evaluate the course.
POLICY:
“Incomplete” POLICY:
The grade of “I” will ONLY be given under the following circumstances:
1) The student has experienced an illness or emergency situation which could not be avoided (appropriate documentation must be provided)
2) The student has completed 50% of the course work including the midterm exam, and is receiving a passing grade (C or better)
CHEATING:
Cheating is defined as plagiarism, talking to another student during a test or exam, looking at another student’s work during a test or exam, using notes or books during a test or exam, turning in a paper that is not the student’s own work, or copying from another students answer sheet. Any student caught engaging in these behaviors will be given an automatic failure for the course regardless of the grade at that point.
CLASSROOM DEPORTMENT:
All policies and procedures for classroom misconduct are discussed in the Student Handbook, pages 17-24. As a point of emphasis, the instructor will not tolerate any activity that is disruptive to the classroom setting, which adversely affects others, and which is considered by the instructor to be unethical, immoral, or illegal. Students will be dismissed from the class and the issue of misconduct brought before the Associate Dean of Students.
In addition, there is to be no smoking, drinking, or eating in the classroom. Parents are asked not to bring children to class.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
If Volunteer State Community College is officially open, all classes will meet as scheduled. All assignments will be due, and any scheduled test or exams will be given. Any missed work will be subject to the policies outlined in this syllabus.
FINANCIAL AID
If you are receiving Title IV financial assistance (Pell Grant, Student Loan or
SEOG Grant you must attend the video orientation and submit the first required
assignment in order to be considered “in attendance” for class. If you do not
meet this attendance requirement, you will be subject to repay PART or ALL of
the Federal Financial Assistance that you received for the semester.
PLAGIARISM STATEMENT:
According to the Volunteer State Community College Handbook, “Plagiarism is using other people’s ideas as your own work, copying all or parts of someone else’s work, having another person write the assignment, getting too much assistance in writing, or failing to document accurately the use of source material” (14). Plagiarism is punishable by possible failure in the course, to be judged by the teacher, and a definite zero on the project. Students are responsible for seeking help if they are unsure about how or when to cite sources; ignorance of the rules is not a justification for plagiarism.
GUIDELINES AND FORMAT FOR DISCUSSION PAPERS
The objective of this assignment is to encourage the student to become familiar with the mechanics of scientific research as it relates to psychology and human development.
The student is required to submit (6) discussion/essay papers on any subject related to the study of psychology. Each discussion/essay paper is worth 10 points, however, in order to receive credit all papers must be submitted. Submission of only a portion of the required number of papers will result in an incomplete. Incomplete assignments will not be graded. Three (3) papers are to be turned in at the midterm, and (3) are to be turned in at the final.
The discussion/essay papers MUST be based on information from professional journals, scientific research or published books, not on opinions or discussion of specific topics. Newspaper articles and magazines are not acceptable.
Discussion/essay papers submitted that are not based on research will not be accepted. Refer to the chapter in the book that discusses scientific research and read “Writing Papers In Psychology”.
Please use the attached form for your title page:
TITLE PAGE FOR DISCUSSION/ESSAY PAPERS (6)
This title page must be turned in with each discussion/essay paper.
Student Name:
Name of the publication, journal or book
Date the article was published
Name(s) of author(s)
What type of research is the article discussing
(Refer to the research section in the book)
Give a description of this particular type of research.
What chapter(s) in the book does the article relate to
Identify two theories in the book that relate to the article
1.
2.
The remainder of the discussion/essay paper should answer the following questions. Basically, to meet this requirement, you must take your research article and discuss each of the following questions as they relate to each article.
Please type this portion of the discussion. This portion must be in paragraph format.
DISCOVERING PSYCHOLOGY VIDEO SERIES AND CORRESPONDING CHAPTERS
READ: CHAPTER ONE: WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY
VIEW: VIDEO 1…PAST, PRESENT, AND PROMISE
2…UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH
24…APPLYING PSYCHOLOGY IN LIFE
READ: CHAPTER TWO: THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
VIEW: NO VIDEOS FOR THIS CHAPTER
READ: CHAPTER FOUR: NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
VIEW: VIDEO 3…BEHAVING BRAIN
4…RESPONSIVE BRAIN
13…THE MIND AWAKE AND ASLEEP
READ: CHAPTER FIVE: SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
VIEW: VIDEO 7…SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
READ: CHAPTER SIX: THINKING AND INTELLIGENCE
VIEW: VIDEO 10…COGNITIVE PROCESSES
11…JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING
16…TESTING AND INTELLIGENCE
25…COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
READ: CHAPTER SEVEN: MEMORY
VIEW: VIDEO 9…REMEMBERING AND FORGETTING
14…THE MIND HIDDEN AND DIVIDED
READ: CHAPTER EIGHT: LEARNING
VIEW: VIDEO 8…LEARNING
READ: CHAPTER NINE: BEHAVIOR IN A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
VIEW: VIDEO 19…POWER OF THE SITUATION
20…CONSTRUCTING SOCIAL REALITY
26…CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
READ: CHAPTER TEN: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
VIEW: VIDEO21…PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
READ: CHAPTER TWELVE: EMOTIONS, STRESS AND HEALTH
VIEW: VIDEO23…HEALTH, MIND, AND BEHAVIOR
READ: CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE MAJOR MOTIVES OF LIFE: LOVE, SEX, FOOD, AND WORK
VIEW: VIDEO 12…MOTIVATION AND EMOTION
15…THE SELF
17…SEX AND GENDER
READ: CHAPTER ELEVEN: APPROACHES TO TREATMENT AND THERAPY
VIEW: VIDEO 22…PSYCHOTHERAPY
MIDTERM
DATE: Oct. 23, 2004 TIME: 10 a.m. LOCATION: Livingston
PRACTICE TESTS: CHAPTERS 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (50 POINTS)
Midterm take home (15 POINTS)
Three (3) discussion papers (30 POINTS)
(incomplete papers will not be graded)
MIDTERM EXAM (IN CLASS): Chapter 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (100 points)
DATE: Dec. 11, 2004 TIME: 10 a.m. LOCATION: Livingston
PRACTICE TESTS: CHAPTERS 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 (50 POINTS)
Final take home(15 POINTS)
Three (3) discussion papers (30 POINTS)
(incomplete papers will not be graded)
FINAL EXAM (IN CLASS): Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13
(75 POINTS)
Writing papers in psychology (25 POINTS)
TOTAL = 100 POINTS
NOTE: THE PRACTICE TESTS AND THE TAKE HOME MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS ARE INDIVIDUAL TESTS, NOT GROUP TESTS. THE TESTS MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE DESIGNATED CLASS MEETING. SHARING ANSWERS IS CONSIDERED CHEATING. STUDENTS CAUGHT SHARING ANSWERS WILL BE GIVEN THE OF “F” FOR THE COURSE.
STUDENT INSTRUCTOR TERM
PRACTICE TESTS POINTS (50)
TAKE HOME MIDTERM EXAM POINTS (15)
DISCUSSION PAPERS (3) POINTS (30)
MIDTERM (IN CLASS) POINTS (100)
MIDTERM GRADE:
PRACTICE TESTS POINTS (50)
TAKE HOME FINAL EXAM POINTS (15)
DISCUSSION PAPERS (3) POINTS (30)
FINAL EXAM (IN CLASS) POINTS (100)
(75 from text, 25 from writing papers in psy)
FINAL GRADE:
GRADING SCALES:
MIDTERM: FINAL:
195 – 176 = A 390 – 351 = A
175 – 156 = B 350 – 312 = B
155 – 136 = C 311 – 273 = C
135 – 117 = D 272 – 234 = D
BELOW = F BELOW = F
NOTE: If midterm grade is “D” or below student should consider dropping the course. The last day to drop the course is Nov. 10, 2004.
Student did not take the final exam. ; Did not submit assignments.
Student is advised to contact instructor if he/she disagrees with the grade.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course the student should have knowledge of the following concepts and areas of study. He/she will have demonstrated his/her ability to:
Chapter 1 – What Is Psychology?
1. Distinguish psychology from pseudoscience.
2. Summarize the early history and development of psychology.
3. Compare and contrast the major principles of the learning, psychodynamic, cognitive, biological, and sociocultural perspectives in psychology.
4. Distinguish between basic and applied psychological research.
5. Discuss and give examples of the concerns of the various specialties in psychology.
6. Distinguish between psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and other practicing mental health professionals.
7. List and apply the essential elements of critical thinking.
8. List and discuss the characteristics of descriptive research methods.
9. Describe and give examples of case studies, naturalistic observation, laboratory observation, psychological tests, and surveys, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
10. List and discuss the characteristics of correlational studies, and identify examples of positive and negative correlations.
11. Distinguish between independent and dependent variables and identify examples of each.
12. Distinguish between experimental and control groups.
13. List and describe the types of descriptive statistics.
14. Describe how inferential statistics are used and explain statistical significance.
Chapter 2 – Theories Of Personality
1. Define personality.
2. List and discuss the major trait theories of personality, including the theory that there are five fundamental factors.
3. Discuss the issue of heritability of personality and temperament, including cautionary considerations.
4. Compare and contrast the behavioral and social-cognitive learning approaches to personality.
5. List and explain problems associated with the learning theories of personality.
6. Describe two kinds of cultures and give some examples of how cultural norms vary.
7. Explain the basic principles of Freud’s psychoanalytic approach to the study of personality, and list the emphases shared by modem psychodynamic theories.
8. Describe the structure of the personality, according to Freud, and explain the defense mechanisms listed in the text.
9. Describe the five psychosexual stages of personality development identified by Freud.
10. Discuss the challenges to psychoanalytic theory made by Jung and the object-relations school.
11. Summarize the criticisms of psychodynamic theories.
12. Summarize the principles of humanistic psychology proposed by Maslow, Rogers, and May.
13. Explain the differences between the public and private personalities.
Chapter 4 Neurons, Hormones, and the Brain
1. List and describe the features and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
2. Distinguish between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
3. Describe biofeedback.
4. Distinguish between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
5. Describe the structure of a neuron, and explain how impulses are transmitted from one neuron to another.
6. Describe the roles of neurotransmitters and endorphins.
7. Describe the functioning of those hormones in which psychologists are especially interested.
8. List and describe techniques that psychologists use to study brain functions.
9. List and describe the location and function of each of the major portions of the brain.
10. Summarize the functions of the brain’s two hemispheres, and explain theft relationship.
11. Explain the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming.
12. Summarize the evidence on whether there are sex differences in the brain, and how any differences might affect behavior.
Chapter 5 – Sensation And Perception
1. Distinguish between sensation and perception.
2. Distinguish between anatomical and functional codes in the nervous system.
3. Define psychophysics, absolute and difference thresholds, and signal detection theory.
4. Explain sensory adaptation, sensory deprivation, sensory overload and selective attention.
5. List the characteristics of light waves and their correspondence to the visual experience.
6. Identify the parts of the eye and describe how they convert light to vision.
7. Discuss two theories of color vision and how they relate to stages of processing.
8. Explain how form, distance and depth perception occur.
9. List and explain visual constancies, and distinguish them from visual illusions.
10. List the characteristics of sound waves and their correspondence to loudness, pitch and timbre.
11. Identify the parts of the ear, and describe how they convert sound to hearing.
12. Explain how the auditory system provides information about distance and direction.
13. List and explain the factors that affect gestation (taste) and olfaction (smell).
14. List the four skin senses.
15. Describe the gate-control theory of pain.
16. Describe the internal senses of kinesthesis and equilibrium.
17. Summarize the evidence for innate abilities in perception, and describe the psychological and cultural influences on perception.
18. Discuss the evidence on the effectiveness of “subliminal perception” tapes and ESP.
Chapter 6 – Thinking And Intelligence
1. Define and distinguish between concepts, propositions, and cognitive schemas.
2. Distinguish between subconscious processes, nonconscious processes, and
mindless processes.
3. Discuss the roles of algorithms and heuristics in problem solving.
4. Distinguish between inductive, deductive, and dialectical reasoning, and between informal and formal reasoning.
5. List and describe the stages of reflective judgment according to the studies by
King and Kitchener.
6. Discuss six types of cognitive bias that can influence reasoning.
7. List the factors that can reduce the influence of cognitive biases.
8. Define and explain the “g” factor in intelligence.
9. Distinguish between the psychometric approach and cognitive approaches to
intelligence.
10. Discuss the objectives, uses, and criticisms of IQ tests.
11. Describe the components of Stemberg’s theory of intelligence, and discuss whether these components are measured on most intelligence tests.
12. Describe Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences.
13. Describe how genes affect intelligence.
14. Describe factors other than intelligence that contribute to achievement.
15. Discuss the cognitive abilities found in nonhuman animals.
Chapter 7 - Memory
1. Discuss the reconstructive nature of memory.
2. Describe factors that influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony of adults and children.
3. Compare recognition, recall and priming, and explicit and implicit memory.
4. Describe the information-processing approach to memory.
5. Describe the “three-box model” of memory and explain its components.
6. Describe the parallel distributed processing model of memory.
7. Discuss the role of sensory memory.
8. Describe the processes and limitations of short-term memory (STM), and list and discuss ways STM can be expanded.
9. Describe the characteristics of long-term memory (LTM), and explain how information is organized.
10. Distinguish between procedural and declarative memories, and between semantic and episodic memories.
11. Explain the limitations of the three-box model in accounting for the serial position effect
12. Describe techniques for keeping information in short-term memory and for transferring information to long-term memory.
13. List and discuss theories of why forgetting occurs.
14. Discuss hypotheses about why childhood amnesia occurs.
15. Describe the relationship between a person’s “life story” and actual memories.
Chapter 8 - Learning
1. Identify the two types of conditioning shown by behaviorists to explain human
behavior.
2. List and explain the four components of classical conditioning.
3. List and explain the major principles of classical conditioning.
4. Compare the traditional and recent views of how associations are formed between unconditioned and it conditioned stimuli.
5. Describe both the impact of classical conditioning on everyday life and the therapeutic technique of counterconditioning.
6. Compare and contrast the principles of operant and classical conditioning.
7. List and explain the three types of consequences a response can lead to
between positive and negative reinforcement, and primary and secondary
reinforcement.
8. Describe shaping, extinction, and stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination in operant conditioning.
9. Distinguish between continuous and intermittent schedules of reinforcement.
10. Describe how superstitions might be learned according to operant conditioning.
11. List and discuss six limitations of punishment as a way of controlling behavior, and
state a more effective strategy.
12. Describe real-world applications of operant conditioning.
13. Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic reinforcers and discuss the effects of extrinsic reinforcers on motivation.
14. Explain social-cognitive learning theory.
Chapter 9 – Behavior In Social And Cultural Context
1. Describe the interests of social and cultural psychology.
2. Explain how norms, roles, and rules influence behavior and cognition.
3. Summarize the two controversial studies described in the text and discuss how they illustrate the influence of roles on behavior.
4. List and explain reasons why people obey authority.
5. Summarize the principles and components of attribution theory.
6. Define attitudes and identify important influences on attitudes.
7. List and explain persuasive and manipulative techniques of attitude change.
8. Discuss some reasons for conforming to social pressure in a group.
9. Explain the ways decision making and individual behavior can be influenced by group processes including diffusion of responsibility, deindividuation, groupthink, and group polarization.
10. Define altruism and list the factors that lead to altruistic behavior.
11. Discuss the factors that lead to dissent and nonconformity.
12. List and explain various sources of social identity.
13. Define ethnocentrism and explain its consequences.
14. Describe ways in which stereotypes are useful and discuss three ways in which they distort reality.
15. Define “prejudice” and describe the psychological, social, and economic factors that perpetuate it.
16. Discuss the approaches that have been taken to reduce prejudice and conflict between groups, and describe their outcomes.
Chapter 10 Psychological Disorders
1. Discuss the ways in which abnormal behavior has been defined.
2. Distinguish between projective and objective tests and summarize the strengths and weaknesses of both types of test.
3. Describe the purpose and contents of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV).
4. Summarize the positions supporting and criticizing the DSM-IV.
5. List and describe the principal characteristics of the anxiety disorders.
6. Distinguish between feeling blue, major depression, and bipolar disorder.
7. Explain the various theories that attempt to account for depression.
8. List the general features of personality disorders and of the three specific personality disorders discussed in the text
9. Describe the features of antisocial personality disorder and the theories explaining its causes.
10. List and discuss the characteristics of dissociative identity disorder.
11. Describe the current controversy about the validity and nature of dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder).
12. List the signs of substance abuse.
13. Distinguish between the biological model of addiction and the learning model of addiction.
14. List the components that interact to influence addiction and abuse.
15. Describe the symptoms of schizophrenia.
16. Explain the biological and vulnerability-stress models of schizophrenia.
Chapter 11 – Approaches To Treatment
1. Discuss the uses of antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and lithium in treating emotional disorders.
2. Summarize the problems inherent in treating psychological disorders with drugs.
3. Describe the procedures used in attempts to control brain activity with surgery and electroshock.
4. List and explain the goals and principles of the four major schools of psychotherapy.
5. Describe the results of efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of psychotherapy.
6. Discuss the factors most likely to lead to successful therapy and discuss the role of the therapeutic alliance.
7. Discuss which therapies and which therapeutic structures work best for specific problems.
8. Discuss the circumstances in which therapy can be harmful.
Chapter 12 – Emotion, Stress And Health
1. Describe the role of facial expression in emotional experience.
2. Summarize evidence about the origin of emotion in the brain.
3. List and discuss some of the physiological changes that accompany emotional experiences.
4. Describe and discuss the two-factor theory of emotion.
5. Explain, with examples, how cognitive processes can affect emotions.
6. Distinguish between primary and secondary emotions and describe contradictory views on primary emotions.
7. Discuss how culture can influence the experience and expression of emotion.
8. Compare and contrast different expectations for emotional expression in men and women.
9. Describe Selye’s stages of stress response, and compare his theory to current theories.
10. Differentiate between positive stress and negative stress.
11. Describe how the immune system can be affected by stress.
12. List and discuss the major sources of stress.
13. List and discuss the personality factors that affect health and the ability to cope with stress.
14. Define locus of control and explain its relationship to health and well-being.
15. Distinguish between primary and secondary control, and explain how they differ across cultures.
16. List and discuss the emotional factors that affect health and the ability to cope with stress.
17. List and explain the major methods of coping with stress.
Chapter 13 – The Major Motives Of Life
1. Distinguish between drives based on physiological needs and those that are learned.
2. Discuss the need for affiliation as a source of human motivation.
3. List and explain three categories or theories describing varieties or styles of love.
4. Summarize the findings from biological research on the sexual behavior of men and women.
5. List and explain interpersonal and cultural factors that influence the sexual attitudes and behaviors of men and women.
6. Discuss the motivational factors involved in rape and unwanted sexual behavior.
7. Describe traditional and current approaches to understanding the origins of sexual orientation.
8. Discuss the evolutionary view of sexual motivation.
9. Describe how physiological and genetic factors affect weight.
10. Describe how cultural factors affect weight.
11. Tell why dieting is not always a good thing and describe some strategies for losing weight.
12. List and explain the factors that motivate people to work and to succeed.
13. Discuss how working conditions can affect motivation.
14. List and discuss four types of motivational conflicts.
15. Summarize Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and discuss whether motives can be
ranked.