GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

PSY 101 SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: PHYLLIS A. FOLEY OFFICE: N205C (HOURS

POSTED)

PHONE: 452-8600, EXT.

3708

REQUIRED TEXT: PSYCHOLOGY by ROBERT A. BARON

SPECIAL NOTES:

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.

PSYCHOLOGY 101

COURSE SYLLABUS

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide an overview of the field

psychology and human behavior. This course includes the

topics of philosophical perspectives, history, biology,

learning, personality, abnormal therapies.

GENERAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES:

Establish students’ knowledge base in the themes, contents and processes of psychology.

Introduce fundamental concepts in the field of psychology to hopefully prepare students who desire to pursue further studies in the field.

Demonstrate knowledge of the research methodology employed in psychology.

Demonstrate knowledge of the major theoretical approaches to psychology, including but not limited to psychoanalytic, behavioral, cognitive, social-learning, biological, and humanistic.

PSYCHOLOGY 101

TEST 1: CHAPTERS 1&2 100PTS

TEST 2: CHAPTERS 5&12 100PTS.

TEST 3: CHAPTERS 14&15 100PTS.

TEST 4: CHAPTER 13 100PTS.

STUDENT MAY DROP THE LOWEST TEST GRADE

7 QUIZZES 50PTS.

(TWO LOWEST DROPPED

RESEARCH 50 PTS.

A one-page double-spaced critique of a scholarly

journal article on any topic in the field of psychology.

TOTAL 400PTS.

GRADING SCALE FINAL GRADE SCALE

90 – 100 = A 360 -400 = A

80 – 89 = B 320 -359 = B

70 – 79 = C 280 -319 = C

60 – 69 = D 240 -279 = D

BELOW 60 = F BELOW 240 = F

OTHER POSSIBLE GRADES FOR THIS COURSE:

N = AUDIT – No grade or credit. The student must have registered as an audit in order to receive this grade.

W = WITHDRAWAL – A grade of W is given by the Admissions Office after a student has officially dropped the course.

I = INCOMPLETE – An incomplete is given at the discretion of the instructor and must meet the following conditions:

a. Student attends regularly

b. Student has completed 80% of the coursework and is passing

c. The instructor feels the student can realistically complete the

coursework in the following semester.

NOTE: If the coursework is not completed prior to the exam period of the following semester, the grade is automatically converted to an F by the Admissions Office.

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, use of notes or books during a test or exam, or turning in a paper that is not the student’s work. Any student caught engaging in these behaviors will be given an automatic failure for the course regardless of the grade at that point.

ATTENDANCE:

Students do not receive a grade for attendance. Students are expected to have regular and prompt attendance because failure to exhibit regular attendance seriously impairs the student’s ability to succeed in the course. Any reason for absence should be indicated to the instructor, preferably in advance. The instructor has the prerogative to accept or reject any excuse for absence. Any absence excused by the Academic Vice-President of the College shall be accepted. Missing over (5)times for classes that meet three times a week; (4) times for classes that meet two times a week; and (2) times for classes meeting once a week and summer classes will be considered excessive.

CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS:

STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO TURN OFF ALL CELLULAR PHONES, BEEPERS, AND PAGERS.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: IF VSCC is officially open all classes will meet as scheduled, all assignments will be due, and any scheduled tests, quizzes, or exams will be given. Any missed work will be subject to the policies outlined in this syllabus.

CLASSROOM DEPORTMENT

All policies and procedures for classroom misconduct are discussed in the Student Handbook.

As a point of emphasis, the instructor will not tolerate any activity which 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 Vice-President of Student Services.

CHAPTER OUTLINE AND OBJECTIVES:

CHAPTER 1

· Discuss the roots of psychology and what it is today

· Describe the background and training of psychologists and the subfields of psychology

· Describe the scientific method, explain the advantages of the method versus a commonsense approach to understanding human behavior

· Understand how to think critically about human behavior

· Compare and contrast the research methods used in psychology

· Discuss the major ethical issues that psychologists face in research and practice

CHAPTER 2

· Describe the structure and functions of neurons

· Know the important role neurotransmitters play in communication between neurons

· Know the basic structures and functions of the nervous system and how it is studied

· Discuss the components of the brain involved in the basic bodily functions and survival

· Know how the thalamus, the hypothalamus, and the limbic system play important roles in motivation and emotion

· Know how the cerebral cortex is involved in complex activities such as language, planning, foresight, and reasoning, and be able to discuss the biological basis of gender differences

· Explain how the hemispheres of the brain are specialized for different functions

· Describe how the endocrine system affects our behavior and basic bodily functions

CHAPTER 5

· Describe Pavlov’s early work in classical conditioning

· Know the basic principles of classical conditioning

· Demonstrate an understanding of classical conditioning and emotions

· Describe the process of systematic desensitization

· Know the nature and basic principles of operant conditioning

· Describe the cognitive perspective on operant conditioning

· Know how psychologists study applications of operant conditioning

· Understand how the principles of operant conditioning can be applied to everyday life

· Describe how we learn by observing others

· Describe the applications of observational learning principles

CHAPTER 12

· Be able to argue for and against the idea that there is stability in personality

· Understand the psychoanalytic approach to personality

· Be able to discuss Rogers’ and Maslow’s humanistic theories and to evaluate the evidence for the humanistic approach

· Describe the trait theories of personality and evaluate the evidence for the trait approach

· Describe and evaluate learning approaches to personality

· Know how personality is measured

· Give an example of recent personality research on self-esteem and self-monitoring

CHAPTER 13

· Describe the basic nature of stress

· Discuss the causes of stress

· Describe the major stressors that exist in the workplace

· Describe the major effects of stress

· Discuss healthy ways of dealing with stress

· Be able to discuss the AIDS health crisis

· Understand how lifestyles may affect health

CHAPTER 14

· Trace the different concepts of psychological disorders from ancient times to today

· Know how the DSM-IV is used to identify psychological disorders

· Describe the mood disorders

· Describe the anxiety disorders

· Describe the somatoform disorders

· Describe the dissociative disorders

· Describe the sexual and gender identity disorders

· Describe the eating disorders

· Describe the personality disorders

· Describe the substance-related disorders

· Discuss schizophrenia

· Know how you can help to prevent suicide

CHAPTER 15

· Compare and contrast the different approaches to therapy

· Know the basis of psychoanalytic therapy

· Know the basis of behavior therapy

· Know the basis of cognitive therapy(especially rational-emotive therapy)

· Know how group therapies are used to aid people with problems

· Be able to describe the nature of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

· Discuss when to see a therapist