Room A304
Night Back: Tuesdays
Text: “Understanding Psychology”, Copyright 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this syllabus is to give an overview of the Psychology course using the text “Understanding Psychology”. The names, subjects and other terms listed below will be covered in class. However, this list should be considered incomplete.

Course Overview: The purpose of learning psychology is to demonstrate to students the various methods of gaining insight into their own behavior as well as the behavior of others. Another purpose is to see where and when psychology started as a social science as well as its evolution.

Expectations: At the completion of each section, the vocabulary should be finished; occasionally, worksheets will be included; at the end of each section, a section quiz will be administered; at the end of each chapter, a chapter test will be administered to assess students’ knowledge. Class projects may also be assigned.

FIRST QUARTER

Week 1 “Why Study Psychology?” Chapter 1 Section 1
Main Idea: Through the study of psychology, people can discover psychological principles that have the potential to enrich the lives of humans
Vocabulary: physiological, cognitive, psychology, hypothesis, theory, basic science, applied science, scientific method
Objectives: Describe the range of topics that are covered in an introductory psychology course.
Cite the goals and scientific basis of psychology.
Section Quiz

Week 2 “A Brief History of Psychology” Chapter 1 Section 2
Main Idea: Psychology involves sets of questions, theories, methods, and possible answers that have been passed on and changed from generation to generation.
Vocabulary: structuralist, introspection, functionalist, psychoanalyst, behaviorist, humanist, cognitivist, psychobiologist
Objectives: Explain important trends in the history of psychology.
Identify various approaches to the study of psychology.
Section Quiz

Week 3 “Psychology as a Profession” Chapter 1 Section 3
Main Idea: Psychologists are trained to observe, analyze, and evaluate behavior patterns, to develop theories of behavior, and to apply what they have learned to influence behavior.
Vocabulary: psychologist, clinical psychologist, counseling psychologist, psychiatry, developmental psychologist, educational psychologist, community psychologist, industrial/organizational psychologist, experimental psychologist
Objectives: Explain the work of a psychologist.
Summarize the careers and specialized fields in psychology.
Section Quiz, Chapter Review and Chapter Test

Week 4 “What is Research?” Chapter 2 Section 1
Main Idea: Psychologists must first decide how to approach the research issue. Then psychologists conduct the research in one of a variety of ways to test a hypothesis, solve a problem, or confirm previous findings.
Vocabulary: sample, naturalistic observation, case study, survey, longitudinal study, cross-sectional study, correlation, hypothesis, variable, experimental group, control group
Objectives: Describe the process of psychological research and the scientific method.
Name the different types of psychological research.
Section Quiz

Week 5 “Problems and Solutions in Research” Chapter 2 Section 2
Main Idea: The investigation of psychological issues is a painstaking process. Psychologists must recognize and resolve errors while doing research.
Vocabulary: self-fulfilling prophecy, single-blind experiment, double-blind experiment, placebo effect
Objectives: Summarize the methodological hazards of doing research. Examine experimental procedures psychologists use to avoid bias.
Section Quiz

Week 6 “Statistical Evaluation” Chapter 2 Section 3
Main Idea: Psychologists must collect and evaluate evidence to support their hypotheses.
Vocabulary: statistics, descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, normal curve, central tendency, variance, standard deviation, correlation coefficient, inferential statistics
Objectives: Recognize types of descriptive statistics. Describe inferential statistics.
Section Quiz, Chapter Review and Chapter Test

Week 7 “Physical, Perceptual, and Language Development” Chapter 3 Section 1
Main Idea: Infants are born equipped to experience the world. As infants grow physically, they also develop perceptions and language.
Vocabulary: developmental psychology, grasping reflex, rooting reflex, maturation, telegraphic speech
Objectives: Describe the physical and perceptual development of newborns and children.
Discuss the development of language.
Section Quiz

Week 8 “Cognitive and Emotional Development” Chapter 3 Section 2
Main Idea: As the thought processes of children develop, they begin to think, communicate and relate with others, and solve problems.
Vocabulary: schema, assimilation, accommodation, object permanence, representational thought, conservation, egocentric, imprinting, critical period
Objectives: Summarize the cognitive-development theory.
Discuss how children develop emotionally.
Section Quiz

Week 9 “Parenting Styles and Social Development” Chapter 3 Section 3
Main Idea: Children face various social decisions as they grow and progress through the stages of life.
Vocabulary: authoritarian family, democratic/authoritative family, permissive/laissez-faire family, socialization, identification, sublimation, role taking
Objectives: Describe theories of social development.
Outline Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning.
Section Quiz, Chapter Review and Chapter Test

Week 10 “Sleep and Dreams” Chapter 7 Section 1
Main Idea: Sleep – an essential state of consciousness – involves stages and periods of dreaming.
Vocabulary: consciousness, REM sleep, circadian rhythm, insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking
Objectives: Describe the research related to sleep and dreams.
List and discuss sleep disorders.
Section Quiz

SECOND QUARTER

Week 1 “Hypnosis, Biofeedback, and Meditation” Chapter 7 Section 2
Main Idea: Hypnosis, biofeedback, and meditation are altered states of consciousness that can occur when we are awake.
Vocabulary: hypnosis, posthypnotic suggestion, biofeedback, meditation
Objectives: Determine how hypnosis relates to consciousness.
Describe research into such techniques as biofeedback and meditation.
Section Quiz

Week 2 “Drugs and Consciousness” Chapter 7 Section 3
Main Idea: Psychoactive drugs interact with the central nervous system to alter consciousness.
Vocabulary: psychoactive drugs, marijuana, hallucinations, hallucinogens, LSD
Objectives: Describe the effects drugs have on consciousness.
Define drug abuse.
Section Quiz, Chapter Review and Chapter Test

Week 3 “What are Psychological Disorders?” Chapter 16 Section 1
Main Idea: Psychologists draw the line between normal and abnormal behavior in practice by looking at various attempts to define abnormal behavior, adjustments, and psychological health.
Vocabulary: DSM-IV
Objectives: Define psychological disorder.
Distinguish between the concepts of normality and abnormality.
Section Quiz

Week 4 “Anxiety Disorders” Chapter 16 Section 2
Main Idea: Anxiety disorders are marked by excessive fear, caution, and attempts to avoid anxiety.
Vocabulary: anxiety, phobia, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder
Objectives: Identify the behavioral patterns that psychologists label as anxiety disorders.
Explain what causes anxiety disorders..
Section Quiz

Week 5 “Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders” Chapter 16 Section 3
Main Idea: Dealing with anxiety and stress can lead to somatoform and dissociative disorders.
Vocabulary: somatoform disorder, conversion disorder, dissociative disorder, dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder
Objectives: Identify the behavioral patterns that psychologists label as somatoform disorders.
Describe the symptoms of dissociative disorders.
Section Quiz

Week 6 “Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders” Chapter 16 Section 4
Main Idea: Schizophrenia involves disordered thoughts. Mood disorders involve disturbances in the experience and expression of depressions.
Vocabulary: schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, major depressive disorder
Objectives: Describe the disorder of schizophrenia.
Describe several theories that try to explain mood disorders.
Section Quiz

Week 7 “Personality Disorders and Drug Addiction” Chapter 16 Section 5
Main Idea: Personality disorders and drug addiction prohibit normal relationships and normal functioning.
Vocabulary: personality disorders, antisocial personality, psychological dependence, addiction, tolerance, withdrawal
Objectives: Describe how personality disorders differ from other psychological disorders.
Explain how drug abuse is a psychological problem.
Section Quiz, Chapter Review and Chapter Test

Week 8 “What is Psychotherapy?” Chapter 17 Section 1
Main Idea: Psychotherapy is a general term for the several approaches used by mental health professionals to treat psychological disorders.
Vocabulary: psychotherapy, eclectic approach, placebo effect, empathy, group therapy
Objectives: Explain the nature of psychotherapy.
Describe the role of a therapist.
Section Quiz

Week 9 “Psychoanalysis and Humanistic Therapy” Chapter 17 Section 2
Main Idea: Psychoanalysis is an analysis of the conscious and unconscious mind based on the theories of psychiatrist Sigmund Freud. Humanistic therapy helps people reach their full potential.
Vocabulary: psychoanalysis, insight, free association, resistance, dream analysis, transference, humanistic therapy, client-centered therapy, nondirective therapy, active listening, unconditional positive regard
Objectives: Describe psychoanalysis and its aims.
Explain humanistic therapy and its goals.
Section Quiz

Week 10 “Cognitive and Behavior Therapies” Chapter 17 Section 3
Main Idea: Cognitive and behavior therapies help clients develop new ways of thinking and behaving.
Vocabulary: behavior modification, cognitive therapy, rational-emotive therapy (RET), behavior therapy, systematic desensitization, aversive conditioning, contingency management, token economy, cognitive-behavior therapy
Objectives: Describe cognitive therapies and their aims.
Explain the processes and goals of behavior therapy.
Section Quiz

Week 10 “Biological Approaches to Treatment” Chapter 17 Section 4
Main Idea: Biological approaches to treatment rely on methods such as medications, electric shock, and surgery to help clients.
Vocabulary: drug therapy, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, lithium carbonate, antianxiety drugs, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), psychosurgery, prefrontal lobotomy
Objectives: Explain biological approaches to treatment.
Give examples of treatment medicines and their effects on patients.
Section Quiz, Chapter Review and Chapter Test

Review and Final