PSYC 130 - Introduction to Psychology
Description: This basic introduction to psychology includes the study of biological
aspects of behavior, the brain, consciousness, sensation and perception,
motivation and emotion, stress, maturation and development, learning and
memory, normal and abnormal personality, and social psychology. This
course is the prerequisite for all advanced-level psychology courses. 3
hrs./wk. This course may be offered as a Learning Communities (LCOM)
section, see current credit schedule for LCOM details. Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.
Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net Course Fees: NONE Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:
Content Outline & Competencies: I. Foundations of Psychology
A. Introduce psychology
1. Define psychology
2. Identify scientific attitudes and theories
3. Present psychology’s methods and aims
4. Review commonly asked questions about psychology
B. Biological Roots of Behavior
1. Present information about natural selection and evolution
2. Identify elements of the nervous system that affect behavior of
organisms
3. Explain how the brain directs behavior
4. Identify how the endocrine system affects behavior
II. Development Over the Lifespan
A. Infancy and childhood
1. Identify developmental issues
2. Describe prenatal development, infancy
3. Describe childhood
B. Adolescence and Adulthood
1. Describe adolescence
2. Describe adulthood
3. Focus on behavioral changes in later life
III. Experiencing the World
A. Define sensation and explain its function
1. Identify principles
2. Focus on special aspects of each sense
3. Identify sensory limitations
B. Define perception and explain its function
1. Identify basic issues in perception
2. Review perceptual organization
3. Interpret how we learn to perceive
4. Discuss perception without sensation
C. States of consciousness
1. Identify different states of consciousness
2. Explore the state of daydreaming
3. Discuss sleep and dreams
4. Discuss theories of hypnosis
5. Review research on how drugs affect consciousness
6. Describe near-death experiences
IV. Learning and Thinking
A. Discuss learning as a distinctly different process from development
and memory
1. Demonstrate how classical conditioning, operant conditioning and
learning by
observation are established forms of learning
2. Present examples of classical and operant conditioning
3. Describe the history of learning by observation and explain its
relationship to other forms
of learning
4. Identify theories of how thinking and language are related
B. Memory
1. Discuss theories of memory formation
2. Discuss how forgetting is explained
3. Demonstrate ways to improve memory
C. Thinking and language
1. Describe concept formation and thinking
2. Define language and present the evolution of language skills
3. Focus on theories of how thinking and language are related
D. Intelligence
1. Demonstrate the measurement of intelligence
2. Present the nature of intelligence
3. Identify theories of intelligence: genes, environment, and
intelligence
V. Motivation and Emotion
A. Describe motivational forces
1. Present concepts of motivation
2. Focus on biological forces: hunger, thirst, sexuality
3. Identify social motives, such as achievement motivation
B. Emotion
1. Describe the physiology of emotion
2. Describe the expression of emotion cross-culturally
3. Describe human behavior in the presence of emotion
4. Name and explain theories of emotion
VI. Personality, Disorders, Therapy, and Health
A. Identify what personality is
1. Explain the psychoanalytic perspective
2. Explain the trait perspective
3. Explain the social-cognitive learning perspective
4. Compare and contrast the theories of personality
B. Psychological disorders
1. Present perspectives on psychological disorder
2. Identify various disorders
3. Discuss whether people should be labeled and the power of
preconceptions
C. Therapy
1. Identify methods of psychological therapy
2. Focus on the biomedical therapies
3. Consider treating the social roots of psychological disorders
D. Health
1. Describe stress and illness relationships
2. Explain pain and its control
3. Focus on reaction to illness
4. Present health promotion and prevention campaigns
VII. Social Behavior
A. Define social psychology
1. Explain how social thinking arises
2. Explain social influences
3. Discuss social relations
B. Social diversity
1. Demonstrate cultural diversity
2. Compare gender diversity
3. Differentiate responding to versus understanding diversity
VIII. Statistical Reasoning in Everyday Life
A. Explain how psychologists use statistics to describe data
B. Explain how psychologists generalize from data
Methods of Evaluation of Competencies: Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods: 1. At least four unit exams that test conceptual understanding of the course material must be administered. A maximum of 25% of these exams may be administered in an open book, open note and/or take home format. It is required that at least 75% of these exams be in-class/closed note exams. For online course exam guidelines, please see individual instructor syllabus. 3. Writing assignments are crucial components to the Introduction to Psychology course. At least one mandatory writing assignment is required and should comprise a minimum of 20% of the student overall grade in the course. Writing assignment(s) may include but are not limited to essay questions, personal journals, research paper, article review, reaction paper, specific assignments, outside readings and/or other written assignments at the discretion of the Professor. The intent is to require both written expression and familiarity with the content in Psychology. 4. A comprehensive final exam, in addition to the four unit exams mentioned above, shall be given during the final exam period. This final exam shall be created by the Professor and must be administered as an in-class, closed note/closed book exam. Caveats: NONE Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged. JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center. |
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