Intro to
Psychology – Part 1
The
Biological Basis of Behavior, Learning and Memory
Trimester
Syllabus
Unit I -
Introduction, Scientific Methodology within Psychology
Naturalistic Observation
Assignment
Experimental Design Assignment
Intro to Psych. – different
perspective in psychology
Unit II
– Neuroscience/ Biological Basis of Behavior
“Everything that is
psychological is biological.”
Structure and function
Neurons and neurotransmitters
Nervous system
Brain Anatomy and functionality
Endocrine system
Nature and Nurture of Behavior
Genes and
evolution vs. parenting and environment (twin studies)
Unit III
- Perception
Difference between sensation and
perception
Attention
Perceptual Organization
Interpretation
Unit IV
– Learning, Behaviorism, and Memory
Associative Learning
Classical
conditioning (Pavlov)
Operant
conditioning (Skinner)
Observational learning (social
learning – Bandura)
Memory
“you are what
you remember”
What are
memories? Strength of connections, efficient pathways
Components of
memory
Information
processing
Forgetting
Memory
construction
Improving Memory
Intro to
Psychology – Part 2
Cognition, Developmental
Psychology and Personality
Trimester
Syllabus
Unit V–
Thinking
Concepts
Problem solving – heuristics,
algorithms, insight
Obstacles to
problem solving – confirmation bias, fixation
Decision making and judgment
formation
Representative
heuristic, availability, overconfidence, framing, belief bias
Unit VI
– Developmental Psychology
Issues
Nature vs.
nurture
Continuity vs.
stages
Stability vs.
change
Physical development
Language and perceptual
development
Cognitive development (Piaget)
Emotional development (Lorenz,
Harlow, Ainsworth)
Social development (Erikson)
Moral Development (Kolhberg)
Personality development (Freud)
Adolescence and adulthood
Unit VII
– Personality
4 Different perspectives
Psychoanalytic
(Freud, Horney, Jung)
Unconscious
Id,
Ego, Superego
Unresolved
conflicts (Psychosexual stages)
Defense
mechanisms
Trait (Allport)
Big
five personality factors
Assessing
traits
Discounting
situations
Humanistic (
Self
actualization, self-esteem
Person-centered,
unconditional positive regard
Social-Cognitive
(Bandura)
Reciprocal
with environment/ situational
Locus
of control
Intro to
Psychology – Part 3
Motivation,
Social, and Abnormal Psychology
Trimester
Syllabus
Unit
VIII – Abnormal Psych and Therapy
Defining and labeling disorders
Different perspectives on disorders
– medical, bio-psycho-social
Anxiety Disorders
GAD, panic,
phobias, OCD
Explanation of
Mood disorders
Depression,
bipolar
Explanation of
Dissociative disorders
MP,
Schizophrenia,
Causes?
Personality disorders
Antisocial
Therapy
Type depends on
perspective
Compare/contrast
Unit IX
– Motivation
Drives and incentives
Drive reduction
theory vs. arousal theory
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs
Hunger –
physiological/psychological
Eating disorders
Sexual motivation
Physiology of
Psychology of
Adolescent
sexuality
Sexual identity
and orientation
Need to belong
Achievement motivation
Intrinsic/extrinsic
How to motivate
people/leadership
Unit X -
Social Psychology
Social Thinking
Fundamental
attribution theory
Attitudes and Actions
Social Influence
Conformity
(Asch)/Obedience (Millgram)
Group Influence
Social
facilitation
Social
Loafing
De-individuation
Group
interaction
Group
polarization
Group
thinking
Power of
individuals