Introduction to Psychology PSYC 100-02 FALL 2017  

 Course Description

 Psychology 100 is an introduction to the scientific study of human thought and behavior. This course is designed for students who may major or minor in psychology and serves as a foundation for upper level courses in psychology. It is also an excellent addition for any non-psychology student who is interested in understanding people at a deeper level. This course introduces the major theories, methods, and findings of modern psychology to examine how the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of humans are influenced by biological, social and environmental factors. We will cover a diverse set of topics such as perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, persuasion, relationships and personality. We will explore how these aspects of the mind develop in children, how they differ across people and how they break down due to illness and injury. Together we will begin to understand how useful psychology is and I will help you discover many ways for applying this information to your own life. I hope the science of psychology will provide you with wisdom about how you interact with your environment, interpret the behavior of others and clarify the processes involved with how you have become a unique individual.  Please note: I enjoy meeting with students and look forward to getting to know you better during office hours. I believe that you will learn most effectively in an atmosphere that is comfortable, productive and fun. If there is a concept or topic you do not understand, I encourage you to meet with me to discuss it in a way that makes sense to you. Feel free to stop by my office to discuss any other issues about psychology you are curious about such as getting into graduate school or possible ways that psychology could apply to your future career.

Professor  Jhon  Wlaschin    Office:  331    Olin  -­‐  Rice  Office  Hours:  MWF  11:00  -­‐Noon    and  by  appointment  Email  jwlaschi@macalester.edu  Class  Meetings  MWF    9:40  –  10:40    Olin  –  Rice      352  Lab Instructor Jamie Atkins Office: 328 Olin Rice Email: atkins@macalester.edu  

Course Goals By the end of the course you will understand how a psychological perspective brings an appreciation for the complexities of human behavior. Students who do well in this class will:

•   understand the important concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and research findings in psychology

•   think critically and logically about research findings and explain human behavior with terms used in psychology

•   become a knowledgeable consumer of psychological and scientific research Required text and readings Lilienfeld, S., et al., (2014). Psychology: From inquiry to understanding (Vol. 3). Pearson Additional readings will be available via the course Moodle site.

Course Structure Lectures Lectures will often go beyond the material in the textbook so it is important you attend class. I hate to be the only person talking in the room so I will often encourage you to contribute your thoughts, questions, and personal experiences relevant to the lecture topics. It is important that you all find many ways to translate your thoughts about this class into conversation. Doing so will help turn abstract concepts into tools that you can use in your own life. Lectures will often be supplemented with videos, class discussions, small group activities, and demonstrations. If you miss a lecture for whatever reason, you should get notes from at least one, preferably two, of your fellow students. I will post the lecture slides on Moodle. Class Participation – Discussion Questions As a way to encourage you to become an active participant in class discussion I will often ask you to reflect on additional material – beyond the textbook- that addresses important and current issues in psychology. Typically these will be news articles, podcasts or videos that I hope will bring up issues and concerns that you would enjoy discussing in class with your classmates and me. For each assignment you will submit, on Moodle, a question or comment that is relevant to the material and might provide a means for deepening class discussion. More detailed instructions are provided on Moodle Practice Quizzes On Moodle there are practice quizzes for each chapter of the Lilienfeld text that you will take outside of class. Each quiz consists of 10 multiple-choice questions. They are worth a total of 5 points each. You can take them as often as you need to earn all 5 points. The quizzes will be available for you to take all semester long. Each one is timed for 30 minutes. Many of the questions you see in the quizzes will be the same items you see on the exams. The more you practice taking these quizzes, the better you will get a taking multiple choice tests and the more familiar you will get with the key topics in each chapter. Often quiz items will ask about specific details in the book that are not covered in class. Your ability to get these items correct assesses how carefully you have read the textbook. Exams There will be three 50 point multiple choice exams held during class time and a 100 point multiple choice final exam. The final will be cumulative but a majority of the items will come from the sections covered after the 3rd exam. Please let me know well in advance if you cannot attend the scheduled time of an exam.

Assignments and Grades Research Paper You will have the opportunity to write a paper that reviews psychological research in an area of your choosing. Details about the assignment are posted on the Moodle site. You might want to start thinking about a topic early in the semester. You will formally choose a topic to write about after the mid-semester break. I will help you narrow and refine your topic after you make a decision. Once you have settled on a topic, you will find research articles to support your idea. This will coincide with one of your lab activities on how to find peer reviewed research articles through the library. This aspect of the final paper is due on Friday, Nov. 11th. Next you will begin your paper by writing a draft of your introductory paragraph. This will help you make the necessary steps toward clearly defining the purpose of your paper and your thesis statement. You will also work on organizing your paper with an outline describing how you will use your reference articles from the prior assignment to support your thesis. This aspect of the final paper is due on Monday Nov. 21st before Thanksgiving break. The final paper will be due on the last day of class, Friday, Dec.9th. All aspects of the final paper must be posted electronically to Moodle for me to grade. Grades Grades will be determined on a scale based on the following breakdown. These are rough approximations of the percentage of total points earned. Writing assignments, quizzes and exams will count toward your total grade as follows. ITEM POINTS APPROXIMATE ~% Quizzes (14 total) 70 11% Class Participation Discussion Questions 15%

Exam 1 50 8% Exam 2 50 8% Exam 3 50 8% Final Exam 100 16% Final Paper 130 20% Lab 10% Research Participation 5%

A 92-100% B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 F 59 and below A- 90-92 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62

Course Policies Diversity of Views and Class Etiquette: At times in this course, topics will be discussed and/or debated. Debates and discussion are a mainstay of academic life! Although you may encounter others with different opinions, you are expected to be respectful of the opinions and views of others and make efforts to maintain the privacy and respect of the other members of the class. Behavior that negatively affects the learning environment of the class is discouraged, and if disruptive enough, a student may be referred to the appropriate committees. ESL Policy: If English is not your first language and you believe you will need more than the time allotted to complete the exam, please see the instructor. Foreign language dictionaries will not be allowed in exams but all students may ask for help with words that are not technical psychological terms. Please feel free to discuss any concerns with the instructor. Scholastic Dishonesty: Any act that violates the rights of other students with respect to academic work that involves misrepresentation of a student’s own work is scholastic dishonesty, including (but not limited to) cheating on assignments or exams. Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated: students who cheat or engage in unauthorized collaboration on an exam or assignment will receive a zero and may risk failing the entire course. In addition, instances of scholastic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Programs. Students with Disabilities or Special Needs: It is the university policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. I am committed to providing assistance to help you be successful in this course. Accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities. Contact the Associate Dean of Students, Lisa Landreman, at 696-6220 to make an appointment. It is important to meet early in the semester to ensure your accommodations are approved to ensure you begin the semester successfully. Walk-In Counseling Center: A free, non-profit counseling center open in the afternoon and early evenings. No appt. needed (612) 870-0565 Address: 2421 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Website: www.walkin.org Crisis Intervention Center at Hennepin County Medical Center: 24-hour psychiatric emergency room (612) 347-3161 Crisis Connection: (612) 873-3161 Suicide Hotline: (612) 347-2222

 

Course Schedule Week Day Date Topic Text Quiz Writing 1 W Sep 6 Introductions Ch. 1 Q1

F Sep 8 Research Methods Ch. 2 Q2 DQ1 2 M Sep 11

W Sep 13 DQ 2 F Sep 15 Biological Basis of Behavior Ch. 3 Q3

3 M Sep 18 DQ 3 W Sep 20 F Sep 22 Sensation and Perception Ch. 4 Q4

4 M Sep 25 DQ 4 W Sep 27 F Sep 29 Exam 1

5 M Oct 2 Memory Ch 7 Q5 DQ 5 W Oct 6 F Oct 8

6 M Oct 9 Learning Ch 6 Q6 DQ 6 W Oct 11 F Oct 13

7 M Oct 16 Thinking, Reasoning and Language Ch 8 Q7 DQ 7 W Oct 18 F Oct 20

8 M Oct 23 Exam 2 W Oct 25 Development Ch 10 Q 8 F Oct 27 No Class Midterm Break

9 M Oct 30 Development (cont.) FP Topic W Nov 1 F Nov 3 Emotion and Motivation Ch 11 Q 9

10 M Nov 6 W Nov 8 F Nov 10 Stress & Health Ch 12 Q 10

11 M Nov 13 W Nov 15 Exam 3 F Nov 17 Social Psychology Ch 13 Q 11 FP Refs

12 M Nov 20 W Nov 22 No Class Thanksgiving Break F Nov 24

13 M Nov 27 Social Psychology (cont.) FP Intro W Nov 29 F Dev 1 Personality Ch 14 Q 12 14 M Dec 4

W Dec 6 Psychological Disorders Ch 15 Q13 F Dec 8

15 M Dec 11 Treatments Ch 16 Q14 W Dec 13 Final

Paper W Dec 20 Final Exam 8:00 - 10:00 AM

This syllabus is subject to change. I will notify you in advance when any such changes occur and will post an updated syllabus on Blackboard