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2022-2023 Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology


Credits: 3
3 Lecture Hours

Description
This course provides the student with an understanding of how the scientific method is applied to the study of human and animal behavior. Topics include: research results, the major principles and perspectives of psychology, applications of contemporary psychology, the structure and function of the nervous system, foundations of learning, intelligence, social behavior, personality, feeling and emotion, motivation, abnormal psychology and its causes and therapies, developmental patterns and the measurement of behavior.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will:

  1. Describe how psychology evolved as a science, including ethics as described by the American Psychological Association code of ethics and use of the scientific method and research results.
  2. Summarize the career opportunities in the field of psychology.
  3. Explain the basic elements of the brain, their functions as part of the nervous system and the role of neurotransmitters in some psychological disorders.
  4. Compare and contrast learning in terms of classical and operant conditioning and the cognitive-social approaches.
  5. Illustrate the types of memory including encoding, storage and retrieval plus causes and solutions for memory problems.
  6. Define intelligence using the major instruments or scales used to measure it.
  7. Apply the various motivational approaches to describe how behavior is directed and energized.
  8. Define personality, including various theories and approaches used in the study of the structure and development of personality.
  9. Analyze the etiology of the most severe forms of psychological disorders and evaluate the various treatment approaches for each. 
  10. Summarize the primary concepts of social psychology: bias, social influence, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, aggression and prosocial behavior.
  11. Analyze the major principles and perspectives of psychology and their application to contemporary psychology.
Listed Topics
  1. Historical antecedents of psychology, college psychology programs and careers for psychology majors
  2. Research methods, scientific research and ethical principles of research
  3. Biological processes underlying behavior, sensation and perception and states of consciousness
  4. Learning, memory, cognition, language and intelligence
  5. Motivation and emotion
  6. Human development
  7. Personality, psychological disorders and treatment of psychological disorders
  8. Social psychology, human sexuality and gender
  9. Health psychology
  10. The major principles of psychology
  11. Applications of contemporary psychology
Reference Materials
Currently recognized texts, videos, internet resources, handouts and library resources.
Students who successfully complete this course acquire general knowledge, skills and abilities that align with CCAC’s definition of an educated person. Specifically, this course fulfills these General Education Goals:
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
  • Culture Society & Citizenship
Approved By: Dr. Quintin B. Bullock Date Approved: 10/11/2019


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