Introduction to Psychology - College Level (Certificate)

Course Objectives:

This course will assist students in understanding human behavior and acquiring knowledge of psychology to include: theories and perspectives; research methods; basic consciousness concepts; nature, nurture and human diversity; behavior genetics; prenatal development; cultural influences; drugs and society; sensation and perception; learning concepts; classical and operant conditioning; observational learning; memory; thinking and language development; intelligence and IQ scores; emotions; motivational concepts; drives and achievement;  social psychology; and an introduction to abnormal and clinical psychology.

The bonus Study Buddy Episodes provides assistance to students in passing their psychology exam. This course is ideal for: psychology students to take prior to the start of the semester; for anyone working in human services, childcare, the school system/education, or customer service/sales; and for professionals as a refresher when studying for certification and/or a major exam.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1) Define psychology as a science in terms of its history, theories, methods, applied areas, and ethical issues.

2) Evaluate the ethical nature of various modern and historical psychological studies.

3) Compare and contrast the major perspectives of psychology (e.g., behavioral/learning, physiological, cognitive, evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic, and socio-cultural).

4) Apply the major theoretical perspectives to an understanding of development, personality, abnormal behavior, and psychotherapy.

5) Describe the contributions of the social environment to human behavior (e.g., obedience, conformity, attributions, large and small group effects)

Critical Thinking: Utilize critical thinking skills to analyze psychological theories and research data

· Describe human behavior and mental processes from various theoretical perspectives in the field of psychology

· Identify the manner in which psychological research on memory relates to college study skills

Information Literacy: Assess what information is needed to answer questions as well as evaluate the quality of information.

· Demonstrate the skill of identifying information needed to answer questions pertaining to psychological terms and concepts

· Recognize and evaluate information sources for a specified purpose

· Develop an understanding of psychology as an ever-changing discipline, based on contemporary research data

Systematic Inquiry: Understand social science research methods used in psychological research

· Demonstrate the ability to describe the science of psychology

· Describe different research methods used in psychology

· Acquire knowledge about men and women whose research endeavors made significant contributions to the field of psychology

· Develop an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different psychology research methods

Class Notes:

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Mental processes refer to all the internal, covert activity of our minds like thinking, feeling, and remembering. Behavior includes all of our outward or overt actions and reactions such as talking, facial expressions, and movement.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

Class Notes:

Nature vs. nurture-

Nature is the influence of our inherited characteristics on our personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and social interactions.

Nurture is the influence of the e on personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and social interactions.

DNA- deoxyribonucleic acid- is the special molecule that contains the genetic material of the organism.

Genetics is the science of inherited traits.

Gene section of DNA is having the same arrangement of chemical elements.

Chromosome tightly wound strand of genetic material or DNA,

46 chromosomes 23 come from mother egg and 23 from father sperm.

Dominant gene- is referring to a gene that actively controls the expression of a trait.

Recessive gene is referring to a gene that only partly influences the expression of a trait when paired with an identical gene.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

Class Notes:

An Incentive is an object, or event that encourages or discourages behavior. However, incentives can motivate behavior in different ways.

Intrinsic motivation means that a person had developed an internal desire to do something or accomplish something.

Extrinsic motivation comes from the outside of the person such as people who work hard in their job because they get paid well. Sometimes extrinsic motivation may undermine motivation.

People who are driven by a desire for meaningful learning, mastery of skills, and work are sometimes described as mastery oriented.

The idea is to listen repeatedly to these episodes to enhance transference of informational content into the student’s long-term memory, thus Acing their Psychology Exam.

Class Notes:

Maslow believed that human needs form a kind of hierarchy of needs... as individuals must first satisfy their needs at the lower levels, before the higher needs could be satisfied. He referred to levels 1-4 as deficiency needs and levels 5-7 as growth needs.

His identified levels were:

1. Physiological Needs - basic biological needs such as food water and sleep, and oxygen;

2. Safety and Security Needs - such as the need for shelter, protection and emotional safety;

3. Love and Belongingness Needs - are important as we try to bond with our parents and be part of a meaningful group;

4. Self-Esteem Needs - such as feeling worthwhile as a person;

5. Self-Actualization Needs - which we all strive for throughout the course of our lives as we try and fulfill our potential as human beings.

The role of achievement motivation is clear in Maslow’s growth needs. Self-determination can play a part in achieving motivation and success in your life.

Class Notes:

Social psychology is the scientific study of how a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior are influenced by the real imagined or implied presence of others.

Social influence is the process through which the real or implied presence of others can directly or indirectly influence the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of a person.

Conformity is changing one’s own behavior to match that of other people… we do this to affiliate, fit in, get approval and acceptance in a group possibly move up in a group.

Class Notes:

Pro-social behavior is socially desirable behaviors that benefits others.

Altruism is helping others without expecting to get something in return and may involve the risk of harm to oneself.

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...

It’s time to test your knowledge on information learned. Relax, think, then respond...