Introduction to Psychology - Psy 101

Course Objectives

 

 

Chapter 1

1.   What is Psychology?

2.   History of Psychology

      a.   Ancient Greeks

      b.   Philosophy and Physiology

      c.   Schools of Psychology

            1)   Structuralism

            2)   Functionalism

            3)   Behaviorism

            4)   Psychoanalysis

            5)   Modern Psychology

-         Cognitive, Cognitive-Behaviorism (Neo-Behaviorism), Neo-Freudian

-         Humanism, Neurobiology, Women in Psychology

      d.   Eclectic

3.   Psychology Today

      a.   Seven Research Areas

      b.   Four Professional Specialties

 

Chapter 2

1.   Goals of Scientific Enterprise

      a.   Describe and Measure

      b.   Understand and Predict

      c.   Apply and Control

2.   Steps in Scientific Investigation

      a.   Formulate a Testable Hypothesis

            1)   Operational Definitions vs. Inferences

      b.   Select Research Method - Design Study

      c.   Conduct Study

      d.   Analyze Data - Draw Conclusions

      e.   Report Findings

3.   Experimental Research

      a.   Definition & Descriptions

b.   Terms:

            1)   Independent & Dependent Variables

            2)   Operational Definitions

            3)   Control Group (random & matching)

            4)   Experimental Group

            5)   Extraneous Variables

c.       Advantages & Disadvantages

4.   Descriptive Research

      a.   Definition & Descriptions

      b.   Types

            1)   Naturalistic Observation

            2)   Case Studies

            3)   Surveys and Psychological Tests

5.   Correlational Research

      a.   Definition & Descriptions

      b.   Advantages & Disadvantages

6.   Statistics & Research

      a.   Definition

      b.   Descriptive Statistics

            1)   Central Tendency

            2)   Variability

            3)   Correlation Coefficient

      c.   Inferential Statistics

            1)   Definition

            2)   Statistical Significance

7.   Evaluating Research - Flaws

      a.   Sampling Bias

      b.   Placebo Effect

      c.   Confounding of Variables

      d.   Distortions - Self-Report Data

            1)   Social Desirability Bias

            2)   Memory Errors

            3)   Sensory Errors

      e.   Experimenter Bias

      f.    Demand Characteristics

8.   Ethics

      a.   Deceptions

      b.   Animal Research

 

 

Chapter 10

1.   Human Development

      a.   Definition

      b.   Chronological Periods of Development

2.   Prenatal Development

      a.   Zygote and Conception

      b.   3 phases

3.   Prenatal Risks

      a.   Specific Teratogens & Mothers Condition

      b.   Impact on Development

4.   Motor Development

      a.   Cephalocaudal & Proximodistal

      b.   Developmental Norms

      c.   Readiness

5.   Temperament

      a.   Research Methods

      b.   3 Patterns of Temperament

6.   Attachment / Bonding

      a.   Definitions

b.   Theories

c.   Types of Attachment

7.   Personality Development

      a.   Eriksons Theory

      b.   Eight Psychosocial Stages

8.   Cognitive Development

      a.   Piagets Theory

            1)   Basic Principles

2)      Four Stages of Development

b. Vygotskys Theory

9.   Adolescence

      a.   Physical Development

      b.   Search for Identity

c.   Adolescent Issues

10. Adulthood

      a.   Change and Stability

      b.   Personality Development

a.      Demands and Commitments

b.     Physical and Cognitive Changes

           

Chapter 3

 

1.   Physiological Psychology

2.   Cells

      a.   Neuron vs. Glia Cells

      b.   Basic Structure of a Neuron

            1)   Axon

            2)   Dendrites

            3)   Soma (Cell Body)

            4)   Cell Nucleus

            5)   Myelin Sheath

            6)   Terminal Branches &  Buttons (Synaptic Knobs)

4.   Neural Impulse

      a.   All or Nothing Law

      b.   Resting vs. Action Potential

      c.   Absolute and Relative Refractory Period

      d.   Law of Forward Conduction

      e.   Minimum Threshold

5.   Synapse

      a.   Synaptic Anatomy

      b.   Neurotransmitters

      c.   Excitatory vs. Inhibitory Transmission

      d.   Five Functions

            1)   Synthesis

            2)   Release

            3)   Binding

            4)   Inactivation

            5)   Reuptake

      e.   Postsynaptic Potential

6.   Neurotransmitters

      a.   Acetylcholine

      b.   Antagonist & Agonist

      c.   Monoamines

      d.   Endorphins

7.   Nervous System

      a.   Basic Organization

      b.   Peripheral Nervous System

            1)   Somatic Nervous System

            2)   Autonomic Nervous System

                  a)   Sympathetic Division

                  b)   Parasympathetic Division

      c.   Central Nervous System

            1)   Brain

            2)   Spinal Cord

8.   Brain Research

      a.   Spinal Tap

      b.   EEG

      c.   ESB (Electrical Stimulation of the Brain)

      d.   Lesioning

      e.   Brain Imaging Techniques

            1)   CAT

            2)   MRI

3)      3)      PET

9.   Divisions of the CNS

      a.   Hindbrain

            1)   Medulla

            2)   Pons

            3)   Cerebellum

      b.   Midbrain

            1)   Reticular Activating System

c.   Forebrain

            1)   Thalamus

            2)   Hypothalamus

            3)   Cerebrum

                  a)   Cortex & Convolutions

                  b)   Corpus Callosum

                  c)   Four Lobes of Cerebrum

10. Heredity and Genetics

      a.   Genotype

      b.   Phenotype

      c.   Polygenic Inheritance

 

Chapter 6 

1.   Classical Conditioning

a.   Ivan Pavlov

b.   Definition

c.   Stimuli

1)   Unconditioned Stimulus

2)   Unconditioned Response

3)   Conditioned Stimulus

4)   Conditioned Response

            5)   Neutral Stimulus

      d.   Variables

            1)   Acquisition

            2)   Extinction

            3)   Stimulus Generalization

            4)   Stimulus Discrimination

            5)   Spontaneous Recovery

6)   Resistance to Extinction

2.   Operant Conditioning

a.   B. F. Skinner

b.   Definition

c.   Reinforcement

      1)   Primary Reinforcers

      2)   Secondary Reinforcers

d.   Shaping

3.   Schedules of Reinforcement

a.   Continuous

b.   Intermittent

1)   Fixed-ratio

2)   Variable-ratio

3)   Fixed-interval

4)   Variable-interval

4.   Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement

      a.   Negative Reinforcement

5.   Punishment

      a.   Definition

      b.   Make Punishment More Effective

      c.   Side Effects of Punishment

6.   Observational Learning

      a.   Albert Bandura

      b.   Definition

      c.   Four Processes

1)   Acquisition / Attention

2)   Retention / Memory

3)   Performance / Convert into Action

4)   Consequences / Motivation

 

Chapter 15

1.      Person Perception

  1. Primacy Effect/First Impressions
  2. Physical Appearance

1)      Looks

2)      Movement

  1. Stereotypes
  2. Illusory Correlation

2.      Attributions

a.   Internal vs.  External

  1. Predicting Success and Failure
  2. Bias in Attribution

1)      Fundamental Attribution Error

2)      Actor-Observer Bias

3)      Self-Serving Bias

4)      Defensive Attribution

3.      Relationships

  1. Attraction

1)      Proximity

2)      Physical Attraction

3)      Similarity

4)      Reciprocity

  1. Love

1)      Types

2)      Attachment

4.      Attitudes

  1. Components of Attitudes
  2. Behavior
  3. Persuasion

1)      Source (Communicator)

2)      Content of Message

3)       Receiver

  1. Theories of Formation & Change

1)      Learning Theory

2)      Cognitive Dissonance

3)      Self Perception

4)      Psychological Reaction

5)      Elaboration Likelihood

5.      Conformity and Obedience

  1. Conformity

1)      Reason Why

2)      Factors Which Increase Conformity

  1. Compliance
  2. Obedience

1)      Milgram

2)      Factors Which Influence Obedience

  1. Power of the Situation

1)   Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment

6.      Group Behavior

  1. Bystander Effect
  2. Group Productivity
  3. Decision Making

1)      Polarization

2)      Groupthink

 

 Chapter 11 - Personality

1.   Traits vs. States

      a.   Traits

            1)   McCrae & Costa’s Big 5

            2)   Gordon Allport

      b.   States

2.   Psychoanalytic Theories

      a.   Freud

            1)   Components of Personality

            2)   Levels of Awareness (Consciousness)

            3)   Anxiety and Defense Mechanisms

            4)   Psychosexual Stages

      b.   Jung’s Analytical Psychology

            1)   Personal and Collective Unconscious

            2)   Introversion vs. Extroversion

            3)   Rational vs. Irrational

      c.   Adler’s Individualistic Psychology

            1)   Striving for Superiority

            2)   Inferiority Feelings

            3)   Birth Order

            4)   Social Interest

3.   Behavioral Theories

      a.   Skinner

            1)   Conditioning

            2)   Determinism

            3)   Response Tendencies

      b.   Bandura

            1)   Reciprocal Determinism

            2)   Observational Learning

            3)   Self-Efficacy

      c.   Mischel

            1)   Situational Determinism

4.   Humanistic Theories

      a.   Concepts

            1)   Self-Actualization

            2)   Free Will

            3)   Optimism

            4)   Rational, Conscious Perspective

            5)   Phenomenological Approach

            6)   Unique

      b.   Rogers’ Person-Centered Approach

            1)   Self-Concept

            2)   Congruence vs. Incongruence

            3)   Conditional vs. Unconditional Positive Regard

      c.   Maslow

            1)   Self-Actualized Person

            2)   Peak Experience

5.   Biological Perspectives

      a.   Theorist

      b.   Basic Concepts

6.   Contemporary Approaches

 

Chapter 13 – Psychopathology

1.   Basic Ideas

      a.   Criteria for Abnormal Behavior

      b.   Medical Model of Abnormal Behavior

c.   Terms

            1)   Insanity

            2)   Diagnosis

            3)   Prognosis

            4)   Etiology

      d.   Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

      e.   Stereotypes of Psychological Disorders

2.   Theoretical Approaches

      a.   Psychoanalytic

      b.   Behavioral

      c.   Cognitive

      d.   Biological

3.   Anxiety Disorders

      a.   Definition

      b.   Types

            1)   General Anxiety Disorder

            2)   Phobic Disorder

            3)   Panic Disorder

            4)   Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

            5)   PTSD

      c.   Etiology

4.   Somatoform Disorders

      a.   Definition

      b.   Types

            1)   Somatization Disorder

            2)   Conversion Disorder

            3)   Hypochondria

      c.   Etiology

5.   Dissociative Disorders

      a.   Definition

      b.   Types

            1)   Psychogenic Amnesia and Fugue

            2)   Dissociative Identity Disorder

      c.   Etiology

6.   Mood (Affective) Disorders

      a.   Definition

b.   Types

            1)   Major Depression

            2)   Bipolar Depression

      c.   Etiology

7.   Schizophrenic Disorders

      a.   Definition

            1)   Positive and Negative Symptoms

      b.   Types

            1)   Disorganized Schizophrenic

            2)   Catatonic Schizophrenic

            3)   Paranoid Schizophrenic

            4)   Undifferentiated

      c.   Etiology