Syllabus

College of Social Sciences PSY/210 Version 3 Introduction to Psychology

Course Description

This course provides a general introduction to the vast and fascinating field of psychology as well as an understanding into why people behave the way they do. This course covers psychologys basic subject matter in a meaningful and relevant fashion. It also provides a discussion of the ways in which psychological knowledge is applied to improve the quality of individual and shared life. This course is an excellent gateway to more advanced courses in psychology.

Policies

Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents:

University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.

Course Materials

Nevid, J. S. & Rathus, S. A. (2005). Psychology and the challenges of life: Adjustment in the new millennium (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

O'Hara, S. (2005). What can you do with a major in psychology? Real people, real jobs, real rewards. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Supplemental Resource

Axia Colleges Writing Style Handbook, available online at https://axiaecampus.phoenix.edu/Writing_Style_Handbook_AxiaUOP.pdf

All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Psychology and Adjustment

Details Due Points

Objectives

1.1 Identify how psychology explains human behavior. 1.2 Discuss methods of maximizing the college experience. 1.3 Describe research methods used by psychologists.

Readings

Read Appendix A. Read Ch. 1 & 2 of Psychology and the Challenges of Life. Read Ch. 1 & 3 of What Can You Do with a Major in Psychology

Participation

Participate in class discussion with at least two substantive participation posts on each of four days during the week.

10

Discussion Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Day 2 and Day 4

10

Non-graded Activities and Preparation CheckPoint Research Methods

Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own Complete Appendix B. Post your response as a Microsoft Word attachment to the assignment link for review. (See Appendix B, Grading Rubric, for assistance in understanding the instructors grading criteria.)

Day 1

Day 5

30

Week Two: Examining Personality

Details Due Points

Objectives

2.1 Compare and contrast various personality theories. 2.2 Discuss the use of personality tests.

CheckPoint Skills Assessment Activity

Throughout the text, Psychology and the Challenges of Life, you will find an assortment of tests that sample a broad range of skills, abilities, and traits. Although these exercises allow a glimpse at aspects of personality, the results must be interpreted with caution. Complete the self-assessment, Will You Be a Hit or a Miss? The Expectancy for Success Scale, on pp. 5354 of Psychology and the Challenges of Life. Write a 200- to 300-word response, considering how employers and fellow team members might use this instrument at work. Is this test reliable? Is it valid? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of a test that attempts to measure

Day 5

30

skills, abilities, or traits? Grading criteria and rubric are available to the student in advance to ensure the student is including necessary material in ones response. Post your activity to the assignment link as a Microsoft Word attachment. Individual Personalities Theory Activity Complete Appendix C. Choose two or three of the personality theories discussed in Ch. 2 of Psychology and the Challenges of Life. Write a 350- to 700-word response comparing and contrasting the theories you have chosen. Post your response as a Microsoft Word attachment to the assignment link when complete. A grading rubric is available for your review to guide your paper. Day 7 100

Week Three: Managing Stress

Details Due Points

Objectives

3.1 Identify sources of stress. 3.2 Evaluate reactions to stress. 3.3 Discuss moderators of stress.

Readings

Read Ch. 3 & 4 of Psychology and the Challenges of Life. Read Ch. 5 & 6 of What Can You Do with a Major in Psychology?

Participation

Participate in class discussion with at least two substantive

10

participation posts on each of four days during the week. Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2 and Day 4 CheckPoint Reaction to Stressors Complete Appendix D. Post your response as a Microsoft Word attachment to the assignment link when complete. A grading rubric is available to guide your work. Day 5 30 10

Week Four: Psychological Factors and Health

Details Due Points

Objectives

4.1 Describe the physical, emotional, and cognitive effects of stress. 4.2 Identify psychological factors that can affect health. 4.3 Discuss how psychology has contributed to the treatment of various physical health problems.

CheckPoint Effects of Stress

You are currently an associate at an advertising agency where you have worked for 2 years. You are pursuing a promotion to the position of advertising executive. Whereas you have expected to put in extra hours and some added responsibility as part of earning the promotion, your boss has increased your workload significantly, including some projects that had been assigned to other associates. You have more deadlines than you think you can meet, plus the pressure of creating new and innovative material for your campaigns. Answer each of the following questions in 50 to 75 words: What steps of the general adaptation syndrome will I experience? What emotional and cognitive effects might this stressor

Day 5

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produce? If this stress continues, how might it affect my health? How might I resolve this situation effectively?

Post your response as a Microsoft Word attachment to the assignment link when complete. A grading rubric is available to the student for guidance regarding ones work. Individual Psychology and Health Problems Review Figure 4.3. Summarize the multi-factorial model and how it relates to the diagnosis of illnesses. Select two health problems discussed in the text. Explain what role psychology has played in understanding and managing these health problems. Post a 1,050- to 1,400-word, APA-formatted paper as a Microsoft Word attachment to the assignment link. Grading criteria are available in form of a grading rubric for students viewing. Day 7 100

Week Five: Social Influence

Details Due Points

Objectives

5.1 Compare and contrast self-concept, self-esteem, and selfidentity. 5.2 Describe variables that influence ones social perception. 5.3 Identify factors that influence persuasion and conformity.

Readings Participation

Read Ch. 6, 7 (p. 240249 & p. 255), 13, & 14 of Psychology and the Challenges of Life. Participate in class discussion participate with at least two substantive participation posts on each of four days during the 10

week. Discussion Question Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2 and Day 4 CheckPoint Persuasion & Conformity Scenario Write a 200- to 300-word critique of the response assigned by your facilitator. Include a summary of the decision stated in your assigned response, whether or not this response has made you see the scenario differently, and your critique of your classmates rationale. Post as an attachment to the assignment link as a Microsoft Word attachment when complete. A grading rubric is available to the student to guide ones work. Exercise Conformity Response Complete Appendix E. Post as an attachment to the assignment link as a Microsoft Word attachment. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work. Day 3 5 Day 7 25 10

Week Six: Adolescence Through Adulthood

Details Due Points

Objectives

6.1 Describe common changes associated with each stage of development from adolescence through late adulthood. 6.2 Compare and contrast parenting styles and their effects on children. 6.3 Outline the sexual response cycle for males and females. 6.4 Discuss types of sexual dysfunctions and their treatment.

CheckPoint Changes from

As people mature, they change physically, cognitively, and socially. A clear understanding of these developmental

Day 3

15

Adolescence changes allows people to better understand themselves. Though Adulthood Complete Appendix F. Post as an attachment to the assignment link as a Microsoft Word attachment. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work CheckPoint Parenting Styles and Development Whether children are exposed to an authoritative, authoritarian, or permissive parenting style may have a great influence on how children handle challenges in their lives. Day 5 15

Describe how three adults, each brought up under a different parenting style as a child, might cope differently with one of the changes listed in the table in Appendix F.

Post a 200- to 300-word response to the assignment link as a Microsoft Word attachment. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work. Individual The Sexual Response Cycle Review the sexual response cycle located on p. 445447 in Psychology and the Challenges of Life. Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word APA-formatted paper summarizing each phase of the sexual response cycle for males, females, and commonalities for both males and females. Include a brief description of any sexual dysfunctions and common methods of treatment. Submit ones work as a Microsoft Word attachment for grading. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work. Day 7 100

Week Seven: Attraction, Relationships, and Communication

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

7.1 Identify which traits are considered attractive in a partner. 7.2 Summarize Sternberg's theory of love. 7.3 Examine the five stages of Levinger's relationship model.

Readings

Read Ch. 8, Ch. 9 (p. 295296, p. 301311, p. 320326, & p. 334335), Ch. 11 (p. 365371, p. 375379, & p. 385390), & Ch. 12 (p. 397406) in Psychology and the Challenges of Life. Participate in class discussion participate with at least two substantive participation posts on each of four days during the week. Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2 and Day 4 10

Participation

Discussion Questions

10

CheckPoint Sternbergs Theory of Love

Complete Appendix G. Submit A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work this to the individual forum for review. Post as a Microsoft Word attachment for review. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work.

Day 5

30

Week Eight: Psychological Disorders and Therapies

Details Due Points

Objectives

8.1 Explain how psychological disorders are classified. 8.2 Describe major psychological disorders and the causal factors for each. 8.3 Summarize the types of therapies used in treating psychological disorders.

CheckPoint Psychotherapy

Biomedical and psychotherapy are two basic approaches to treating psychological disorders. A number of approaches fall under the category of psychotherapy, but they all include the following four essential characteristics: Systematic interaction between a client and a therapist Based on psychological theory and research Influences a clients thoughts, feelings, and behavior

Day 5

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Used in treating disorders, adjustment problems, and to foster personal growth Explain, in a 200- to 300-word response, the biomedical approach as well as the psychodynamic, humanisticexistential, behavior, and cognitive approaches to psychotherapy listed in your text. Post the assignment as a Microsoft Word attachment in for review. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work. Individual Psychological Disorders Presentation Create a 7- to 10-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes. Summarize how psychological disorders are classified. Include the role of the DSM IV. Your presentation must have at least one slide for each of the following major classes of psychological disorders: Anxiety Disorders Dissociative Disorders Somatoform Disorders Mood Disorders Schizophrenia Personality Disorders Day 7 100

Describe the major characteristics and suspected causal

factors for each class of disorder. Post as a Microsoft Power Point attachment to the assignment link. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work this to the individual forum for review.

Week Nine: Influence of Psychology

Details Due Points

Objectives

9.1 Examine the influence psychology has on personality, relationships, and social perceptions. 9.2 Discuss career possibilities for individuals with a degree in psychology.

Participation

Participate in class discussion participate with at least two substantive participation posts on each of four days during the week. Respond to the capstone discussion question. Day 3

10

Capstone Discussion Question Final Project Case Study

20

Review case studies 1 and 2 in Appendix A. Choose one case study from Appendix A. Complete the following questions in 150 to 200 words each. Be as detailed as possible and use the information you have learned throughout this course. What are the causes of stress in Michaels or Jennifers life? How is stress affecting Michaels or Jennifers health? How are these stressors affecting Michaels or Jennifers self-concept and self-esteem? How might Michaels or Jennifers situation illustrate Day 7

adjustment? How might this situation become an opportunity for personal growth? What defensive coping methods are Michael or Jennifer using? What active coping methods might be healthier for Michael or Jennifer to use? Explain why you would recommend these methods. Select one theory of personality and use this theory to tell Michael or Jennifer how this theory explains his or her situation. In what stage of development is Michael or Jennifer and what factors about this stage might be affecting his or her perspective of this situation? What relationship factors or considerations might be influencing Michaels or Jennifers problems?

Post as a Microsoft Word attachment for review. A grading rubric is available for this assignment to guide ones work.