PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology

1. Describe the field of psychology, its research methods, and major theoreti­cal approaches
   1. Compare and contrast the major perspectives (behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic, and socio-cultural), as well as the biopsychosocial model
   2. Describe the major research methods (experimental, descriptive, correlational, and biological) and their strengths and limitations 
2. Identify basic parts and functions of the nervous system related to psycho­logical functioning
   1. Identify the parts and functions of a neuron
   2. Describe the organization and functions of the nervous and endocrine systems.
   3. Distinguish the major brain areas and functions
3. Describe sensory processing
   1. Identify and describe the major sensory processes
   2. Describe how each sensory organ processes sensory information
4. Describe the basic processes of perception
   1. Identify the major factors related to perceptual selection
   2. Identify the major factors related to perceptual organization
   3. Identify the major factors related to perceptual interpretation
5. Distinguish normal waking consciousness from various altered states.
   1. Distinguish typical variations of consciousness, including sleep, dreaming, hypnosis, and mediation
   2. Describe chemically altered states of consciousness including the physi­cal and psychological effects
6. Distinguish the characteristics of the major learning paradigms
   1. Identify the basic principles related to classical conditioning
   2. Identify the basic principles related to operant condition­ing
   3. Describe the cognitive-social theory of learning, including latent learning and observational learning
7. Identify the processes involved in memory processing
   1. Describe sensory, short-term and long-term processes memory and their interrelationships
   2. Make distinctions between the major theories of forgetting
   3. Identify the biological factors related to memory and forgetting
8. Describe the characteristics of the major cognitive processes
   1. Describe the basic cognitive functions
   2. Describe the characteristics of language and the process of language acquisition
   3. Describe issues related to the definition and assessment of intelligence
9. Describe the major features of human development from conception to death
   1. Describe the physical changes associated with prenatal, early childhood, and adolescent development
   2. Describe the cognitive and social-emotional development through the life span
   3. Describe moral and personality development through the life span
   4. Describe the stages of grief and dying
10. Describe the variables that influence gender development and sexual behavior
    1. Distinguish between associated with sex and gender
    2. Identify the major sex and gender differences between males and females
    3. Identify the factors that influence sexual response, sexual orientation, and sexual dysfunction
11. Describe basic characteristics and theories of motivation
    1. Describe various theories of motivation
    2. Identify various types of motives
12. Describe the basic characteristics and theories of emotion
    1. Describe the components of emotion
    2. Describe the major theories of emotion
13. Define stress and its role in health and illness
    1. Describe several sources of stress
    2. Describe the physiological and psychological effects of stress
    3. Describe the relationship between stress and illness
    4. Describe various approaches to managing stress
14. Distinguish among the various theories of personality and methods of personality assessments
    1. Identify the major ideas associated with the trait theories of personality
    2. Identify the major ideas associated with the psychodynamic theory of personality
    3. Identify the major ideas associated with the behavioral and learning theories of personality
    4. Identify the major ideas associated with the humanistic theories of personality
    5. Identify the major ideas associated with the social-cognitive theories of personality
    6. Identify the major ideas associated with the biological theories of personality
    7. Describe and compare the various methods of personality assessment 
15. Define abnormal behavior and the classification of mental disorders
    1. Describe how psychologists define, explain, and classify abnormal behavior
    2. Identify the symptoms related to the major mental disorders (i.e., anxiety, mood, schizophrenia, and personality disorders
16. Identify the characteristics and issues related to psychological therapy
    1. Distinguish between insight, behavioral and biomedical therapies
    2. Identify the techniques associated with the major insight therapies (i.e., psychoanalysis/psychodynamic, humanistic)
    3. Describe the major behavioral and cognitive therapy techniques
    4. Describe the major biomedical therapies
17. Describe basic characteristics and theories of social psychology
    1. Describe the attribution process and typical errors of attribution
    2. Describe the process of attitude formation and describe theories and techniques of attitude change and persuasion
    3. Describe the ways that groups influence individual behavior
    4. Identify the factors involved in conformity, obedience, prejudice, and discrimination
    5. Identify factors and theories associated with aggression and prosocial behavior
18. Demonstrate effective academic self-discipline
    1. Meet the timelines for assigned projects and evaluations
    2. Communicate effectively using accepted grammar, punctuation, and spelling
    3. Paraphrase source material accurately and without plagiarizing
19. Apply psychological principles to everyday situations
20. Demonstrate an awareness of cultural variation in relationship to psychological principles