PSY 201Z Introduction to Psychology 1

Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Introduction to the science and application of psychology. Emphasis will be placed on psychological concepts, theories, and principles related to: Research Methods, Behavioral Neuroscience, Consciousness, Sensation/Perception, Learning, Memory, Thinking and Intelligence, and related topics.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115; or completion of WR 090 (or higher); or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:

Identify psychological, biological, and other factors that influence behavior and mental processes.
Apply key theories and concepts in psychology.
Evaluate claims about psychological phenomena and human behavior through the use of empirical evidence and knowledge of the scientific method.
Demonstrate knowledge about the ways psychological science and practices are contextualized by ethical standards and sociocultural factors.

Statewide General Education Outcomes

Apply analytical skills to social phenomena to understand human behavior.
Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.

Content Outline

The Science of Psychology
- Early views of human behavior
- Schools of thoughts
- Contemporary psychology
Studying Behavior Scientifically
- Scientific principles
- Ethical principles
- Methods of research
- Analyzing and interpreting data
Brain and Behavior
- Organization of the nervous system
- Neural systems
- Structures and behavioral functions
- Interactions with the endocrine and immune systems
Sensation and Perception
- Sensory processes
- Perception
- Perceptual hypotheses
- Experience, critical periods, and perceptual development
States of Consciousness
- Consciousness principles
- Sleep and dreaming
- Drug-induced states
- Hypnosis
Learning
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Observational learning
Memory
- Attention
- Information processing model
- Forgetting
- Memory and study strategies
Language and Thinking
- Language structure and processing
- Language acquisition
- Animal and nonverbal communication
- Cognitive development
- Problem solving and decision making
  - Primates and humans
Intelligence
- Nature of intelligence
- Assessing intelligence
- Aptitude and achievement testing
- Genetic and environmental influences on intelligence