Introduction to Psychology

Phone: Email: [email protected] Office: Room B-140 Office Hours: TBA DESCRIPTION Introduction to Psychology is a course on the study of human behavior. It provides a broad overview of the areas within psychology; it covers the history of psychology, how your brain functions, what happens when you sleep and dream, why you get anxious in certain situations, what abnormal behaviors are, how you perceive others and many more things that affect your life. The course also covers many techniques that psychologists have developed to deal with relatively common problems: how to improve study habits, reduce stress, overcome insomnia, relieve mild depression, improve memory, etc. This is a course that will provide you with a better understanding of your own behaviors as well as those of others. In summary, Psychology is the systematic, scientific study of behaviors and mental processes. OBJECTIVES When you have completed PSY 2012 you will be able to demonstrate the following: 1. Knowledge of "normalcy" by identifying, through the use of examples, synonyms and/or analogies, concepts such as statistical normalcy, probability theory, and/ornormal-abnormal dichotomization. 2. Knowledge of various methods of psychological investigation by identifying such approaches as "longitudinal" and "cross-section" studies. 3. Comprehension of various kinds of "perceptual constancies" by comparing and contrasting the characteristics of such phenomena as "brightness constancy , "shape constancy", and "size constancy . 4. Comprehension of various ways in which "perception" is organized by identifying such phenomena as "figure-ground experience, depth perceptions, and convergence. 5. Comprehension that perceptions are related to "needs, values" and "set" by identifying various conditions contributing to such experiences. 6. Knowledge of the role of learning in "perception" by identifying the effects of such experiences as "visual restoration" and "visual deprivation". 7. Knowledge of the historical background of psychology by identifying some of the contributions of such psychologists as Freud, Pavlov, and Watson. 8. Comprehension of some of the major learning phenomena by describing such concepts as "acquisition", "extinction", "spontaneous recovery , "generalization", and "discrimination". 9. Knowledge of various principles of reinforcement by identifying parameters" such as amount, delay, and frequency of reward and/or punishment. 10. Comprehension of "classical" and "operant" conditioning by comparing and contrasting various characteristics applicable to each "paradigm". I1. Knowledge of the basic nervous system units by identifying such concepts as neuron, reflex arc, synapse, and cholinesterase. 12. Knowledge of various theoretical foundations of the psychology of learning by identifying contributions of such theorists as Pavlov, Skinner, etc. 13. Comprehension of several phenomena of memory identifying such concepts as reintegration, recall and recognition. 14. An ability to recognize the functions of the autonomic nervous system by describing such phenomena as sympathetic effects during emotional arousal. 15. Ability to recognize the functions of the autonomic nervous system by examining the role of structures such as the hypothalamus, cerebellum, and cortex, in controlling behavior. 16. Knowledge of various relationships between "learning , "reward", "punishment", "anxiety", and "academic performance" by describing the influence these variables may exert on behavior. 17. Knowledge of various characteristics of motives by naming and describing the drive characteristics of such motives as hunger, thirst, or sex. 18. Comprehension of various determiners of motivation by comparing and contrasting influencing factors such as the physiological, anatomical, and psychological processes. 19. Comprehension of various altered states of awareness by comparing and contrasting states such as deep sleep, REM sleep, and alpha. 20. Knowledge of various key concepts in the field of motivation by describing, through the use of examples, synonyms, and/or analogies, behavior such as "pleasure seeking", "aversive behavior", and "appetite behavior".

SEMESTER THEME TERM THEME   Research into drug abuse awareness, prevention, and drug resistance education in the Homestead/Florida City community. This theme will be investigated by using scientific methodology to develop a hypothesis, research design and investigative instrument (survey).

RELATED OBJECTIVES The course will focus on the detrimental effects of drug use, especially as it relates to the neurological processes. An important objective is to involve students in cogent field research on the impact of drug prevention education on the South Dade community. Introduction to Psychology students will receive knowledge of the effects of drugs on the pre-born, adolescent, as well as the adult and aging person. The students of M-DCC will receive cutting edge training on how to conduct field research. The students of M-DCC will be trained in the use of scientific methodology and be able to utilize these skill in the community as social scientists. M-DCC service-learners will develop as community activists and change agents. M-DCC service-learners will increase their opportunity to be civically responsible. Service-learners will increase in their autodidacy. Service-learners will increase their knowledge of the community and community agencies.

SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCE - Extra Credit The concept of service-learning connects teaching, learning and research in a vital new way, called active practice. With service learning you will become more actively involved and engaged in your own education and learning process. The service-learning project that you will participate in will be issues oriented, interdisciplinary, and engage you in deliberate, and arduous problem-solving. As PSY 2012 students you will devote your major group research project to creating and conducting a pre/post test instrument to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the drug prevention literature that will be disseminated community- wide. You will he utilizing the format of scientific methodology, which is a primary topic in the course. As service-learning students you will be trained to man information tables at community events such as the monthly Homestead Friday Fests, Homestead Rodeo, and the Indy 300 Motorcar Race. You will also man information tables for weekly drug prevention literature dissemination at weekly community venues such as Walmart, the Bargaintown Flea Market, and other locations. As students you will be conducting research and completing surveys as you interact with the community at these events. This comprehensive dissemination of anti-drug material and surveys has the goal of reaching thousands in a community- wide blitz to elevated drug prevention awareness in our area. Service-learning students from PSY 2012 will gathering data on pre/post test instruments; and you will man an information table. As service-learners you will develop a knowledge base concerning the detrimental effectives of drugs. You will be utilizing instruction on scientific methodology to conduct this important research study. Each group will reflect on the process and show data through a group research paper and PowerPoint presentation.

COURSE MATERIALS TEXTBOOK   Psychology, by Hockenbury and Hockenbury, Worth Publishers (3rd edition). OTHER RESOURCES/MATERIALS Two articles on current Brain research, which will be distributed in class. The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association's Resource Manual, which will be distributed in class. Other curricular resources will be available to service-learning and extra credit students. COURSE PROCEDURES ATTENDANCE   Class attendance is expected. All classroom activities are heavily oriented to visual presentation and discussion, and these experiences cannot be made up at a later date. Your presence in class enables us to work together and allows you to receive credit for assignments completed in class. Attendance is based on the student arriving on time and remaining for the entire class period. Attendance will be monitored and is required for success in this course. More than two absences will result in a reduction in grade. New Federal regulations require a reporting of all attendance data.

ASSIGNMENTS Each student is required to read and write an essay on journal articles distributed in class. These articles will be on intriguing and current Brain research. This will be an in-class essay writing assignment. Your in class assignment will be a minimum of two full pages. Your report will be a synthesis these articles. GROUP PROJECT: Research Paper Students will be placed in groups; they will be responsible for completing a detailed group research paper (utilizing A.P.A. style and scientific methodology). This paper will consist of a minimum of 15 type-written pages on drug prevention theme this semester. An oral and Powerpoint presentation and final exam essay question will be generated from this assignment. As PSY 2012 students you will devote this major group research project to creating and conducting a pre/post test instrument to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the drug prevention literature that will be disseminated community-wide. You will be utilizing the format of scientific methodology, which is a primary topic in the course to conduct this important research study. Each group will reflect on the process and show data through a group research paper and PowerPoint presentation.

DROPS AND INCOMPLETES It is the responsibility of the student to initiate and process a procedures for withdrawal from the course. The professor will not purge any student from the class rolls. Monday, Jan. 12, is the last day to withdraw with a 100% refund, and Wednesday, Mar. 17 is the last day to with draw from the course and receive a "W". Please remember if you wish to withdrawal from the course you must initiate the process, non-compliance will result in you remaining on the class rolls and receiving a grade of "F" at the end of the semester. Please also be aware that most students who complete this course will receive an "A " (approx 95% of students).

MAKE-UP POLICIES All examinations are mandatory. No make-up exam given. UNAVOIDABLE SITUATIONS OR EMERGENCIES WILL BE CONSIDERED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. It is the student's responsibility to contact the professor prior to the exam or as soon as possible thereafter. Substantiating documentation will be required (Doctor's note, etc.)

OTHER COURSE PROCEDURES PARTICIPATION: Much of what you are expected to gain from the course will depend upon the quality of the class discussion, your ability to think critically, to analyze, your ability to interpret the reading assignments, and your ability to answer questions. We can have no class discussion of any merit if you have not completed the reading assignment for that day. Therefore, complete all reading assignments and be prepared to ask and to answer questions. GRADING PROCEDURES  

EXTRA CREDIT! There are many opportunities throughout the term for extra credit, so everyone should do very well in this course. Please remember - all assignments and tests must be completed.