Psyc 1101 Introduction to General Psychology

Azerbaijan University

School of Business

Psyc 1101 Introduction to General Psychology

Fall, 2009

Instructor: Feride Abbasova, MSW’2009

Class hour: Friday 15:00

Office hour: only by appointment or after class

Email:

The Course provides the students with an overview of the field of psychology.The course will familiarize with the basic terms and theories, as well as with some classic and recent research. The course introduces general issues in the discipline such as historical development of the different fields, basic and applied research, scientific reasoning, and psychological methods and statistics. This introduction is followed by discussions of theories and findings in different fields of psychology, including Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, and Organizational Psychology.

Course Objectives:

The broad objective of the course is to strengthen students understanding on general psychology, psychological processes, theories, and findings:

Course is aimed at providing students with new interactive methods of lecturing, will identify the areas of students’ interests and combine them with the course content:

Demonstrates foundational knowledge in social psychology (concepts, theories, research methods); assessed with journal article review and tests

Applies social psychological phenomena to one's own thinking, behavior, and relationships as well as stories and cultural artifacts (literature, film, etc.); assessed with portfolio papers, anger observations, and tests

Recognizes the extent to which social behaviors are influenced by situational and interpretive factors; assessed with film analysis, situational observation

Outline perspective on human nature and compare it to social psychological perspectives (e.g., evolutionary, sociocultural);

Course Textbooks:

Myers, G.D. (2007) Psychology: Woth Publishers, Hope CollegeMichigan

Kenrick, D. T., Neuberg, S. G., & Cialdini, R. B. (2005). Social psychology: Unraveling the mystery (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Course Structure

Course structure and model will allow student to obtain theoretical as well as practical knowledge and skills related to general psychology. Theoretical and practical skills are designed around the following modules: understanding of psychology; leadership skills; communications; psycho-social aspect of wellbeing.

Both practical and theoretical sessions are based on evidence based approach and values and ethics.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING CRITERIA

Attendance and participation in class both theoretical and practical sessions are required in this course. Lack of attendance and participation will result in a lower cumulative score.

Grade Scale:

Scores / AKTS scores
A+ = 97 – 100
A = 93 – 96 / A = 90 – 100
A- = 90 – 92
B+ = 87 – 89
B = 83 – 86 / B = 80 – 89
B- = 80 – 82
C+ = 77 – 79
C = 73 – 76 / C = 70 – 79
C- = 70 – 72
D+ = 67 – 69
D = 63 – 66 / D = 60 - 69
D- = 60 – 62
F = 0 – 59 / E = 50 – 59
Fx = 40 – 49
F = 0 – 39

Students will be evaluated based on the following assignments:

Note: detailed Assignment and Scoring Scales will be provided in class for each assignment

Observation Paper- 15%

Interview Paper- 15 %

Assessment Paper- 20 %

Process Paper- 20%

Final Exam- 25%

Course Content

Class# / Date / Title / Covered Topics
1 / Introduction / Historical Foundations of Psychology – Definition and Scope of Psychology,
Fields of Psychology, Schools of Psychology; Methods of Psychology – Introspection, Observation, Case Study, Interview,
Survey and Experimental method
2 / Biological Basis of Behaviour / Hormonal basis of behavior - the major endocrine glands and their functions; Attention - Span, division and distraction. Perception – Perecptual constancy –
Illusions Internal and External factors influencing Perceptual.
3 / Motivation and Emotion / Definition and functions of Motives. Types of Motives – Physiological and
Psycho-Social motives. Unconscious motivation. Maslow’s theory of Motivation.
Emotion – Definition and nature of emotions. Theories of emotion – James-
Lange, Cannon-Bard and Schachter-Singer
4 / Learning / Maturation and Learning. Classical and Instrumental
Conditioning. Learning by Insight and Observation, Latent learning; Meaning of memory, Types of memory, Methods of measuring memory,
Information Processing model of memory, curve of forgetting and causes of
forgetting, Methods of Improving Memory
5 / Personality – Nature and Definition / Approaches to Personality – Type, Behaviouristic, Humanistic and
Psychosexual approaches.
6 / Social Perception – Understanding Others / Attribution – Theories of Attribution – Theory of Correspondent Influence,
Errors in Attribution – Fundamental Attribution Error, Actor – Observer
effect, Self Serving Bias
Impression formation and Impression Management - Techniques of
Impression Management
7 / Communication; Attitudes; Prejudices / Definition, nature and types of communication. Barriers to effective
communication. Rumors and propaganda; Definition - Distinctive features of Attitudes, Formation of Attitudes,
Measurement of Attitudes - Likert method of Summated ratings, Bogardus
method of Social Distance, Thurstone’s Equal appearing intervals method.
Cognitive Dissonance, Reducing Dissonance; Prejudice and Discrimination – Nature and Origin of Prejudice, Techniques
of reducing Prejudice
Definition, Determinants of Human Aggression – Social, Personal, and
Situational factors – Theoretical Perspectives on Aggression – Biological
Perspective – Drive Theories, General Affective Aggression model, Prevention
and Control of Aggression.
8 / Groups and Individuals; Leadership / Definition and Types of Groups, Group functions – Roles, Status, Norms,
Cohesiveness and Conformity. Groups and Individual performance,- Social
facilitation, Social loafing. Decision making by Groups;
Definition – Traits of a Leader, Types of Leaders – Autocratic, Democratic
and Charismatic Leaders. Classic studies on leadership, leader behavior –
initiating structure and consideration.
9 / Industrial-Organizational Psychology
(Theory) / Definition, scope and historical development of I-O psychology. Pioneers
on personnel selection. World War I and the testing movement.
Hawthorne studies and motivational issues. World War II and
Engineering Psychology.
10 / Employee Selection / The Recruitment process. Sources of Recruiting. Recruiter characteristics.
Campus recruitment.
Selection process: Job and worker analysis. Definition and purpose.
Techniques of analysis. Interviews, Questionnaires, Observation. Activity
logs, critical incidents
Use of biographical data – application blanks – Reference letters – Interviews
Types of interviews – structured, situational and online
11 / Personnel Training / Principles of learning and training – Methods of training – Evaluation of
training
12 / Work motivation; Job Satisfaction and Work Attitudes / Theories of work motivation – Need Hierarchy theory, Equity theory,
Two Factor theory, Expectancy theory. Motivational theories in practice –
Goal setting – Participation in decision making – Incentive system
Importance of work attitudes and opinions in industry – Job satisfaction
and its influence on work behaviour – Measurement of job satisfaction and
work attitudes
13 / Final Session / Overview of the course content
Exam