PSYC 1010: Introduction to Psychology – Syllabus, Foundations, and Major Perspectives

Course Overview and Policies

Instructor's Approach

This course is designed to foster a positive learning environment, promote student engagement, and focus on accessibility and flexibility for all students.

• Positive Learning Environment: The instructor aims to create a supportive and inclusive classroom atmosphere.

• Student Engagement: Interactive lectures, discussions, and activities are used to encourage participation.

• Accessibility & Flexibility: Course materials and assessments are structured to accommodate diverse student needs.

Course Structure and Assessments

• Lectures: Delivered in-person with interactive elements; slides posted before class; includes a mid-class break and in-class activities.

• Assessments:

  • Tests: 21% each, lowest grade dropped; includes multiple choice (MC) and short answer (SA) questions.

  • Course Quiz: 2% of final grade.

  • Applied Reflections: Choose 5 of 8 to complete throughout the year, each worth 2%.

  • URPP (Undergraduate Research Participation Program): 4%.

Reflections

• Posted to the discussion board; students cannot see other responses until they reply.

• One week to reply; no extensions or exceptions.

• Marked based on effort and thoroughness (out of 2 points).

• Minimum 250 words unless otherwise noted.

• Prompts include: "What was the most confusing or unclear part of today's material?", "What was the most important thing you learned today?", "What question do you still have?"

Textbook and Study Resources

• Textbook: An Introduction to Psychological Science (Pearson). Opt-out model for cheapest pricing; students must opt out in the first two weeks if they do not wish to purchase.

• Study Prep: Not mandatory but highly recommended for exam preparation.

Course Policies

• Refunding policies and missed tests.

• Academic honesty: No posting course materials to sharing websites.

• Accommodations: Book tests ahead of time.

• Office hours and email etiquette.

Tips for Success

• Stay on top of readings and assignments.

• Talk to the professor or TA if you are having trouble; do not wait until the end.

• Complete all course components, especially if aiming for a higher grade.

• Use proper email etiquette.

• If considering graduate school, get to know your professors.

• Make friends with classmates who share your work ethic; be cautious with group chats.

Common Concerns and Support

• Final/cumulative exams.

• Resources for studying, including test review sessions.

• Time management and work-life balance.

• Making friends and meeting new people.

Controversial Topics in Psychology

This course may cover topics that are uncomfortable or controversial, such as:

• Social psychology (conformity, obedience).

• Psychological disorders (crime, solitary confinement, incarceration).

• Psychology and law (wrongful convictions, eyewitness misidentification).

Learning about these topics is important for personal growth, empathy, social awareness, problem-solving, and gaining a deeper understanding of complex issues. The classroom environment emphasizes mutual respect and tolerance for dissenting opinions.

Foundations of Psychology

Psychology’s Past and Present

Psychology originated as a branch of philosophy, with ancient Greeks contemplating the nature of the mind. The formal beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline occurred in the late 19th century.

• Wilhelm Wundt: Established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, focusing on the building blocks of the mind through structuralism and introspection.

Structuralism

Structuralism was one of the earliest schools of thought in psychology, aiming to understand the structure and characteristics of the mind.

• Key Figures: Wilhelm Wundt and E.B. Titchener.

• Method: Introspection – systematic observation of one's own conscious experience.

• Goal: Identify the basic elements of consciousness, similar to how chemistry identifies elements in the periodic table.

Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology

Modern psychology is shaped by five primary schools of thought, each offering different explanations for behavior.

• Structuralism: Focuses on the structure of the mind (Wundt, Titchener).

• Functionalism: Emphasizes the purpose of mental processes and behavior (William James). Influenced by the theory of natural selection.

• Behaviorism: Focuses on observable behavior and its control (John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner). Uses principles of reinforcement and punishment (operant conditioning).

• Cognitivism: Studies mental processes underlying thinking (Jean Piaget, Ulric Neisser). Emphasizes interpretation over reward/punishment.

• Psychodynamic: Founded by Sigmund Freud. Focuses on the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences; uses dream analysis.

Additional info:

• Women in psychology have historically faced social prejudice and exclusion from graduate programs. Today, women represent a significant portion of faculty, though disparities in rank and pay persist.