Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. This course will provide a broad overview of the field and introduce you to different aspects and subfields of psychology. We will discuss basic concepts and theories spanning neuroscience, sensation, perception, learning, memory, cognition, sleep, language and addiction. We will learn of the research methods utilized by psychologists and will learn to critically evaluate psychological research. Passing this course is a prerequisite to most advanced courses offered by the Department of Psychology. These advanced courses develop, in greater breadth and depth, the topics and critical thinking skills introduced in this course.
In this class you will:
A. Gain factual knowledge... including terminology, classifications, and methods. A strong factual foundation is necessary in order to think critically about topics in psychology. We will focus on scientific approaches underlying psychology research.
B. Learn fundamental psychological principles, generalizations and theories… including how our understanding of these concepts has evolved over time. Foundational knowledge (from A) will allow us to develop frameworks of understanding covering behavior, thinking, learning, sleep, and addiction. We will focus on fundamental theories regarding human behavior and the supporting scientific evidence.
C. Learn to interpret and analyze psychological data... In our scientific practice we will explore research studies that support the concepts we discuss in class. We will use theory and empirical research to study aspects of the human experience, and apply our findings to contemporary issues. By the end of the course, you will become critical consumers of psychological science, being able to analyze the validity of a claim given a set of evidence.
D. Understand the variation in behaviors and mental processes across individuals and groups… including those based on age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity/race, culture, national origin, religion, disability status, language and socioeconomic status. Much of psychology’s foundational knowledge was originally gleaned from a narrow slice of society [white college-aged males]. We will make a concerted effort to explore psychological concepts from various perspectives as we strive to make the field more relevant, ethical and equitable for diverse groups.