Psychology 111

Grading and Course Conduct

Course Objectives Introduction to psychological content and

perspective Familiarity with scientific methodology

and reasoning Awareness of the relationship of theory,

research, and generalizations Ethics and inclusiveness Communication skills

Student Assessment Unit Exams (60%); best 3 of 4 Final Exam (15%); take-home critical

thinking essay Writing Assignments (15%) Experiencing Psychology Labs and

Discussions (10%)

Letter Grade Determination At mid point and course close, weighted

average will be computed, e.g., Weighted %age= [(.50 x exam average) + (.15 x final score) + (.20 x Assign. avg.) + (.15 x lab average)] Weighted %age then translated into letter

grade by ‘90-80-70-60’ criteria

But what does a grade mean? “A” distinctly superior performance “B” consistently above average performance “C” average performance “D” consistently below average performance “F” failing performance

Grades are not a reflection of your personal worth, but my assessment of your performance

Important Class Policies First Amendment-level protections of free speech Question, Question, Question (Skeptical Inquiry) This class first, illness, sports, debate, choir,

music, travel, friends, family second Not that these things are unimportant…

Performance, not effort, is measured and evaluated

Some Intangibles for All Your Classes Civility enhances learning. Your enthusiasm is contagious Be involved in class. The "too cool for school" posture is

unacceptable and offensive When a fellow student speaks, it is not

an opportunity to "tune out," take a break, or start a conversation

Dress appropriately for class. Never close your books or rustle your papers

to signal the end of class Don't wait until it's "too late" to seek help Come to my office hours with definite

questions, concerns, or problems in mind Never ask "Did I miss anything important in

class the other day?” Of Course You Did! Regardless of what you might think, grading

is not easy, nor do Profs take sadistic pleasure in it

As a As a natural sciencenatural science, psychology , psychology involves the study of the laws of involves the study of the laws of nature.nature.

As a As a social sciencesocial science, psychology , psychology involves the study of the laws of involves the study of the laws of the thoughts, feelings, and the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of humans and other behavior of humans and other organisms.organisms.

What is Psychology?What is Psychology?

Psychology as a Natural Science Psychology as a Natural Science and a Social Scienceand a Social Science

The Evolution of IdeasThe Evolution of Ideas DialecticDialectic

ThesisThesis AntithesisAntithesis SynthesisSynthesis

Psychological Perspectives: Psychological Perspectives: The 1850s and BeyondThe 1850s and Beyond The Merging of Philosophy and The Merging of Philosophy and

Physiology Into Modern Physiology Into Modern Psychology Psychology (1850–1900)(1850–1900)

Psychology’s Youth: A Study in Psychology’s Youth: A Study in Diverging PerspectivesDiverging Perspectives

Structuralism, Functionalism, Structuralism, Functionalism, Pragmatism, and Pragmatism, and Associationism: Studying Associationism: Studying Behavior, Not Mental StatesBehavior, Not Mental States

Evolving Twentieth-Century Perspectives Evolving Twentieth-Century Perspectives on Psychologyon Psychology From Associationism to BehaviorismFrom Associationism to Behaviorism Behaviorism—A Search for Rigor and Behaviorism—A Search for Rigor and

ReductionReduction Gestalt Psychology: The Whole is DifferentGestalt Psychology: The Whole is Different Cognitivism: Returning to Mental ActsCognitivism: Returning to Mental Acts Current Frontiers: Biological and Evolutionary Current Frontiers: Biological and Evolutionary

Psychology—The Brain and Body Reunited Psychology—The Brain and Body Reunited (Sort Of)(Sort Of)

Psychodynamic Psychology: Conscious Psychodynamic Psychology: Conscious Behavior as the Tip of the IcebergBehavior as the Tip of the Iceberg

Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology

Interest in psychological topics is ubiquitous

1879: Establishment of 1st laboratory for Psychological Study in Leipzig

Wm. Wundt: Goal was the identification of “mental elements”; a “periodic table of sensory events”

Structuralism

Functionalism Typically American emphasis on purposes

and application Key Question: What is consciousness for? Emphasis on adaptation Conceptually related to Evolutionary theory Wm. James

‘stream of consciousness’

Behaviorism Even more ‘typically American’ in its

emphasis on practical applications Restricted psychological topics to

observable events Brought psychology away from speculative

treatises to observing measurable events John B. Watson

Psychoanalytic Sigmund Freud Emphasis on unconscious processes

evidenced through behavior Used a ‘clinical method’ in which

hypotheses are evaluated by patient behavior

Gestalt Emphasized the unity of consciousness and

perceptual events Focused on identifying perceptual rules

such as…

Good Continuation

Closure

Proximity

Where are the schools now? No psychologist would be an adherent to any

particular school Best seen as progenitors to current psychological

interests Psychoanalysis Clinical Practice BehaviorismLearning Gestalt, Structuralism Sensation and Perception FunctionalismCognition