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PSY 1106 – Introduction to Psychology
Instructor: Ottilia Boross, Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Institute of Psychology; McDaniel College Budapest
Contact information: otttilia@gmail.com
Availability: My office hours are Monday-Wednesday 12:00-12:30. Please feel free to come by to discuss any topic whether academic, spiritual or personal. Please ask me if you have any questions about the readings or your assignments or projects.
Course Description
The course is a one-semester overview of the field of psychology, with an emphasis on human cognitive, social and emotional development and functioning.
Course objectives
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Giving an impression of the history of psychology, its major approaches/outstanding representatives/scientific terms
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Studying human development/the mechanisms of human mind and behavior
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Developing a better understanding of oneself and others/ a critical approach to lay theories
Procedures
In order to meet the objectives more than one method will be used. Most information will be presented in the form of lectures but part of the time will be taken up in interactive demonstrations of psychological principles, class discussion of issues and students' oral presentations.
Required text
R.L. Atkinson, R.C. Atkinson, E. E. Smith, D. J. Bem, S.N-Hoeksema: Hilgard' s Introduction to psychology; Harcourt Brace & Company
Required readings
will be handed out in class or made available as electronic resources in due time
Assignments and grading
Course Requirements
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Attendance is important since (sometimes unannounced) quizzes might cover material discussed only in class and not found in the textbook. It is also necessary to get prepared for each lesson.
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There will be at least ten regular quizzes, corresponding to the main topics of the course. All quizzes will cover information from the book and the in-class experience.
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You are supposed to take a midterm and a comprehensive final test with a mixed format with some multiple choice and some short answers. You are also expected to prepare a final project (essay) covering a topic of interest of yours. The final draft of the final project (essay) must be turned in by the deadline or it will lose one point for each day it is late.
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Each one of you should have at least one oral presentation during the Term, that may also be selected according to your interest.
Calculating grades:
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Class participation – 20 points
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Twelve quizzes – 50 points (5 points each)
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Midterm test – 40 points
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Final test – 60 points
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Oral presentation – 15 points
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Final project (essay) – 15 points
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Total – 200 points
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Grade
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Points
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A
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200 – 175
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B
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175 – 150
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C
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150 – 125
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D
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125 – 100
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F
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< 100
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Honor Code
All students are expected to adhere to the McDaniel College Honor Code on all assignments and exams.
Course policies
Attendance will be taken each lesson and may have direct effect on grades in case of unexcused absences and/or if 30 % or more of the class meetings are missed.
Semester Schedule/weekly outline
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1.
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The study of psychology
Fields, approaches and methods of psychology
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2.
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Neurobiological and physiological basis of psychology
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3.
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The nervous system and its functions
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4.
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Psychological development I.
Theories and stages of development
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5.
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Psychological development II.
Moral and sexual development
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6.
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Sensory processes; Nature vs. Nurture debate
Perception, attention
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7.
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Consciousness
Aspects and different states of consciousness – Mid-term test
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8.
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Learning I.
Classical and instrumental conditioning.
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9.
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Learning II.
Complex learning.
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10.
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Memory
The nature and the biological bases of memory
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11.
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Language and thought
communication, language acquisition, conceptual thinking, problem solving
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12.
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Motivation
Incentive motivation, homeostasis
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13.
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Emotions
Differentiation of emotions, physiological basis –Final test
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