PSYC 2101
Introduction to the Psychology of Adjustment
Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. Barry Kicklighter
Office Location: Russell 309
Office Phone: 678-359-5036
E-mail address: bkicklighter@gordonstate.edu
Office Hours: 9:00-1:00 & 3:00-5:00 W; 10:00-11:00 TR
Course Description:
This class is about human relationships, personal growth and adjustment to life’s circumstances.
We will discuss stress and coping, resiliency, intimate relationships, values, morals and ethics,
issues of self and healthy living. This class is taught in a discussion workshop format.
Prerequisite: None
Course Objectives:
Students will
1. Learn how developmental stages and issues impact personal adjustment and
interpersonal relationships
2. Develop skills important for healthy personal adjustment and more fulfilling
relationships.
3. Learn the psychological theories concerning emotional resilience and personal
growth
4. Develop insight into how past personal experiences may influence own current
behavior and relationships
5. Identify and develop skills that improve personal resiliency for future adjustment
and growth.
Course Format:
This class is taught primarily in a discussion/workshop and presentation format. Some lecture
will be provided to present new material and to clarify required reading. Films may be used to
help illuminate topics.
Textbook
Weitten, (et. al). Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century.
Wadsworth Cengage:CA
Students Responsibilities
Attendance: In accordance with Gordon College policy, students are expected to attend
class regularly, on time, and for the entire class period. Regular attendance is correlated to
grades. Disruption such as arriving late and leaving the class early will affect your grade. If you
arrive over 5 minutes late or arrive late repeatedly 3 points will be deducted from your next test
grade. If you must leave the class before it is dismissed, notify the instructor before class begins.
Turn off Cell Phones: Cell phones are not allowed during class time. Each occurrence of
cell phone usage will result in a 3 point test grade reduction.
Preparation for class and completion of assigned work: In order to take the best
advantage of classroom lecture and discussion, it is important to prepare for classes ahead of
time by reading assigned material. Tests should be taken on the assigned day, and assigned work
should be completed by the due date.
Awareness and communication: It is the student’s responsibility: 1) to be aware of test
dates and assignment deadlines; 2) to obtain notes or other information missed; 3) to turn in
assignments by deadline dates; 4) to communicate any special circumstances, events, or needs
that will interfere with his/her course work to the instructor in a timely fashion.
Special Learning Needs: If you need academic accommodations for a disability, you must go
through the process of receiving approved accommodations through the Student Counseling and
Disability Services office, Student Center, Room 212, phone – 678-359-5585.
Academic Honesty
See the Gordon College Academic Catalog for the official college policy. Evidence of
cheating on examinations or plagiarism of written assignments will, at minimum, result in a
grade of zero for the test or assignment. Any work turned in must be your original work and any
information taken from outside sources must be referenced. This includes facts, statistics, and
ideas of others, even if they are paraphrased. If you read, listen, or otherwise consult any source
in preparation for an assignment, that source must be identified in a bibliography or other list of
works consulted. If you use specific facts or paraphrase specific sentences or phrases from a
source, including the textbook, that source must be identified not only in the bibliography but
also at the end of the sentence or paragraph in which it appears. If in doubt as to whether an
assignment can be collaborated on with another student, ask the instructor.
Course Requirements:
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Unannounced in-class reaction
papers may not be made up and will be due the day they are assigned. Absence from class does
not relieve students of responsibility for completing all assigned reading, group projects, papers,
or for any material presented or covered in class. Students are expected to complete all assigned
reading prior to coming to class and to participate in all class discussions. Students are strongly
encouraged to engage class material on a personal level.
Graded Assignments:
 Assignments. Each student will be expected to complete assignments throughout the
semester. These assignments will be associated with the information covered in the class text
and in the class discussions. These assignments are designed to help students apply this
information. The assignments will be divided into four sections and I will collect these
assignments on four occasions during the course of the semester. Assignments will be
reduced by 5 points for every day (not class periods) that they are late. Many of these
assignments will require personal reflection and responses. To fully benefit from these
assignments, detail answers are needed. Brief answers will result in a reduction of points.
These assignments may be handwritten unless the instructor is unable to read them. The
student will then be required to type these assignments.
 Presentations. Students will choose a topic (many are listed on the final page of this syllabus)
at the beginning of the semester that they will research and present to the class. Students will
work with one other classmate.
 Each individual/team will be given 15-20 minutes to give their presentation.
Presentations shorter than 15 minutes will receive a reduction of 5 points per minute.
 Presentations will be assigned a week that they must be ready and presented during.
Three presentations will be given each day and chosen by lottery. Teams not prepared to
present will lose 50 points.
 Presenters will be graded based on their demonstrated knowledge of the subject, class
activities used during the presentation, learning materials used in the presentation (e.g.
class handouts, posters, video, etc.), length of presentation, and class participation.
 Due to the brevity of the presentation times videos should take up no more than 5 minutes
of the overall presentation.
 Prior to their presentation, students will provide to the instructor an outline of their
presentation that describes the parts of the presentation for which each student is
responsible.
 Students will provide an electronic copy of an outline stating the key points made during
the presentation to the instructor. This outline will be made available to the class.
 Students will provide 2 questions to the class at the beginning of their presentations that
they believe represent significant information from their topic and that they will answer
during their presentation. These presentation test questions will be included on our last
class test.
 All online links used during the presentation must be embedded into one document. This
can be in a PowerPoint Presentation or Word document. Downloading and copying
online videos will also ensure that they play on request.
 All presentations must be loaded into the class computer prior to the class period they are
to be given. This will allow us to start on time and ensure everyone has enough time to
complete their presentations.
 Reflection Papers. The purpose of a reflection paper is to demonstrate what you have
learned. Throughout the semester you will be given the opportunity to reflect on what you
learned from the material/information that was discussed in the class, from material assigned
outside of class, or from presentations made by fellow students. There will be no makeup
opportunities for reflection papers; you must attend class to write these papers.
 Test: There will be 3 tests during the semester covering selected terms and topics. A study
guide will be provided to identify these selected terms and topics. No make up tests will be
offered without a written, documented excuse. Missed tests must be made up within 1 week.
At the end of the semester each student’s highest test score will be doubled for a total of 4
test grades.
 Final Exam: We will have a comprehensive exam. The study guides for the 3 semester tests
can be used to prepare for this exam.
Grading:
Assignments............ 20 percent
Presentation ............ 15 percent
Tests........................ 40 percent
Reflections Papers....10 percent
Final Exam…………15 percent
Grading Scale: A = 90–100 percent
B = 80–89 percent
C = 70–79 percent
D = 60–69 percent
F = 0–59 percent
Introduction to the Psychology of Adjustment
Class Presentation Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Benefits of Religion
Existential Angst: Why We Need Purpose and Where We Find It
How to Be a Better Communicator
Divorce and Its Effects
Dating Issues (date rape, posse dating, strategies for better dating, why we like who we
like, etc.)
6. Single Parenthood
7. The 5 Love Languages
8. Grieving: Dealing with Death
9. Problem Solving Techniques
10. Dealing with Procrastination Now
11. Keeping Your Brain Alive and Growing
12. Humor/Laughing and It’s Benefits
13. Exercise and Its Benefits
14. Nutrition and Its Benefits
15. How to live an Optimistic life and why
16. Dealing with Impaired Children
17. Dealing with Impaired Parents/Adults
18. The Mind – Body Connection
19. Dealing with War and Its Effects
20. Effective Parenting
21. Pros and Cons of Cohabitation
22. How to find a job
23. How to prepare a resume
24. Can video games be healthy?
25. What can help you live longer?