FARMINGDALE STATE COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT: PSYCHOLOGY
PREPARED BY: PSYCHOLOGY DEPT.
DATE: FALL 2014
COURSE TITLE:
Introduction to Psychology
(Personality, Abnormal, Therapy, Social)
COURSE CODE:
PSY 131
CREDITS:
3
CONTACT HOURS:
45
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to present basic concepts in the scientific study of interpersonal
behavior. Topics covered include methods of psychological research, psychology as a
profession, human development, intelligence, theories of personality, mental
health/abnormality/stress, psychological assessment of emotional/behavioral disorders,
psycho-therapy, and social psychology. Psychological theories, uses of psychology
(individual and general), and careers in psychology will be discussed.
PREREQUISITES:
None
REQUIRED FOR:
ELECTIVE FOR:
All curricula with a social science elective
TEXTS CURRENTLY
Modules for Active Learning, Custom 13th Edition, Dennis
Coon/John O Mitterer; Cengage Learning. ISBN#
9781305385504
COURSE OUTLINE
UNIT I
Introduction to Psychology
History of Psychology
Psychologists and other Mental Health Professionals
Research Methodology in Psychology
(observation, correlational studies, experimental method, the clinical case
study, longitudinal and cross-sectional studies; placebo effect, ethical
issues in research)
UNIT II Developmental Psychology
Behavioral genetics, nature vs. nurture
Pre-natal development and environmental influences
Birth process
Characteristics of the neonate
Infant and child development: social, language, cognitive, moral
Life-Span Development
Psychosocial stages of development (Erikson)
Cognitive stages of development (Piaget)
Typical childhood problems
Childhood disorders
Parenting styles
Dysfunctional families, child abuse
Adolescence and puberty
Adulthood and aging
Death and dying; bereavement and grief
UNIT III Intelligence
Defining intelligence; the IQ controversy
Assessment and psychometric testing
Cognition, problem solving and creativity
Mental retardation
UNIT IV Personality
Defining personality
Traits, types, theories
Structure of personality: id, ego, superego
Psychosexual stages of development (Freud)
Humanistic theory: Maslow, Rogers
Assessment: interviews, questionnaires
Inventories and projective techniques
UNIT V Abnormal Psychology
Historical background: from superstition to science
Definition of abnormality; concepts of normality
Psychiatric labeling, self-fulfilling prophecy
Mental health professionals
Models of psychopathology
Assessment and classification (DSM IV)
Mental disorders: anxiety, depression, substance-abuse, psychosis
(schizophrenia), paraphilias, dementia, dissociation
Etiology, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness
Institutionalization; legal issues
Community mental health programs; self-help groups
Psychotherapy
Types of therapy: individual, group, family, marital
Psychoanalysis; concept of the unconscious mind
Humanistic therapy; client-centered therapy
Behavior therapy: desensitization, reinforcement
Cognitive therapy
Psychopharmacological therapy, ECT, psychosurgery
UNIT VI Social Psychology
Definition and concepts of social psychology
Relation to psychology and sociology
Social roles and expectations
Personal space and boundaries
Attitudes, persuasion, stereotypes, prejudice
Brainwashing and cults
Interpersonal attraction
Cognitive dissonance theory
Process of social influence: compliance, conformity, ower, obedience,
helping behavior
Social cognition, comparison and perception
Theories of aggression
Attribution theory