Instructor: Erika Koch, Ph.D.
E-mail: ekoch@mcdaniel.edu
Phone:
Office:
(410) 857-2521
Winslow 208
Office hours: Mondays 10:15-11:15 & Wednesdays 3:00-4:00 (or by appointment)
Required text: Myers, D. G. (2004). Psychology (7 th
Edition). New York: Worth
Publishers.
Required readings are on reserve in Hoover Library. (See page 5.)
Psychology is the scientific study of thoughts, feelings, and behavior. This course is designed to present a broad introduction to the various subfields of psychology. It is also a requirement for more advanced psychology courses. Because psychology has so many subfields (e.g., social, personality, clinical, developmental, cognitive), this course cannot cover any one of these fields in depth. However, the course will expose students to a variety of psychological theories and perspectives.

To learn the basic subject matter of various psychological disciplines.

To learn the fundamental concepts involved psychological research.

To apply psychological theories to real-world issues.

To develop critical thinking skills.
Classes will include lecture, discussion, demonstrations, and films. I will not take attendance; however, you must attend class to do well in this course. Therefore, class attendance is your responsibility. If you must miss class, please do not ask me for class notes. I do not give out class notes. I recommend that you obtain notes from a classmate. I will be happy to answer specific questions about class notes once you have obtained them. During class, I encourage you to ask questions about concepts that are unclear, or to share examples that you think are relevant to a topic. Outside of class, I encourage you to meet with me during my office hours (or set an appointment) to discuss any questions or concerns, or to discuss how to study for the exams.
E-mail is the best way to contact me outside of class.

There will be four exams for this class. The first exam will be worth fewer points than the remaining exams. The lower point value of the first exam should allow you to acquaint yourself with the exam format and the new type of material without strongly affecting your grade. You will find that studying for psychology is quite different from studying for other courses. Exams will consist of both multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The first three exams will be non-cumulative, and the final exam will have a similar format but with an added cumulative component. Each exam will require not only that you learn definitions and theories, but also that you apply what you have learned. Lecture material (e.g., films, demonstrations) will supplement the readings; thus, exam questions will be taken both from the readings and lectures. Therefore, you must attend class and read the assigned work to succeed in this course.
Arrive on time for the exams. If you arrive after the first student has finished an exam, you will receive a zero on that exam. If you must miss an exam for emergency reasons (e.g., illness, family death) or for a McDaniel College activity, you must provide me with appropriate documentation from a physician or the appropriate College office. I must approve your excuse, and I will schedule the make-up exam within seven days after the regular exam. I reserve the right to administer essay-only exams for any make-up. If you require assistance with exams (e.g., extra time for a documented learning disability), you must contact me prior to the first exam.
You will receive additional information in class and on the Blackboard site.
PsycInfo Paper: As one of the goals of this course is to familiarize you with psychological research, you will complete a search using PsycInfo—a library “search engine” for psychology.
Begin thinking of a topic that interests you. You will conduct a search on your topic and turn in a printout of your complete search. You will ultimately find two articles from your search to read and summarize. Include copies of the articles with your paper.
Discussion Papers: You will write four short papers over the semester in which you summarize and think critically about original readings. (See page 5 for a list of outside readings.)
No late papers will be accepted.
You are expected to abide by the Honor Code: “I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this piece of work, nor have I knowingly tolerated any violation of the Honor Code.”
I WILL NOT TOLERATE CHEATING OR PLAGIARISM OF ANY SORT. Plagiarism includes—but is not limited to—failing to cite the source of an idea or using another person’s exact words without quoting him or her. Any student suspected of violating the Honor Code will be referred to the Honor and Conduct Board, which reserves the right to grant a failing grade.

Grades will be based on the scale presented below. If you complete the optional Information
Sheet, you will receive one extra credit point. Do not plan on receiving additional extra credit.
A total of 550 points is possible.
Exam 1:
Exam 2:
Exam 3:
Points
Final Exam:
PsycInfo paper:
80 points
100 points
100 points
120 points
50 points
Discussion papers: 100 points
531-550= A+
Grading Scale
421-437 = C+
509-530 = A
493-508 = A-
476-492 = B+
454-475= B
399-420 = C
383-398 = C-
366-382 = D+
344-365 = D
438-453 = B- 328-343 = D-
327 and below = F
Note : The following is a tentative schedule. Discussion papers are due at the beginning of class on the last day of a particular topic. Class topics and order are subject to change. However, exam dates and paper due dates will not change, except under unusual circumstances such as class cancellations due to inclement weather.
DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENT
* = Discussion paper due on this date.
Mon. August 30 Welcome
Wed. September 1 Introduction to Psychology
Fri. September 3 Thinking in Psychology
Mon. September 6 NO CLASS – Labor Day
Wed. September 8
Fri. September 10
Mon. September 13
Wed. September 15
Fri. September 17
Mon. September 20*
Research Methods in Psychology
Neuroscience and Behavior
Prologue
Prologue
Chapter 1 (pp. 19-26)
Chapter 10 (pp. 385-397)
Chapter 1 (pp. 26-55)
Chapter 2 reading : Sacks, 1985
Wed. September 22 EXAM 1: Introduction, Thinking, Methods, Neuroscience

DATE TOPIC
* = Discussion paper due on this date.
Fri. September 24 Introduction to PsycInfo
Mon. September 27
Wed. September 29
Development
Fri. October 1*
Mon. October 4
Wed. October 6
Fri. October 8
Sensation & Perception
Consciousness Mon. October 11
Wed. October 13
ASSIGNMENT meet at Hoover Library
Chapter 4 article : Harlow, 1958
Chapter 7
Chapter 5 & Chapter 6
PSYC INFO PAPER due
Fri. October 15 EXAM 2: Development, Sensation & Perception, Consciousness
Mon. October 18 NO CLASS – Fall Break
Wed. October 20
Fri. October 22
Learning
Mon. October 25
Emotion Wed. October 27
Fri. October 29
Mon. November 1
Wed. November 3
Fri. November 5*
Memory
Mon. November 8
Wed. November 10
Fri. November 12
Personality
Chapter 8
Chapter 13
Chapter 9 article : Loftus, 1997
Chapter 15
Mon. November 15
Wed. November 17
Fri. November 19
Mon. November 22*
Wed. November 24
Fri. November 26
Mon. November 29
Wed. December 1
Fri. December 3
Mon. December 6
Wed. December 8
Fri. December 10
EXAM 3: Learning, Emotion, Memory, Personality
Psychological Disorders
NO CLASS – Thanksgiving
Therapy
Social Psychology
Chapter 16 reading : Rosenhan, 1973
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Finals Week EXAM 4: Disorders, Therapy, Social + cuml. section

Required Readings and Discussion Papers
Occasionally throughout the semester, you will have an outside article or other reading to complete prior to class discussion. You will find these readings on reserve in Hoover Library. So that you will be well-prepared to contribute thoughtfully to discussions, you will write a paper prior to each discussion. Each short paper will involve three steps: 1) state the main point(s) of the reading, 2) submit any questions that you have about the reading, 3) pose a question for class discussion. More details will be available in class and on the Blackboard site.
Each assignment will be evaluated according to the following scale:


Minimal: 18 points
(paper seems rushed or thrown together)
Satisfactory: 25 points
(paper shows careful thinking)
References
Sacks, O. (1985). The man who mistook his wife for a hat . New York: Summit Books. (pp. 7-21).
Harlow, H. F. (1958). The nature of love. American Psychologist, 13, 673-685.
Loftus, E. F. (1997). Memories for a past that never was. Current Directions in Psychological
Science, 6 , 60-65.
Rosenhan, D. L. (1973). On being sane in insane places. Science, 179, 250-258. [also available on-line—see Blackboard site]