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PSYCHOLOGY 1200 SYLLABUS
Psychology: Historical, Social, and Scientific Foundations
SECTIONS 101
Instructor: Dr. Hall Beck
A syllabus is a description of the rules that college courses are played by. The justification for a
syllabus is its utility and not its beauty. You cannot hear the heart beat through a syllabus. No
one becomes passionate when I pass out syllabi. Never have I known a student to rise from his
seat, surging with anger at the information contained in a syllabus. Or, can you imagine the
converse? All night she danced under the half-moon as Figaro, in his resonant voice, read the
words of her Organic Chemistry syllabus over and over again.
You just never find anything surprising in a syllabus. Here is our syllabus.
Office Hours
My office is located at 215 SWH. I realize that some students are hesitant to visit professors.
Their reluctance to benefit from an important part of the college experience suggests the
possibility of a previous unpleasant encounter. Were you bitten, boxed and mailed to some
godforsaken place on your last encounter with a professor? Do not worry, that will not be your
fate if you visit me. Perhaps, you are concerned that your own odd behaviors make you socially
un-presentable. Once again, there is no need for trepidation (unless you have webbed feet). Do
not worry even if your friends consider you peculiar. I am sure that you are not the most bizarre
person to visit my office. If it is physically possible to perform an action, I have met some prior
Appalachian student who claims to have done it. So don’t be shy, bring your smiling face to my
doorway and add a bit of sunshine to my day.
Given that this is summer, the most efficient manner to schedule office hours is to schedule an
appointment. However, if you just decide to drop by there will usually be a student there ahead
of you. Nevertheless, I will be in my office from 2:00 to 3:00 Monday through Thursday.
Lectures, Text and Other Materials
1. Lectures
2. Myers, D.G., Psychology. Worth: New York
3. Power Points and other materials on the web
4. Things that just go through your head
Stuff I Was Asked To Include In My Syllabus
I was asked to include the following statement in my syllabus. The paragraph pretty much
describes every Introductory Psychology course taught in the United States over the last 120
years. Here is that summary statement that you have been waiting for.
This course will focus on the biological and cognitive foundations of individual behavior, as well
as the individual in the social context. Research on psychological phenomena will be reviewed to
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demonstrate the logic of the scientific method, to foster critical thinking, to identify potential
shortcomings in interpretations of behavior (e.g., claims presented in the popular media), and to
describe linkages to everyday experiences (e.g., aesthetic and perceptual judgments, improved
studying, friendship and attraction, development of political attitudes). Students will learn how to
use empirical data to draw sound conclusions about behavior. Finally, connections to other
thematic areas of scholarly inquiry within other disciplines will be presented.
I was also asked to include a statement concerning individuals with disabilities. It is very
lawyerly.
Appalachian State University is committed to making reasonable accommodations for
individuals with documented qualifying disabilities in accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Those seeking
accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact and register with The
Office of Disability Services (ODS) at http://www.ods.appstate.edu/ or 828-262-3056. Once
registration is complete, individuals will meet with ODS staff to discuss eligibility and
appropriate accommodations.
That is the end of the lawyerly statement.
Of Textbooks and Parrots
Before Gutenberg's invention of the printing press, college professors were forced to lecture.
There were two very good reasons that my medieval predecessors used the lecture method. Most
students could not afford a book and many students could barely read. Much has changed since
the fifteenth century, but universities still press on as if students cannot buy books and are
illiterate. Why should a professor lecture on what most students can easily master from reading
the text? I believe that the lecture practices in most courses are examples of thoughtless
endeavors, which have long ago lost their utility. I am thankful that medieval faculty did not slap
their students to keep them from freezing in virtually unheated buildings. Otherwise, we would
probably be whacking our students in today's cozy classrooms and evaluating faculty to
distinguish good from not so good whackers. From my perspective, parrots make excellent pets
but poor professors. Therefore, we will not spend a minute covering straightforward material that
is well described in our text. Class time is just too precious for wasteful repetition.
Your textbook can be obtained only from secret locations (e.g., bookstore). The bookstore staff
and I have a curious custom (the bookstore staff have many curious customs but I am part to only
a few of these). Every semester they ask me how many textbooks will be needed? I tell them.
Then they order fewer books than I request. By the second day of class some student will inform
me that there are no textbooks available. I call the bookstore and ask why there aren’t enough
books for my students. They say that they don't know, but it is unfortunate.
Yes, I realize that at this time of the semester the bookstore is filled with hot, sweaty, and
frequently poorly attired people. Nevertheless, you must be brave, like the pioneers of olden
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days. Say to yourself, “I can do this; I am capable.” Walk over to the bookstore, go in and ask for
the rental text for Psychology 1200. Otherwise, you may have to door-to-door, classmate to
classmate begging for a few precious hours to read the text. Finally, when you have no other
alternatives you may have to sell your teeth to a false teeth specialist just to get enough money to
purchase the text at an exorbitant fee. To avoid this tragic fate, hurry to the bookstore before it is
too late.
Lectures and Laughter
Lecture will cover a series of topics that do not fit well in the average textbook. You will find the
Power Points that summarize the lectures very helpful. You will come to love these Power
Points. In the past, the Psychology 1200 Power Points have been the subject of poems. A student
was once so moved by the Power Points that he wrote a song about them. I hope that you also
find a place in your heart for them. Surely, a big hearted person like yourself should have room.
The material covered in our course is often both thought provoking and exhilarating. Psychology
is such an exciting field of study that students frequently find that they are unable to control their
emotions. You will soon come to realize that although I am among the most accepting and
sensitive of men, I must ask you to please refrain from demonstrations of extreme passion in
class. Wallowing in the aisles is especially unseemly as is kissing and embracing in the back
row. Although I am a stalwart defender of the true propriety, I realize that there must always be
time for laughter. Did you ever find yourself in this predicament?
You smile at something said in class. The chuckle inside you builds into a full-fledged laugh. It
explodes into a big "hee haw." You attempt to get control of yourself. You try not to think about
it. It doesn't work. You put your hand over your mouth. You are gritting your teeth to withhold
an outburst. Oh no! You can't stop thinking about it. Little tears are starting to roll down your
face. Occasionally, a chortle erupts. Your lips sputter as you fight to hold it down. Your
classmates are beginning to notice. They look at you, smiling, aware that you are on the verge of
falling off the edge. Now, the professor focuses on you and says, "Is there some problem?"
That's it!! That's it!! It's all over now. Uproarious laugh after uproarious laugh gushes forth.
The class is staring, snickering at the hoot you have made of yourself. There is nothing else left
to do. Your foolishness has halted the lecture. You struggle from your desk, mumbling; "I'm
sorry," as one "ha" after another shakes your chest. Face flushed, one hand over your brow, you
totter toward the door, convulsively bellowing guffaw upon guffaw.
The tragedy of this incident is not that the student has committed a social indiscretion. Our
glorious animal heritage has given us all the capacity to laugh from the belly until we quiver.
Society with its perverse politeness, has censored the heart out of us, replacing the wild whoop,
with the tame "hmm" "hmm."
Transitions
Transitions occur when we undergo major changes in our lives. For some of you, going from
middle to high school was a transition. Other transitions that you will experience include
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becoming a parent, marrying, moving to a new country, establishing your career, watching your
youngest child leave home, and retiring. These are among the most exciting times of your life;
the times of greatest potential and growth. Transitions are also characterized by high levels of
stress. Old ways of acting and viewing the world no longer work as well as they once did and
must be replaced.
Going to college is one of the great transitions. That is why freshmen are so much more
interesting than juniors and seniors. Although you are thrilling and dynamic, being a freshman is
not easy. Who you were in high school does not matter much here. The fact that you were a
linebacker or the secretary of the senior class is no longer pertinent. We are all at the same
starting line. Many of the attitudes and behaviors that you could once depend upon don’t apply
here. What’s a person to do?
I do not know if I can offer much sage advice of fitting in socially (actually I do but you
probably would not believe me), but I am an expert on what to do and not do academically. Life
is filled with “thou shall not” and “thou shall” rules. Here are some academic “thou shall nots”
and “thou shalls.”
Thou Shall Not Shave Under Your Arms During Class: Most of your classmates do not
want to watch you shave under your arms. It is not a good way to make new friends. Shaving
under your arms distracts those around you and keeps you from benefiting from the lecture. If
your underarms itch or you suddenly become obsessed with your appearance the appropriate
action is to find a restroom, groom yourself, and return to class.
Thou Shall Not Engage In Loud And Repeated Burping: Like shaving under your arms,
loudly burping distracts others and decreases your ability to focus on the lecture. Still, loud and
repeated burping is not nearly so negative a behavior as shaving under your arms since it is an
involuntary rather than a voluntary behavior.
Thou Shall Not Put Your Head On Your Desk: While most professors will not say
anything, many find it extremely rude to see a student with her or his head on a desk. Putting
your head on your desk is much worse than shaving under your arms or repeated burping during
class. When your head touches your desk you are on the road to academic hell. If you are sick or
exhausted, the polite response is leave. Return to your room and go to bed. Recover and rise up
when you can present your best to the world.
Thou Shall Not Chat, Text Message Or Listen To Your IPod During Lecture: These
behaviors indicate that you have removed yourself from the lecture or discussion. Obviously,
you are not really a part of the class at this point. Like putting your head on your desk, you
would be far better off and create a more favorable impression if you just left class.
Thou Shall Not Hide Under Your Seat. Since you are no longer children, your size makes
it unlikely that you will physically hide under your seat. Nevertheless, a significant number of
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students come to class regularly but never ask a question, offer an opinion, or contribute to our
class in any way. By their silence they are robbing their classmates of their views. More
importantly, they are reducing the pleasures and benefits of their education. Though they have
big bodies they are still hiding under their seats. It is time for you to emerge and fly.
Thou Shall Study Some Each Day: Very few students realize that this is the key to
academic success. Concentrating their studying just before an assignment is due will lower your
grade, increase the total time required to master the material, produce unnecessary stress, and
turn what an enjoyable experience into drudgery. To count your “all nighters” is to count your
loses.
Thou Shall Ask Questions In Class: Students who ask questions or share their opinions
are the most valuable members of our class. They usually augment the interest of other students
and heighten the overall productivity of the class. Tests scores tend to be higher in classes where
many questions are asked and viewpoints expressed. We have a large class which tends to inhibit
speaking. You must gallantly try to overcome this obstacle. Your classmates and certainly your
instructor will be grateful.
Thou Shall Come To Class Every Day: In many high schools, it is fashionable to be
uninvolved, to view the teachers as the opposition, and to treat academics as a burden. Things
have changed folks. You are paying for the privilege of being here. Someone would like to take
your place. For those who cannot help it, missing class is a misfortune. For those who can help it,
missing class is an absurd waste. If going to class feels like a burden, you might ask yourself:
“Why am I here?”
Some of you will develop closeness to this university that will stay with you the rest of your
lives. That is why you see people who graduated from Appalachian in the 1950s come back for
Homecoming. Others will see their college years as an experience they must suffer through in
order to begin their careers. You do not have to be very clever to guess the answer to the
following question. Who enjoys college: Students who regularly attend classes or students who
go to class as infrequently as possible?
Thou Shall Develop A Passion For At Least One Field Of Study: Finding your passion is
one of the most important gifts that you can give yourself. Even casual examination indicates
that excellence requires passion. Do you imagine that Picasso, Franklin Roosevelt, or Einstein
worked simply for money or to achieve the applause of others? Hardly, there was an inner force,
a hunger that made them who they became. People who study or come to class because they are
required to have yet discover a significant part of themselves. These students will spend their
college years being herded across one unpleasant hurdle after another. In all likelihood, they will
enter a profession only to go through the motions. Many will never realize why they never rose
above mediocrity.
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College is particularly well suited to help you discover your passion. If you do, you will rarely be
bored. Others will cluster about you, because they sense that you have found some secret. Most
importantly, you will have taken a great step towards becoming a happy and productive
individual. Open your eyes and take a fresh look at the world about you. Rid yourself of the
notion that attending classes is an obligation. Until you do so you will be unable to see the
opportunities that await you.
Derivation of Points
There will be three multiple choice examinations of 100 points each. Think of these exams as
three opportunities to behave in a heroic fashion and to demonstrate your excellence.
Approximately, 50% of the information on the examinations will be covered in the lectures, but
cannot be found in the textbook. Therefore, be sure to take complete notes and spend a
significant amount of time reviewing the lecture component of our web site.
The final examination is not cumulative (I find it interesting that I am asked this question a
number of times each semester, even though it is written in the syllabus). The date and time for
the final are set by the University. Undoubtedly, this time will be inconvenient for some people
(probably including your instructor). However, under no circumstances will the final be given at
a different time. Please do not ask to re-schedule a final.
All make-up examinations will be administered on the date indicated on your syllabus. Wise
students are known by the absence of certain behaviors. For example, clever students seldom put
pencils up their nostrils, rarely forget to put their shirts on in the morning, and almost never
attempt to walk on their knuckles. Wise students also do whatever they can to avoid taking
make-up tests.
A total of 15 attendance points can be obtained. Students are allowed three cuts. If you do not
over cut, you will receive all 15 points. Five points will be subtracted for each over cut. Do not
bring me a note from your mother, employer, or university staff member telling me that you will
miss a class. We are adults. You are allowed sufficient cuts to account for illnesses, deaths in the
family, mental health days, sports participation, writing the great American novel, pursuing the
golden path to true enlightenment, etc. Thus, there will be NO EXCUSED ABSENCES. Use
your cuts cleverly and earn some easy points.
To be counted as attending you must sign the roll that will be passed around each day. It is your
responsibility to sign the roll. Your neighbor may hide the roll in his shirt, jam it in his ear, make
a paper hat out of it or impede you in some other villainous fashion. In all instances, it is your
responsibility to get the roll and sign your name. You will be counted absent unless your name is
on the roll.
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A summary of the points and the means by which they are obtained is listed below:
1. 300 points from examinations (100 points each)
2. 15 points for attendance
Due Dates for Assignments:
July 10
Test 1
Lecture
Modules 1, 2, 3, 4
July 22
Test 2
Lecture
Modules 5, 24, 25, 26, 27. 28
August 1
Make-up tests
Final
Lecture
Modules 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 ,52
Welcome to the Drama!!