Azerbaijan University
School of Business
Psyc 1101 Introduction to General Psychology
Fall, 2009
Instructor: Feride Abbasova, MSW’ 2009
Class hour: Friday 15:00
Office hour: only by appointment or after class
Email: frida_afr@yahoo.com
The Course provides the students with an overview of the field of psychology. The course
will familiarize with the basic terms and theories, as well as with some classic and recent
research. The course introduces general issues in the discipline such as historical
development of the different fields, basic and applied research, scientific reasoning, and
psychological methods and statistics. This introduction is followed by discussions of theories
and findings in different fields of psychology, including Developmental Psychology, Social
Psychology, and Organizational Psychology.
Course Objectives:
The broad objective of the course is to strengthen students understanding on general
psychology, psychological processes, theories, and findings:
Course is aimed at providing students with new interactive methods of lecturing, will
identify the areas of students’ interests and combine them with the course content:
Demonstrates foundational knowledge in social psychology (concepts, theories, research
methods); assessed with journal article review and tests
Applies social psychological phenomena to one's own thinking, behavior, and relationships
as well as stories and cultural artifacts (literature, film, etc.); assessed with portfolio papers,
anger observations, and tests
Recognizes the extent to which social behaviors are influenced by situational and interpretive
factors; assessed with film analysis, situational observation
Outline perspective on human nature and compare it to social psychological perspectives
(e.g., evolutionary, sociocultural);
Course Textbooks:
Myers, G.D. (2007) Psychology: Woth Publishers, Hope College Michigan
Kenrick, D. T., Neuberg, S. G., & Cialdini, R. B. (2005). Social psychology: Unraveling the
mystery (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Course Structure
Course structure and model will allow student to obtain theoretical as well as practical
knowledge and skills related to general psychology. Theoretical and practical skills are designed
around the following modules: understanding of psychology; leadership skills; communications;
psycho-social aspect of wellbeing.
Both practical and theoretical sessions are based on evidence based approach and values and
ethics.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING CRITERIA
Attendance and participation in class both theoretical and practical sessions are required
in this course. Lack of attendance and participation will result in a lower cumulative score.
Grade Scale:
Scores
AKTS scores
A+ = 97 – 100
A
= 93 – 96
A = 90 – 100
A- = 90 – 92
B+ = 87 – 89
B
= 83 – 86
B-
= 80 – 82
C+
= 77 – 79
C
=
C-
= 70 – 72
D+
= 67 – 69
D
= 63 – 66
D-
= 60 – 62
F
= 0 – 59
73 – 76
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79
D = 60 - 69
E = 50 – 59
Fx = 40 – 49
F = 0 – 39
Students will be evaluated based on the following assignments:
Note: detailed Assignment and Scoring Scales will be provided in class for each assignment
Observation Paper- 15%
Interview Paper- 15 %
Assessment Paper- 20 %
Process Paper- 20%
Final Exam- 25%
Course Content
Class#
Date
Title
Covered Topics
1
Introduction
2
Biological Basis
of Behaviour
3
Motivation and
Emotion
4
Learning
Historical Foundations of
Psychology – Definition and Scope
of Psychology,
Fields of Psychology, Schools of
Psychology; Methods of Psychology
– Introspection, Observation, Case
Study, Interview,
Survey and Experimental method
Hormonal basis of behavior - the
major endocrine glands and their
functions; Attention - Span, division
and distraction. Perception –
Perecptual constancy –
Illusions Internal and External
factors influencing Perceptual.
Definition and functions of Motives.
Types of Motives – Physiological
and
Psycho-Social motives. Unconscious
motivation. Maslow’s theory of
Motivation.
Emotion – Definition and nature of
emotions. Theories of emotion –
JamesLange, Cannon-Bard and SchachterSinger
Maturation and Learning. Classical
and Instrumental
Conditioning. Learning by Insight
5
6
7
and Observation, Latent learning;
Meaning of memory, Types of
memory, Methods of measuring
memory,
Information Processing model of
memory, curve of forgetting and
causes of
forgetting, Methods of Improving
Memory
Personality –
Approaches to Personality – Type,
Nature and
Behaviouristic, Humanistic and
Definition
Psychosexual approaches.
Social
Attribution – Theories of
Perception –
Attribution – Theory of
Understanding
Correspondent Influence,
Others
Errors in Attribution – Fundamental
Attribution Error, Actor – Observer
effect, Self Serving Bias
Impression formation and
Impression Management Techniques of
Impression Management
Communication; Definition, nature and types of
Attitudes;
communication. Barriers to effective
Prejudices
communication. Rumors and
propaganda; Definition - Distinctive
features of Attitudes, Formation of
Attitudes,
Measurement of Attitudes - Likert
method of Summated ratings,
Bogardus
method of Social Distance,
Thurstone’s Equal appearing
intervals method.
Cognitive Dissonance, Reducing
Dissonance; Prejudice and
Discrimination – Nature and Origin
of Prejudice, Techniques
of reducing Prejudice
Definition, Determinants of Human
Aggression – Social, Personal, and
Situational factors – Theoretical
Perspectives on Aggression –
Biological
8
Groups and
Individuals;
Leadership
9
IndustrialOrganizational
Psychology
(Theory)
10
Employee
Selection
Perspective – Drive Theories,
General Affective Aggression
model, Prevention
and Control of Aggression.
Definition and Types of Groups,
Group functions – Roles, Status,
Norms,
Cohesiveness and Conformity.
Groups and Individual
performance,- Social
facilitation, Social loafing. Decision
making by Groups;
Definition – Traits of a Leader,
Types of Leaders – Autocratic,
Democratic
and Charismatic Leaders. Classic
studies on leadership, leader
behavior –
initiating structure and
consideration.
Definition, scope and historical
development of I-O psychology.
Pioneers
on personnel selection. World War I
and the testing movement.
Hawthorne studies and
motivational issues. World War II
and
Engineering Psychology.
The Recruitment process. Sources of
Recruiting. Recruiter characteristics.
Campus recruitment.
Selection process: Job and worker
analysis. Definition and purpose.
Techniques of analysis. Interviews,
Questionnaires, Observation.
Activity
logs, critical incidents
Use of biographical data –
application blanks – Reference
letters – Interviews
Types of interviews – structured,
situational and online
11
Personnel
Training
Principles of learning and training –
Methods of training – Evaluation of
training
12
Work
motivation; Job
Satisfaction and
Work Attitudes
Theories of work motivation – Need
Hierarchy theory, Equity theory,
Two Factor theory, Expectancy
theory. Motivational theories in
practice –
Goal setting – Participation in
decision making – Incentive system
13
Final Session
Exam
Importance of work attitudes and
opinions in industry – Job
satisfaction
and its influence on work behaviour
– Measurement of job satisfaction
and
work attitudes
Overview of the course content