PSYC 4 General Psychology: Behavioral Foundations
Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30-7:50 PM York 2722
Instructor: Kevin Dooley, Ph.D.
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:30-3:20 PM McGill 2109
Email: kdooley@ucsd.edu
TAs: Anna Byers:
abyers@ucsd.edu
Monday 3-4:50, McGill 3330
Miren Edelstein:
mhedelst@ucsd.edu
Thurs 1:30-2:30, McGill 2314
Galit Hofree:
ghofree@ucsd.edu
Before/after tests (TBD) McGill 3125C
CLASS WEBSITE: http://dooleykevin.com/psyc4.html
This course will provide a basic introduction to behavioral psychology, covering such topics as classical
conditioning, operant conditioning, animal learning and motivation, and behavior modification.
READINGS: Learning and Behavior, by Powell, Symbaluk & Honey (3rd or 4th edition ok).
Don’t Shoot the Dog, by Karen Pryor.
And a few short articles on class web page
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Chapter to read by the following class
9/26 Intro, philosophy of behaviorism
1
10/1 Innate behaviors, habituation, sensitization
2
10/3 Motivation, wanting & liking
3
10/8 Classical conditioning basics
4
10/10 Classical conditioning: theories & applications 5, article 1 & 2
10/15 TEST 1 (ch. 1-5, article 1 & 2)
10/17 Operant conditioning, shaping
6
10/22 Schedules of reinforcement & superstition
article 3 & 4
10/24 Theories of reinforcement
7
10/29 Harry (video)
8
10/31 Extinction, generalization, discrimination
9
11/5 Avoidance & punishment
article 5 & 6
11/7 Complex schedules & self-control
10
11/12 Cognition, creativity, behavior (video), papers due article 7 & 8
11/14 TEST 2 (ch. 6-10, articles 3-8)
11
11/19 Biological dispositions
12
11/21 Observational learning, language
articles 9-12
11/26 Special topics TBD
Pryor ch. 1-2
11/28 Thanksgiving, no class
13
12/3 Special topics TBD
Pryor ch. 3-4
12/5 Behavior modification tools: putting it together Pryor ch. 5-6
12/10 Final (cumulative): Tuesday 12/10, 7-10 PM
Grading
2 Tests (multiple choice)- 50 points each
1 Paper (see website for details)- 20 points, hard copy due in class on 11/12
1 Final (multiple choice, cumulative)- 80 points
200 points total (90-100%=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, ≤59=F; straight letter grades: no +/-)
Optional Extra Credit project- up to 5 extra points, hard copy of paper due on day of final
Up to 3 points extra credit for participation in Sona: http://ucsd.sona-systems.com