Psychology 1000
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Introduction to Psychology – PY 1000
LCA 9:00 – 9:50; MWF
LCB 10:00 – 10:50; MWF
Spring 2004
Risa Stein, Ph.D.
Office: Room 425, Van Ackeren
Phone: 816-501-4691
Hours: TBA.
E-mail: Risa.Stein@rockhurst.edu
Required Text
Hock, R.R. (2002). Forty studies that changed psychology: Explorations into the
history of psychological research. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Sattler, D.N., & Shabatay, V. (2000). Psychology in context: Voices and
perspectives. New York: Houghton, Mifflin, Co.
You will need a 70 page notebook (spiral type, not the binder type) to use as a
journal and to hand in to me weekly. Please keep this notebook separate from your class
notes notebook.
Goals
The purpose of this course is twofold.
1) To challenge the student to become more observant in general and to, more
specifically, encourage critical observation. To achieve this goal I will facilitate critical
thinking exercises based upon the readings. In addition, we will engage in exercises
designed to enable you to view the world around you in a fashion you may not have
thought of or employed to date.
2) To achieve an appreciation of the multifaceted area of psychology. To
accomplish this aim, you will take part in various discussions and presentations based
upon a variety of topics in psychology. You will also be asked to track your
generalization of the subject matter in your own life and the lives of those around you.
Course Grade
Your final grade will be based on the following: (1) your grade on each of 4
quizzes, (2) 8 journal entries, (3) reading questions, (4) a “deviance act” exercise, and (5)
a final comprehensive exam.
Quizzes
Each module will incorporate discussions of the readings, lectures, and group
activities or in-class demonstrations. At the end of each module there will be a quiz.
Each quiz will be worth 50 points, for a total of 200 points. The class will work together
to develop some of the quiz questions. These will be compiled and made available for
you to study.
If you have a conflict with the quiz date, you can take it prior to the class period.
Unfortunately, I have had to become very specific about valid reasons for taking make up
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quizzes. There are five reasons for which I will consider giving a make-up quiz after the
scheduled quiz date:
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A medical emergency or a serious acute illness. All medical emergencies and
illnesses must be verified by a note on letterhead by an M.D., D.O., or R.N. I will not
normally accept a note from other health professionals (e.g., Ph.D., MSW, D.C.,
Physical Therapist) because their professional functions rarely involve medical
emergencies or acute illnesses. I will provide a make-up quiz for a student for a
verified medical emergency (but not acute illness) involving a child, spouse, parent,
sibling, or grandparent. I will also provide a make-up quiz to a student for an acute
illness of a child of whom they have legal custody.
An Accident or Police Emergency. I will require an accident report or note on
letterhead from an appropriate law enforcement officer to schedule a make-up quiz
due to accidents or police emergencies (e.g., assault on student, student taken hostage,
detained witness of a crime).
Unforeseen Jury or Witness Duty. I will require a note on letterhead from a judge
or attorney to schedule a make-up quiz due to jury or witness duty. If you learn about
your jury or witness duty at least 1 week prior to the scheduled quiz, you must take
the quiz early.
Unforeseen Military Deployment or Activation. I will require a note on official
letterhead from your commanding officer. If you learn about the military deployment
or activation at least 1 week prior to the quiz, you must take the quiz early.
Funerals for Immediate Family Member (e.g., parents, siblings, grandparents,
aunts/uncles, first cousins). I will require a copy of the obituary or a note from a
minister or funeral director.
NOTE: All make-up quizzes must be taken by the beginning of the next scheduled class
period. You will be required to provide written verification of the incidents listed above
for each class period on which you fail to take the quiz.
Reading Questions
At the beginning of each new topic we will review the assigned reading. Prior to
our discussion of the readings, you will be asked a question relevant to the readings. The
question will be given at the very start of class, if you are not on time, you will miss the
opportunity to answer the question. There will be one question per topic (except for the
human development topic which includes two sets of readings). Thus, your reading
questions will account for 90 points toward your grade
Deviance Act
When we review the section of Social Psychology, you will be required to develop
and implement a “deviance act”. Your deviance act should push the limits or violate
minor social norms. For example, you might not make eye contact with anyone all day,
wear your lipstick up to your cheeks and go to the grocery store, sing the floor numbers to
passengers on a crowded elevator, or walk very slowly to your classes. These are just
examples and you should think of your own variation on the theme. The goal is to
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challenge the way we do things in our culture and observe the effects. Moreover, I will
be interested in how you feel about performing them and what thoughts go through your
head as you do. You will receive additional instructions for completing and writing up
your deviance act as we approach the Social psychology section. Your deviance act will
be worth 30 points.
Journal
Each week, beginning with the first section, you are to make an entry in a journal
of events in your life or those going on around you and how they relate to our topic of
discussion for the week. Your entries need not be pages long, I simply want to know that
you have read the sections and are applying them to the outside world. For instance, as
we begin the first section, you should have read the assigned sections and begin observing
more closely the world around you. Then, you will make a journal entry based on
something you’ve seen or heard, such as someone in an elevator talking about how her
sister-in-law really should be on Ritalin for her adult ADHD. Perhaps after hearing this
you thought to yourself, “What’s up with adult ADHD? Is that a valid diagnosis? There
seems to be a great deal of hype surrounding it. Besides, how would that woman know if
her sister-in-law warranted a psychological diagnosis?” These are the types of thoughts I
am looking for in your journal entries.
Be sure to make mention of why you felt your observation was appropriate and
applicable to the section under review. I will distribute a sample entry prior to the first
journal due date. Each of the 8 topics will require one entry (including only one entry for
the human development topic). Each journal entry will be worth 10 points; thus, in all,
the journal entries will be worth 80 points
Exam
You will be given a comprehensive final exam on the date listed in your course
schedule. It will include essay and multiple-choice items and will be worth 100 points.
Point Totals
Quizzes:
Reading Questions
Deviance act:
Journal entries:
Final exam:
4 @ 50 points each
9 @ 10 points each
1 @ 30 points
8 @ 10 points each
1 @ 100 points
200
90
30
80
100
Grading Scale: I will divide your point total by 500. Then I will add any additional
points I feel are warranted based on your participation in class, in order to arrive at your
final grade.
93 - 100 points
A
90 - 92 points
A87 - 89 points
B+
83 - 86 points
B
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80 - 82 points
77 - 79 points
70 - 76 points
60 - 69 points
59 and below
BC+
C
D
F
Note On Class Attendance and Participation. CLASS ATTENDANCE IS
REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE. Class participation does not carry a specific number
of points but will push your grade up or down if your final total is borderline (e.g., an 88
may be given the grade of “A” for an individual who consistently participated in class
discussions). Class will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather when the Lee’s
Summit school district cancels school and/or Rockhurst University cancels classes.
DURING CLASS I WILL OFTEN MAKE CRITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT
THE COURSE SUCH AS QUIZ DATES, CHANGES IN THE SCHEDULE,
CHANGES IN PROCEDURES, ETC. IF YOU MISS A CLASS, YOU ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ANY INFORMATION ANNOUNCED BY THE
INSTRUCTOR DURING THAT CLASS.
Rockhurst University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students
with disabilities. Please contact Sandy Waddell in Access Services (Massman Hall,
Room 7, 501.4689, sandy.waddell@rockhurst.edu) to provide documentation and request
accommodations. If accommodations have already been approved by the Access Office,
please let me know about these arrangements by the second week of class in order to
coordinate receipt of services.
Topics:
Topic I:
“Real” Psychology
Reading – Handout
16 Jan. - Review reading
19 Jan. – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – NO CLASS
21 Jan. - Presentation on various types of mental health professionals and the DSM-IV
HW Assignment: Assemble magazine and newspaper reports of psychological
topics.
23 Jan. - Small group activity - Review article clippings in an attempt to determine
potential shortcomings and strengths.
26 Jan. - Critique of talk show shrink
Turn in Journals
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Topic II:
Human Development
Readings
a) - Context - Madeleine Begins to Talk; Shaping up Absurd
40 Studies – Born First, Born Smarter; Are You the Master of Your Fate;
How Moral Are You; Discovering Love
b) - Context - The View From 80
40 Studies - In Control and Glad Of It
28 Jan. - Review readings (a)
30 Jan. - Presentation on various developmental paradigms and theories
2 Feb. - Presentation on various developmental paradigms and theories
4 Feb. - Developmental videos
6 Feb. - Review readings (b)
9 Feb. - Presentation on geriatric psychology
Turn in Journals
Topic III:
Intelligence and Cognition
Reading – Context – Talented Teenagers; Our son Mark/I Don’t Get Lost Very Often
40 Studies – What You Expect is What You Get
11 Feb. - Review readings
13 Feb. - Presentation on intelligence and mental retardation
16 Feb. - WISC demonstration
Turn in Journals
18, 20 Feb. – Dr. Stein in AZ – NO CLASS
23 Feb. - Review and quiz item development
25 Feb. - Quiz 1
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Topic IV:
Memory
Readings - Context – Witness for the defense I (Tyrone Briggs); Witness for the
defense II (Ted Bundy); The mind of a mnemonist
40 Studies – Thanks for the Memories
27 Feb. - Review readings
1 Mar. - Small group activity: Discuss your earliest memory in as much detail as
possible
3 Mar. - Presentation of short-term/long-term memory model.
Turn in Journals
Topic V:
Learning and Conditioning
Reading - Context – Everything had a name; Positive reinforcement in animal training;
Voices from the future.
40 Studies – It’s not just about salivating dogs; Little emotional Albert; See
aggression, do aggression
5 Mar. - Review readings
HW Assignment: Watch Groundhog Day
8 – 12 Mar. – Spring Break – NO CLASS
15 Mar. - Presentation on operant and classical conditioning paradigms
17 Mar. – Presentation on operant and classical conditioning paradigms
Review movie
Turn in Journals
19 Mar. - Review and quiz item development
22 Mar. - Quiz 2
Topic VI:
Social Psychology
Readings – Context – Influence; Black men and public spaces; Random acts of
Kindness
40 Studies – Crowding into the behavioral sink; To help or not to help; The
power of conformity
24 Mar. - Review readings
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26 Mar. - Presentation of Social Psychology in a nutshell
HW Assignment: Develop a deviance act.
29 Mar. - Review of classic experiments in social psychology.
31 Mar. - Review of classic experiments in social psychology
2 Apr. - Review deviance acts and develop quiz test items
Turn in Journals (include a separate section with a complete review of your
deviance act)
5 Apr. - Quiz 3
Topic VII:
Psychopathology and Psychotherapy
Readings – Context –The Accident that didn’t happen; I feel cheated by this illness;
Feeling good; From Vietnam to Hell
40 Studies - Who’s crazy here anyway?; Relaxing your fears away; Choosing
Your Psychotherapist
7 Apr. - Review Readings
9, 12 Apr. – Easter Break – NO CLASSES
14 Apr. - Small group exercise: What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever heard of, seen,
read about, etc.
16 Apr. - Presentation of various forms of psychopathology
19 Apr. - Presentation of various forms of psychopathology
21 Apr. - Watch videos of people with mental disturbances
Turn in Journals
Topic VIII: Health and Stress
Readings – Context - Days of Grace; Opening up; Positive illusions
40 Studies – Race against your heart
23 Apr. - Review readings
26 Apr. - Presentation on what is Health Psychology, areas of study, and theories.
Turn in Journals
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29 Apr. - Quiz item development
30 Apr. - Quiz 4
3 May - Buffer Day
FINAL EXAM
LCA: 10 May 8:00 - 10:00
LCB: 7 May 8:00 - 10:00