Introduction to General Psychology

PSYC 1101- Fall 2017

Tuesday/Thursday
Georgia State University/Perimeter College

INSTRUCTOR: Clarence Massie Jr.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Office location: Classroom immediately after class.

Office Hours: NE- 2216. Available by appointment only.
Telephone: (770) 274-5412 please leave message if I am not available
E-mail address: clarence.massie@gsu.edu

DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION

Department of Cultural and Behavioral Science

Dunwoody Campus, Room NE-2208
Department Chair: Dr. John Redmond
Administrative Secretary: Ms. Alicia Braswell
Department Telephone: 770-274-5585
____________________________________________________________________________

I. COURSE TITLE: Introduction to General Psychology

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES: A broad survey of the major topics in psychology
including but not limited to, research methodology, biological and social factors influencing behavior,
development, learning, memory, personality, and abnormal psychology.

III. REQUIRED TEXT: PSYCHOLOGY Themes & Variations 9E Briefer Version, (2013) Weiten, Wayne,
Wadsworth Cengage Learning

Required supplemental course material Course Learning Modules on ICollege

IV. Course Description and Learning Objectives:

Expected Educational Results

As a result of completing this course the student will be able to:

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1. Explain the differences and similarities between the psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive,
humanistic, sociocultural, and biological perspectives as well as the current perspective on the]
relative influences of heredity and environment on human behavior.

2. Describe, compare, and provide examples for each of the major research methods used in
psychology, including strengths, limitations, and key terminology associated with each, including
how descriptive statistics are used to analyze data.

3. Identify ethical issues in psychology.

4. Describe in detail the functioning of the nervous system, including the divisions of the nervous
system and their functions, the major structures of the brain and their functions, the types and parts
of the neuron, the process of neurotransmission, the role, and functions of the major
neurotransmitters.

5. Define learning and describe, identify, compare and contrast the major features and principles of
operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and social learning.

6. Describe the major theories of memory, including factors that contribute to the retention,
retrieval, and forgetting of information.

7. Describe social psychological findings regarding conformity, obedience, diffusion of

responsibility, groupthink, social loafing, prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination.

8. Describe relevant theories and research on prenatal development, temperament, and early
childhood development and compare, contrast, and evaluate the viewpoints of major
developmental theorists.

9. Outline the basic principles of psychoanalytic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and biological

and trait theories of personality. Compare and contrast these theories.

10. Identify major objective and projective personality tests and evaluate them based on the
characteristics of a good psychological test in terms of reliability, validity, standardization, and
norms.

11. Compare and contrast various criteria that can be used to identify a person's behavior as
"abnormal." Describe the current classification system and its strengths and weaknesses.

12. Compare and contrast the major theories on the etiology of psychological disorders, including
psychoanalytic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, biological, and sociocultural.

13. List the major characteristics of 1) anxiety disorders, 2) mood disorders, 3) dissociative
disorders, and 4) schizophrenic disorders. Identify the specific disorders that are grouped in each
class.

V. GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

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CLASS ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED and will count towards class participation and class activities, which
ultimately may affect your grade in this course. Students that keep a separate folder with class handouts,
syllabus, exercises, and notes tend to be better prepared during test and exam time.

Learner Expectations Outcome

Learners are expected to actively contribute to one another's learning through critical classroom dialogue,
integrative learning, and collaborative learning. In order to take full advantage of the experiences and
resources of this class, learners are expected to manage and direct their academic progress with support
and guidance from faculty. To acquire knowledge and build skills, learners are expected to:

Read and become familiar with the course syllabus and expectations.
Manage assignments and readings.
Analyze and critique assigned readings
Ask for clarifications about material or course expectations.
Contribute to classroom discussions. That is, add to and advance the quality of the discussion.
Complete all assignments by required deadlines.
Be respectful of diverse perspectives and refrain from making inappropriate comments in
classroom discussions and personal interactions.

VI. GRADING:

Two page paper APA style on any subject in the textbook of interest to you. You must use two outside
sources (besides the text). WIKEPEDIA IS NOT A REPUTABLE SOURCE AND CANNOT BE USED. One
source must be a journal article and the other can be from a website. You will receive further instructions in
class. I must approve all topics prior to submission.

The standard GPC grading scale below will be used to determine your final grade.

AVERAGE GRADE

360 @ up = A
359-320 = B
319-280= C
279-240 = D
239 below = F

Class Participation and Attendance is imperative to learning: Attendance will be taken

daily, however, on four random occasions, roll will be taken and 5 points will be awarded to
each student in attendance on that day. These dates are predetermined and are not

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done to penalized students. Students can earn up to 20 points toward class participation
and attendance for the semester by being in attendance on days points are awarded.
Students will not receive points on those days if they are not present, which will count
against your attendance points for the semester. Neither prior notice nor arrangements
will be considered.

Test: There will be 4/5 test worth 60 points each, totaling 240 points administered during
the semester. There will be no makeup test; however you may drop the lowest score

Assignment. Web/ You tube: You will be assigned sites to view and provide commentary
through the ICollege format. Worth 60 points (2 web links @ 30 points each).

Research Paper Your paper will be written on PSYCOLOGIST AND THEIR FIELD OF
STUDY. Find a school of psychology and a theorist or psychologist who supports that field.
Give historical context, information the theorist, and explain its social implications. More
about this is class.

Extra Credit Assignment = up to 10 points

There will be one extra credit opportunity at the end of the semester (TBA) worth 10 points. This
extra credit assignment will be to write a two-page paper (no more than) on any area of
psychology listed in our textbook. You are to provide some historical context, explain what the
phenomenon is, who are the main contributors, and its social relevance today. Paper should
be in APA format, (will discuss in class). Two page paper APA style on any subject in the textbook
of interest to you. You must use two outside sources (besides the text). WIKEPEDIA IS NOT A
REPUTABLE SOURCE FOR THIS CLASS AND CANNOT BE USED. One source must be a
journal article and the other can be from a website. You will receive further instructions in class.

To determine your grade at any point in the semester just divide the total number of points you have
earned by the total number of points available at time of calculation. The figure will be in the form of
a decimal, just multiply the number by 100 to convert it to a percentage, and use the grading system
below to see your grade.

Total point value is worth 400 points. An additional 10 bonus points may be award to
students completing the extra credit assignment.

VII. SCHEDULE INFORMATION:

The Instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the dates, assignments, schedule, etc with the
necessary prior notice to each student. Please check your email weekly in the event of such changes.

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Schedule of class meetings, including subject matter and topics covered as well as pre-class
readings and other assignments. Please see attachment.

VIII. CLASS CONDUCT:

Electronic devices must be turned off before entering the classroom. Students who fail to comply with this
expectation could have their final averages dropped by one letter grade. Any particular circumstances
must be discussed with the professor prior to the start of class.

Computers should only be used to augment the class lecture. Anyone suspected of using electronic
devices for any personal or unrelated class reason will be asked to leave class. Further disciplinary action
could take place on repeated offenses.

Anyone violating any of these policies will receive a verbal warning the first time. The second time could
result in academic disciplinary action.

IX. ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students academic success is the major priority of the College. Because
regular participation enhances the learning process, students are expected to adhere to the attendance policy
set forth by the College and individual faculty members. Differences in content and teaching styles exist
among courses, which can impact students learning. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to attend all
classes to better prepare them for assignments, tests, and other course-related activities. Students are
accountable for assignments and material covered during an absence.

X. WITHDRAWAL POLICY: Except in the case of no shows, the instructor WILL NOT and CANNOT
withdraw you from this course. (A no show is a student who never attends class or logs in to an online
class during the first week or two of the course. When students are reported as no-shows, the course is
removed from their records, and any financial aid awarded on the basis of that course is returned to the
lender or grantor. If you have attended the class even once or logged on to an online course, you will not
be reported as a no show.) If you decide that you do not wish to continue in this course, it is your
responsibility to withdraw yourself prior to the midpoint of the semester. (Exact dates for each term are
posted on the GPC website under Academic Calendar.) Withdrawal is a formal process that requires you
to fill out a withdrawal form and submit it to the registrar on one of our campuses. If you have Financial Aid,
you may be required to repay all or part of the Financial Aid awarded to you. Therefore, a Financial Aid
advisor must sign off on the withdrawal form. When you submit the form to the registrar, he or she will
stamp the form with the date received and give one copy to you. You should KEEP this form in case there
are ever questions as to whether you properly withdrew yourself from the course.

If you are unable to come to one of our campuses to fill out and submit a withdrawal form, you may print
one from online: http://www.gpc.edu/forms/withdrawal.pdf. Note that there is a second page with detailed
information about the withdrawal process. If you are unable to submit your form in person, please contact
the GPC Online office at 678-891-2805 for assistance in submitting your form. No matter how your form is
submitted, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is received by Georgia Perimeter College no later than
5:00 p.m. on the day of the withdrawal deadline.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT

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If you are a student who is disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act and requires
assistance or support services, please seek assistance through the Center for Disability Services. A CDS
Counselor will coordinate those services.

ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT

Cheating is against college policy. Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or mislead the
instructor in arriving at an honest grade assessment, and may include copying answers from other students
or using unauthorized notes during tests. Plagiarism is a particular form of cheating that involves presenting
as one's own the ideas or work of another, and may include using other people's ideas without proper
attribution and submitting another person's work as one's own. Violations of the academic honesty policy
will result in a grade of '0' for the assignment in question, and may result in a failing grade for the course at
the instructor's discretion. The College Court may impose additional sanctions, including suspension,
expulsion, or dismissal from the college. Students have the right to appeal a grade awarded on the basis of
alleged cheating or plagiarism. See the Academic Honesty Policy in the Student Handbook for details and
for a review of the appeals procedure.

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

No person shall, on the basis of age, race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or
disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any program or activity of the college.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT

Georgia Perimeter College adheres to affirmative action policies to promote diversity and equal opportunity
for all faculty and students.

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