Updated 08/24/11

Professor: Brooke Butler, Ph.D. E-mail: bbutler@ncf.edu T.A.: Kelsey Cooke E-mail: kelsey.cooke@ncf.edu Office: SSC 102 Office hours: After class and by appointment Telephone: (941) 487-4380

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY W 12:30 3:20

Course Description and Prerequisite: Course description. This course provides a survey of modern psychology looking at biological foundations, experimental approaches, and subdisciplines such as cognitive, developmental, social, clinical, and applied psychology. Prerequisite. There is no prerequisite for this course; rather, it is a prerequisite to other courses in psychology. Course Objectives: Students in this course will do the following:

Understand the biological foundations of psychology Comprehend how psychology is studied experimentally Appreciate the cognitive approaches to psychology Understand the developmental subdisciplines in psychology Recognize the ways people are influenced by others Understand the different types of psychopathology Comprehend the many different ways that psychological research can be applied
to real world situations, such as psychology and the law Textbook (Required):1 Feldman, R. S. (2011). Understanding psychology (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGrawHill. Recommended Readings:2
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The textbook is accompanied by a study guide and electronic materials. The aforementioned are optional, not required.

Updated 08/24/11 Haney, C. (2005). Death by design: Capital punishment as a social psychological system. New York: Oxford University Press. Jamison, K. R. (1995). An unquiet mind: A memoir of moods and madness. New York: Vintage Books. Perry, B. D, & Szalavitz, M. (2006). The boy who was raised as a dog and other stories from a child psychiatrists notebook. New York: Basic Books. Saks, E. R. (2007). The center cannot hold: My journey through madness. New York: Hyperion. Shenk, D. (2003). The forgetting. Alzheimers: Portrait of an epidemic. U.S.A.: Anchor Books. Zimbardo, P. (2007). The Lucifer Effect: Understanding how good people turn evil. New York: Random House. Exams: There will be two exams this semester. Each exam will consist of 10 short-answer questions. All material covered both in the book and in class is exam-eligible. There will be a review session before each exam in order to assist with preparation. Make-up exams will be determined on an individual basis. Discussion Questions: Each student will be responsible for constructed a set of two discussion questions based on the weekly readings. The aforementioned questions will serve several functions: 1) to foster critical-thinking, as well as creative and original thought with respect to learning about psychological research, its implications, and applications; 2) to encourage active participation; 3) to guide our class discussions; and 4) to monitor attendance. While it is unlikely that we will get to discuss all of your questions, please note that I will be collecting the discussion questions at the conclusion of four randomly-selected days and each student will be evaluated accordingly. Course Policy: General issues. This class is both lecture- and discussion-oriented. As a student enrolled in Introduction to Psychology, you are expected to do the following: 1) attend and actively participate in all scheduled classes and activities at the appointed time and 2) cover the assigned reading(s) in an in-depth fashion before coming to class.
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The following readings are on reserve at the library. Although the material will not be covered in class and is not exam-eligible, it will enhance your knowledge of the field.

Updated 08/24/11 Questions and discussion. Since dynamic learning is the cornerstone of academia, questions are welcome before, during, and after class. In addition, intellectual discourse is strongly encouraged. E-mail sent from me. Please make sure that you have your correct e-mail address (i.e., the e-mail address that you check frequently) linked to your account in NewDLE. I have a habit of posting articles from the popular news media that relate to the course in order to demonstrate the implications and applications of the material. In addition, if there is any change made to the syllabus, it is important that you are kept informed. Attendance. A considerable part of the material covered in each class cannot be found in the readings. Consequently, if you miss a scheduled class, it is your responsibility to contact one of your classmates to obtain any missed notes, etc. Academic Assistance for Students with Disabilities: The Counseling and Wellness Center exists to ensure that students with disabilities have the academic support necessary to achieve academic success at the New College of Florida. Course-related assistance and academic accommodations are provided to eligible students with documented disabilities. Students are encouraged to contact the aforementioned center as early as possible prior to enrollment to make arrangements for appropriate disability services. Religious Preference Absence Policy: Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a major religious observance must provide written notice of the date(s) they plan to miss on the second day of class. Academic Dishonesty: Students caught engaging in any form of academic dishonesty will be treated according to established university procedures. For a more complete discussion of academic dishonesty, please refer to the New College of Florida Undergraduate Catalog (20112012). Course Schedule Date August 24 August 31 September 7 Topic Introduction Introduction to Psychology Psychological Research Neuroscience and Behavior Sensation and Perception 3 Assigned Reading Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

Updated 08/24/11 September 14 September 21 September 28 October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 November 2 November 9 November 16 November 23 November 30 States of Consciousness Learning Memory Cognition and Language Review Midterm Exam No Class: Fall Break Intelligence Motivation and Emotion Sexuality and Gender Development Social Psychology Personality Psychology and Law Health Psychology: Stress, Coping, and Well-Being No Class: Thanksgiving Psychological Disorders Treatment of Psychological Disorders Review Final Exam Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 17 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16

December 7