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Syllabus
Introduction to Psychology Instructor: David J. Williams, Ph.D., M.P., A.B.M.P. Cell phone: 318.376.0431 (absolutely no phone calls after 8pm!) Office hours: by appointment Email: williamsconsulting1@hotmail.com WELCOME! I am very happy to have this opportunity to work with you, and I am looking forward to sharing the science of psychology with you. Course description: This course provides a survey of the various areas within the science of psychology. Students will learn about the biological basis of behavior, sensation and perception, emotion, motivation, learning theory, memory, cognition, intelligence, social psychology, developmental psychology, personality, and abnormal psychology. We will emphasize applications of psychology to daily life. We will also emphasize approaching the science of psychology while maintaining the priority of being fully devoted followers of Christ. Text: Meier P., Minirth F., Wichern, F., & Ratcliff D. (2006). Introduction to Psychology and Counseling: Christian Perspectives and Applications. 2nd Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. I will also provide supplemental materials off and on throughout the class. These materials will include power point presentations, journal articles from the scientific literature, and exerts from various books. Since I am drawing on a variety of sources, you will need to attend class, and pay attention in class. You WILL BE TESTED on the information presented in class and/or included on my power point presentations. Anything presented in class or presented in your text book is fair game for tests. Classroom policies: Students are required to attend each class, and they bound by Claiborne Christian School attendance policies. Attendance in class is critical, and grades will suffer should attendance lapse. You must present to class on time in order to complete your bell work. No make-ups on bell work will be given. Please be respectful of time, and if you are running late, enter the classroom quietly. I retain the right to make course changes is necessary throughout the year; however, I will work hard to keep pace with the syllabus as outlined below. Any change in course material or content will be announced in class. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of class changes. Late assignments will not be accepted without an approved excuse. There will be absolutely no makeup exams or extra time given to complete assignments unless you are able to present such an excuse to me. There will be no extra credit in this course, so students should not expect to be able to raise their grades in this manner. Finally, although I do not expect to find anyone cheating in my class, any student caught cheating will be dealt with according to CCS standards. Cheating is not a godly approach to living, and I will not tolerate it in my class. Please consult your school handbook for these policies. Course Requirements: · Classroom exams. (50 points each) We will have a test every other week (on Fridays). · Research Paper. (100 points) Each student will write a 5 page research paper using APA style on any of the following topics: persuasion, conformity, any mental illness, any major historical figure in psychology (ex: William James, Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, etc), behavior modification, cognitive behavioral therapy, memory and eye witness testimony, or decision making and jury behavior. I am open to your ideas here. I will develop a rubric for you, and we will get to work on the paper ASAP. I will show you the basics of APA style, and I require that you have at least 3 sources (journal articles or authoritative books). · Bell Work. · Pop-quizzes. (variable) · Homework. (100 points total) Note: Seniors in high school are expected to have solid writing skills, and they are expected to have work turned in on time. I will not accept late assignments unless under extraordinary circumstances. Any student needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a disability is required to speak with me no later than the end of the first week of class. Grades: Your grade will be calculated by adding up the total number of points a student earns across all assignments, and dividing that figure by the total number of points possible. The resulting percentage will be your grade. Your final grades will be earned on the following grading scale: 100-94 = A 93-87 = B 86-78 = C 77-70 = D 69-0 = F As per CCS policy, if you are earning less than a C, I will be in touch with your parents. I will also contact your parents if your grades show a marked decline from one grading period to another. Classroom Rules. 1. Act like you know that Jesus is in the room with you. 2. I am the leader in this class. I lead, you follow. I do not think that I need to stray too far from those rules. I expect each one of you to act respectfully and follow the same rules that you follow in all of your other classes as per CCS policy. If you break these rules, I work on a three strikes and you’re out system. Discipline can range from giving you extra work, to sending you out of the classroom, to meeting with your parents, etc. You should know that I am creative, but I trust we won’t have to deal with this kind of thing too much. The material is interesting, you are almost college age, so I expect maturity from you. Syllabus. AUGUST 15: First day of class. Syllabus Day. Introduction to Class policy, Apologetics and Psychology Week 1 8/18-8/22 Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology: History of Psychology DEFENDING THE FAITH: CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW AND CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY Week 2 8/25-8/29 History of Psychology, American Psychological Association, Divisions of Psychology Week 3 9/1-9/5 Scientific Method DEFEND THE FAITH: Science and Knowing. How should Christians approach science? Week 4 9/8-9/12 Chapter 2: Biological Basis of Behavior: Neuron, Central Nervous System CRITICAL THINKING: PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS: WHEN (IF EVER) ARE MEDICATIONS APPROPRIATE? WHERE DOES THE BIBLE STAND ON MEDICATIONS? Week 5 9/15-1/19 Peripheral Nervous System, Endocrine System, States of Consciousness FUN STUFF: CLINICAL HYPNOSIS. Week 6 9/22-9/26 (End of 1st 6 weeks) Chapter 3: Sensation and Perception Week 7 9/29-10/3 Sensation and Perception Continued FUNS STUFF: GESTALT AND PINWHEELS OR WHY PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE CALLED “SHRINKS” Week 8 10/6-10/10 Chapter 4: Emotions (stress and health) FUN STUFF: PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION Week 9 10/13-10/17 Emotions Continued. FUN STUFF: GOLF TEES AND THE SUNDAY COMICS OR CAN HAPPINESS BE ENHANCED BY YOUR BIC? Week 10 10/20-10/24 Chapter 5: Motivation: Theories. Evolutionary theory (the horror!), drive-reduction theory, arousal theory, hierarchy of needs DEFEND THE FAITH DISCUSSION: EVOLUTION AND CHRISTIANITY DEFEND THE FAITH DISCUSSION: MASLOW, SELF-ACTUALIZATION, AND PAUL Week 11 10/27-10/31 Motivation: Theories and Drives. Hunger, Sex, Need to Belong, Achievement Continued INTERESTING STUFF: ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND HUNGER DRIVES GONE HAYWIRE Week 12 11/3-11/7 (End of 2nd 6 weeks) Chapter 6: Learning. Classical Conditioning INTERESTING STUFF: CRACK COCAINE ADDICTION AND CRAVINGS Week 13 11/10-11/14 Learning Operant Conditioning. Reinforcement and Punishment FUN STUFF: PRAISE AND TRASH CANS DEFENDING THE FAITH DISCUSSION: B.F. SKINNER vs. GOD: DETERMINISM vs. FREE WILL Week 14 11/17-11/21 Learning: OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING: Bo Bo Dolls and Pro Wrestling INTERESTING STUFF: BABYSITTING 101, PARENTING, and PARENT MANAGEMENT TRAINING. THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND BIBLICAL TRUTHS Week 15 11/24-11/28 (Thanksgiving Holliday) Week 16 12/1-12/5 Chapter 7: Memory: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval and Memory Construction FUN STUFF: WHO DONE IT? EYE WITNESS MEMORY Week 17 12/8-12/12 Memory Continued: Amnesia, Improving memory INTERESTING STUFF: SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE, FALSE MEMORIES, HISTERIA AMONG THE BELIEVERS INTERESTING STUFF: HYPNOSIS AND MEMORY INTERESTING STUFF: DRUGS TO COMBAT DEMENTIA Week 18 12/15-12/19 (Midterm Exams and End of 3rd 6 weeks) Week 19 12/22-12/26 MERRY CHRISTMAS! Week 20 12/29-1/2 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Week 21 1/5-1/9 Cognition: Problem Solving, Decision Making and Thinking Bias INTERESTING STUFF: WANNA SELL YOUR CAR? DISCUSSION: COGNITION, DEPRESSION, and the “YEA-BUTS” Week 22 1/12-1/16 Cognition: PERSUASION AND INFLUENCE DISCUSSION: HOW TO BUTT-IN LINE MOST EFFECTIVELY. SELL YOUR CAR FOR THE BEST PRICE, AND DEFENDING YOURSELF AGAINST THE SALES PITCH DEFENDING THE FAITH DISCUSSION: PERSUASION, THE GOSPEL, AND CONFORMITY Week 23 1/19-1/23 Chapter 8: Intelligence. Theories of intelligence, Creativity Week 24 1/26-1/30 Assessing Intelligence, Test Construction, Twin and Adoption Studies, Group Differences, Testing Bias, What tests do NOT measure. INTERESTING STUFF: WAIS-3, WISC-4, WASI Week 25 2/2-2/6 Chapter 9: Social Psychology. Attitudes Week 26 2/9-2/13 (End of 4th 6 weeks) Chapter 10 and 11: Development through the Life Span. Child Development INTERESTING STUFF: AUTISM AND ASPERGERS DISORDERS Development: Adolescent and Adult Development. CRITICAL THINKING: SHOULD JUVENILES BE ALLOWED TO BE TRIED AS ADULTS IN COURTS OF LAW? Week 27 2/16-2/20 Chapter 12. Personality
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