Knowledge Components
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 2301
LEARNING OUTCOMES
KNOWLEDGE COMPONENTS
Outcome 1: To gain an understanding of the field of psychology (historic & current)
1. Identify at least four major branches of Psychology
2. Identify at least five major individuals who contributed to the development of the major branches of Psychology (including Piaget, Freud, Watson, Skinner, Bandura,).
3. Identify at least one contribution or theory of those individuals identified above.
Outcome 2: To become familiar with common research methodology used in psychological research
1. Identify the need for the use of the Scientific Method in the study of Psychology.
2. Identify the five steps of the Scientific Method.
3. Identify five types of research design.
4. Identify the key element that differentiates each of the research designs from the others.
5. Define Operational Definition and identify why it is essential to scientific research.
6. Define Random Assignment and identify why it is essential to scientific research.
7. Differentiate between Causation and Correlation and identify why correlation alone is insufficient to indicate causation.
8. Identify the need for ethical considerations in scientific research.
Outcome 3: To become familiar with the biological bases of behavior
1. Identify the two major components of the Central Nervous System.
2. Identify the two divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System.
3. Describe the action of the Reflex Arc.
4. Identify the location and function of at least ten major brain structures.
5. Identify the location and function of the four lobes of the Cerebellum.
6. Identify the location and function of the Motor and Somatosensory cortices.
7. Identify the functions of the three major parts of the neuron.
8. Identify the role of neurotransmitters.
9. Describe the actions transpiring at the synapse.
Outcome 4: To develop an understanding of processes involved in learning and cognition
1. Identify the role of Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner in the development of Learning Theory.
2. Differentiate between an Unconditioned and a Conditioned Stimulus.
3. Differentiate between an Unconditioned and a Conditioned Response.
4. Differentiate between Stimulus Generalization and Stimulus Discrimination.
5. Define reinforcement.
6. Define punishment.
7. Identify the feature that makes reinforcement and punishment positive versus negative?
8. Identify the essential feature of Observational Learning that differs from Classical or Operant Learning.
9. Identify the major principles of the models of intelligence as proposed by Spearman, Gardner, and Sternberg.
10. Identify and describe the three types of memory systems.
11. Differentiate between the process of sensation and the process of perception.
Outcome 5: To understand the various types of development that an individual experiences across the lifespan
1. Identify the three stages of prenatal development and describe changes which occur in each.
2. Identify the developmental milestones which occur in infancy and childhood.
3. Identify physical, cognitive and social changes which occur in adolescence.
4. Identify the critical tasks involved in each of the eight stages of development proposed by Erikson.
5. Identify the stages of moral development as proposed by Kohlberg.
Outcome 6: To become familiar with theories of psychological health, disorders, and therapy
1. Differentiate between abnormality and insanity in the context of psychological disorders.
2. Identify the basic features of at least six psychological disorders.
3. Identify the three components of personality as proposed by Freud.
4. Identify four models of therapy and describe the major therapeutic issues that each attempt to address.
5. Define stress as proposed by Selye.
6. Identify five techniques or supports to reduce stress.
Outcome 7: To become familiar with human behavior in a social context
1. Identify the factors of conformity as described by Asch.
2. Identify the factors of obedience as described by Milgram.
3. Differentiate between prejudice and discrimination and describe the factors contributing to each.
4. Identify the three factors contributing to attraction.
5. Differentiate between the six types of “love.”
6. Identify the factors contributing to the Bystander Effect.