PSY-100 Introduction to Psychology
This course is a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It will familiarize students with the scientific methods used in the field of psychology. It will also introduce various topics within the field, such as consciousness, motivation, learning, memory, cognition, development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatments, social psychology, and the biological bases of behavior. This course will help students understand diversity and how our diverse experiences impact the psychological development and experiences of individuals. There are no pre- or co-requisites for this course. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Science and Diversity: Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice credit.
For more detailed course information view the
Course Outline
Course Description
This course is a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It will familiarize students with the scientific methods used in the field of psychology. It will also introduce various topics within the field, such as consciousness, motivation, learning, memory, cognition, development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatments, social psychology, and the biological bases of behavior. This course will help students understand diversity and how our diverse experiences impact the psychological development and experiences of individuals. There are no pre- or co-requisites for this course. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Science and Diversity: Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice credit.
Credit Hours
3Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
SUNY General Education Course
- Social Sciences
- Diversity Equity Inclusion and Social Justice
First Year Experience Course
No
Course Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate scientific methods, psychological approaches, and disciplines (e.g., biological, psychodynamic, humanistic), and their contribution to the field by locating, assessing, and interpreting credible sources of psychological research.
- Apply psychological principles from the various approaches and disciplines of psychology to develop critical thinking and interpersonal and social responsibility, using and integrating information from reliable sources in an ethical and informed manner.
- Identify and describe historical and contemporary societal factors that shape the development of individual and group identity involving race, socioeconomic status, and gender.
- Anatomize the role that complex networks of social structures and systems play in the creation and perpetuation of the dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and opportunity.
- Students will apply their knowledge of rights, access, and equity to future interactions in a way that benefits social justice action.
Topic Outline
- 1. The major theories of and approaches to psychology
- a. Psychodynamic, humanistic, behavioral, cognitive, Gestalt, and biological
- 2. Research methods
- a. Descriptive methods, correlational methods, experimental methods, and ethics in psychological research
- 3. Behavior and mental processes
- a. Biological, psychological, cultural, and systemic influences
- 4. How psychology develops critical thinking skills
- 5. Biology and behavior
- a. Nervous system, brain structure and function, endocrine system, and genetic and environmental influences
- 6. Learning
- a. Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and learning by watching others
- 7. Memory
- a. How memories are created, maintained, stored, and retrieved
- 8. Thought, language, and intelligence
- 9. Human development
- a. Socioemotional, physical, and cognitive development, and mitigating factors such as drugs and alcohol, race, socioeconomic status, sex, gender, and culture
- b. Systemic factors such as access to education, healthcare, affordable housing, and proper nutrition
- 10. Personality and identity
- a. Self-concept; self-esteem; psychodynamic, humanistic, social cognitive, and trait approaches; personality assessment; and how biology affects personality
- 11. Health, stress, and coping
- 12. Social psychology
- a. Social cognition, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, implicit and explicit bias and attitudes, subjective construal, obedience, conformity, cognitive dissonance, and attributions
- The course will also cover a subset of the following topics:
- 1. Sensation and perception
- 2. Consciousness
- 3. Sex, gender, and sexuality
- 4. Motivation and emotion
- 5. Psychological disorders
- 6. Treatment of psychological disorders