PSY 110
Psychology I
Summer Term 2025 |
Instructor: TBA |
Total sessions: 28 Sessions |
Office Hours: TBA |
Session Length: 145 Minutes |
Classroom: TBA |
Credits: 3 Units |
Class Length: 7 Weeks |
Language: English |
Course Overview:
This course explores the essential psychological processes that govern human thought and behavior. Students will examine perception, memory, attention, learning, emotion, and
motivation, gaining insights into how these processes operate individually and interact. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and applied exercises, students will develop a deep understanding of these core mechanisms, their applications in daily life, and their relevance to psychological research.
Required Material/ Textbooks:
Sandi Mann, Psychology: A Complete Introduction, Quercus, 2016.
Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior by Dennis Coon, John
O. Mitterer, and Tanya S. Martini, Cengage Learning, 15th Edition
Course Goals
Upon successful completion of this course, students will exhibit proficiency in the following general education core competencies:
1. Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and innovative thinking, inquiry, analysis, evaluation, information synthesis, concept organization, and the construction of effective solutions.
2. Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate proficiency in written, oral, and visual communication.
3. Social Responsibility: Students will showcase intercultural competence and civic awareness through active engagement at local, regional, national, and global levels.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand foundational theories and concepts of psychological processes.
2. Analyze how these processes influence human behavior and decision-making.
3. Explore experimental research methods to study psychological phenomena.
4. Apply psychological concepts to practical and theoretical problems.
Course Outline: Week 1:
Lecture 1-5: Foundations of Psychological Processes
Lecture 1: Introduction to Psychology
o Scope and methods of psychology
o Historical milestones and key approaches
Lecture 2: Brain and Behavior
o Neural mechanisms of cognition and behavior
o Basic neuroanatomy and neurotransmission
Lecture 3: Sensory Systems
o Vision, hearing, and other sensory modalities
o Introduction to sensory thresholds
Lecture 4: Perception
o Perceptual processes and illusions
o Theories of perception
Lecture 5: Attention
o Types of attention (focused, divided, and sustained)
o Models of attention
Assignment 1
More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.
Week 2:
Lecture 6-10: Memory Systems and Processes
Lecture 6: Memory Basics
o Types of memory (sensory, short-term, and long-term)
o Memory encoding and retrieval
Lecture 7: Forgetting and Distortion
o Theories of forgetting
o False memories and reconstructive processes
Lecture 8: Learning Theories
o Classical and operant conditioning
o Applications of learning theories
Lecture 9: Observational Learning
o Bandura’s social learning theory
o Real-world implications
Lecture 10: Cognitive Development
o Piaget and Vygotsky’s models of cognitive development
Week 3:
Lecture 11-15: Thinking, Language, and Emotion
Lecture 11: Problem-Solving and Creativity
o Types of problem-solving strategies
o Factors influencing creativity
Lecture 12: Decision-Making
o Heuristics and biases
o Decision-making under uncertainty
Lecture 13: Language and Thought
o Language acquisition and processing
o The relationship between language and cognition
Lecture 14: Theories of Emotion
o James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Schachter-Singer theories
o Emotional expression and regulation Lecture 15: Stress and Coping Mechanisms
o Psychological and physiological responses to stress
o Coping strategies and their effectiveness
Midterm Exam: multiple choice, short answer and long answer questions (Contains topics in Lecture 1-12)
Week 4:
Lecture 16-20: Motivation and Social Processes
Lecture 16: Motivation Theories
o Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation
o Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Lecture 17: Social Influence and Behavior
o Conformity, compliance, and obedience
Lecture 18: Group Dynamics
o Group decision-making and leadership
o The psychology of teamwork
Assignment 2
More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.
Lecture 19: Interpersonal Relationships
o Attraction, love, and conflict resolution
o Theories of social interaction
Lecture 20: Cultural Influences on Behavior
o Cross-cultural psychology
o How culture shapes cognition and emotion
Week 5:
Lecture 21-22: Applications and Advanced Topics
Lecture 21: Psychological Research Methods
o Ethical considerations in psychological research
o Case examples of research studies
Lecture 22: Applications in Education
o How psychological theories enhance learning and teaching strategies
o Improving memory and attention in academic settings
Week 6:
Lecture 23-25 Advanced Topics and Case Study
Lecture 23: Applications in Health Psychology
o The impact of psychological factors on physical health
o Behavioral interventions for managing stress and promoting wellness
Lecture 24: Emerging Topics in Psychology
o The influence of technology on cognition and behavior
o Current trends in psychological research (e.g., AI, virtual reality)
Lecture 25: Case study
o Summary of key concepts
o Analyze a detailed psychological case independently - Memory Distortions in Eyewitness Testimony
Week 7
Lecture 26-28 Social Influence and Final Exam
Lesson 26: Therapies
o Overview of Psychology Therapies
o Theoretical Framework
Lesson 27: Social Influence and behavioural
o Summary of Social impacts and social thinking
o Anti-social Behaviour
Lesson 28: Final Review and Exam
o Final Exam: multiple choice, short answer and long answer questions (Contains topics in All Lectures)
Grading Assessment:
Assignment 1 |
15% |
Assignment 2 |
15% |
Midterm |
30% |
Final exam |
30% |
Seminar Participation |
10% |
Total |
100% |
Assignments:
Students are required to write two essays during the semester, each ranging between 1500-2000 words. The essays should demonstrate analytical thinking, clear organization, and proper use of evidence to support arguments. Grading will assess the clarity of writing, logic, grammar, and syntax, alongside the depth of analysis and proper citation of references. Specific requirements regarding topics and deadlines will be provided during the course. Essays will be submitted
electronically, and students will receive feedback on the first essay to guide improvement for the second.
Attendance:
Students are required to attend a weekly seminar led by TA to focus on the week's topic and deepen understanding. Seminar time assigned by TA. Seminar attendance counts toward the final grade.
Exams:
The course includes a midterm examination and a comprehensive final examination, scheduled during finals week. The midterm will be non-cumulative, focusing solely on material covered after the prior lectures. In contrast, the final examination will consist of multiple choice, short answer and long answer questions. The midterm accounts for 30% of the final grade, and the final examination constitutes 30%.
Final Evaluation:
Letter Grade |
Percentage (%) |
Letter Grade |
Percentage |
A+ |
≥95 |
C+ |
64-67 |
A |
89-94 |
C |
60-64 |
A- |
84-88 |
C- |
56-59 |
B+ |
79-83 |
D+ |
54-56 |
B |
73-78 |
D |
50-53 |
B- |
68-72 |
F |
≤50 |
General Policies:
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of academia and requires students and researchers to
maintain honesty, fairness, trust and responsibility in all academic activities. It includes not only avoiding dishonest behaviors such as plagiarism, cheating, and falsifying data, but also requires taking responsibility for one's own academic actions and ensuring that all work is done
independently and accurately cites the research of others. Violations of academic integrity can result in severe academic penalties, such as zero grades, suspension or even expulsion, and can
cause serious damage to an individual's reputation and future career. Upholding academic
integrity is therefore essential to promoting a fair academic environment and facilitating the authentic dissemination of knowledge.
Accessible Resources Policy
The policy ensures that all students, especially those with disabilities, are able to participate equally in school learning and activities. The school provides a wide range of accessibility resources including, but not limited to, specialized classrooms, hearing aids, Braille textbooks, assistive technology, and flexible testing arrangements. Students are required to apply to the school in advance and provide appropriate medical or psychological evaluations so that an
individualized support plan can be developed for them. This policy is designed to remove barriers in the academic environment and to ensure that every student has access to equitable learning opportunities.
Withdrawal Policy
Students may choose to withdraw from a course within a specified period of time, and may not be able to do so after the expiration date. When withdrawing from a course, students are required to fill out a withdrawal form with a reason, which will be reviewed and processed on a case-by- case basis. Withdrawal from a course may not affect the student's academic performance. If a student withdraws from a course with incomplete requirements, a “W” may be assigned instead of a grade, depending on the course.
