PSYCHOLOGY 10:  INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
Pitzer College
Professor Halford H. Fairchild

Texts:    A.  Essentials of Understanding Psychology by Robert S. Feldman
    B.  Psychology in Context (2nd Edition) by David N. Sattler & Virginia Shabatay

Course Syllabus, Spring 2004

1-20-04    Introduction and Course Overview
1-22-04    What is Psychology?  Areas of Specialization/Careers

1-27-04    History and Systems (A:  Chapter 1)
1-29-04    Methods and Statistics
    
2-3-04        Physiological Psychology (A:  Chapter 2)
                    Five Amazing Ideas in Psychobiology by H. Fairchild
2-5-04        Reader:  Section 1:  Physiological Bases of Behavior (1-27)

2-10-04    Sensation and Perception (A:  Chapter 3)
2-12-04    B:  Section 2

2-17-04    States of Consciousness (A:  Chapter 4)
2-19-04    B:  Section 3

2-24-04    Learning (A:  Chapter 5)
2-26-04    B:  Section 4

3-2-04        Memory (A:  Chapter 6)
NOTE:  DUE TO A DEATH IN PROFESSOR FAIRCHILD'S FAMILY (HIS MOTHER), THERE WILL BE NO CLASS THIS WEEK.  Instead, students should write an op-ed style piece (see examples handed out in class) that incorporates elements from the readings (especially for this week, but up to this point in the semester), on any current event of their choosing.  Papers should aim for 750 words.  Students should submit, in order, notes, outlines, drafts and the final paper. Include the word count of the final draft.  The paper is due March 9, 2004.
3-4-04        B:  Section 5

3-9-04        Cognition (A:  Chapter 7)
3-11-04    B:  Section 6

3-16-04    SPRING BREAK
3-18-04    SPRING BREAK

3-23-04    Motivation and Emotion (A:  Chapter 8)
3-25-04    B:  Section 9 (out of order)

3-30-04    Development (A:  Chapter 9)
4-01-04    B:  Section 7 (out of order)

4-06-04    Personality (A:  Chapter 10)
4-08-04    B:  Sections 8 and 10

4-13-04    Health and Disorders (A:  Chapters 11 and 12)
Film:  The Stanford Prison Experiment.  Please take good notes, and write a 1-paragraph summary and a 1 paragraph "reaction" statement.  Due 4-20-04.)
4-15-04    B:  Sections 11
Film:  Skin Deep.  Please take good notes, and write a 1-paragraph summary and a 1 paragraph "reaction" statement.  (due 4-20-04)

4-20-04    Psychotherapies (A:  Chapter 13)
4-22-04    B:  Section 12

4-27-04    Social Psychology (A:  Chapter 14)
4-29-04    B:  Section 13 - Term Paper (Psychograph) Due

5-04-04    Class Presentations:  What Psychology Means to Me (In Rhyme)
5-06-04    Class Presentations:  What Psychology Means to Me (In Rhyme)

Grading:     To be subjectively determined by the instructor.  Quizzes make a big difference, as do:  (1) attendance; (2) writing assignments; and (3) participation.  The Psychograph paper, due on 4-29-04, is a self-analysis based on the contents of the course.  It should address the questions, Who am I?  Am I who I think I am?  Am I what I ought to be?  What ought I to be?  It should incorporate as much psychological jargon (theories, words, concepts, etc.) as is relevant to your self-analysis.

More on the PsychoGraph  The intention, here, is to enable students to do a little self-reflection.  If psychology is to be useful, its consumers (students and the general public) ought to find something useful in its theories, methods, and approaches.  The PsychoGraph is a self-study, based upon the themes and ideas presented in this course.  Students are free to experiment on structure and format, but a suggested approach is to follow the outline of the text (Biology, Sensation & Perception, Consciousness, Learning, Memory, etc.) and capture those theories and/or ideas that 'speak to you' in terms of your own experiences.  What ideas help you undertand yourself?  And then look at the questions posed above (Who am I, Am I who I think I am, etc.) and write a diagnosis of yourself followed by a prescription.  Please DO NOT include any material that is overly personal or that reveals illegal or criminal activity.  Limit your paper to 5-10 pages, doublle spaced.

Students should expect daily quizzes at the beginning of each class.