STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Describe the discipline of psychology, its history, and how it is practiced today.

 II.     Demonstrate the basic rules of research in psychology and be able to evaluate their application.

 III.    Identify the biological influences on behavior.

 IV.     Describe consciousness and factors that may influence it.

 V.      Discuss motivation in terms of inborn and learned determinants.

 VI.     Analyze emotion and its relationship to physiology and cognition.

 VII.    Define the principles of sensation and perception.

 VIII.   Demonstrate the principles of learning and its application to behavior.

 IX.     Discuss memory and forgetting and the application of memory skills to life.

 X       Identify the factors involved in stress and effective strategies for management of stress.

 XI.     Write and speak clearly and logically in presentations and essays about topics related to psychology.

 XII.    Demonstrate the ability to select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems or compile information in the study of psychology.

 XIII.   Read, analyze, and apply to new situations written material related to the study of psychology.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Introduction to the Discipline

         A.      The Goals of Psychology

         B.      Professional Roles and Activities

         C.      History of Discipline

         D.      Theoretical Perspectives

 II.     Research Methods in Psychology

         A.      Basic Research and Statistical Methods

         B.      Basic vs. Applied Science

         C.      Evaluation of Psychological Research

         D.      Ethics in Research

 III.    Physiological Psychology

         A.      Genetics

         B.      Heredity vs. Environmental Influences

         C.      Endocrine System

         D.      The Nervous System

 IV.     Consciousness

         A.      The Nature of Consciousness

         B.      Sleep and Dreams

         C.      Altered States of Consciousness

 V.      Motivation

         A.      Basic Drives

         B.      Theories of Motivation

         C.      Learned Motives

         D.      Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motives

 VI.     Emotion

         A.      The Physiology of Emotion

         B.      Theories of Emotion

         C.      The Development and Expression of Emotion

         D.      Cognition and Emotion

 VII.    Sensation and Perception

         A.      Principles of Sensation

         B.      The Senses

         C.      Principles of Perception

 VIII.   Learning

         A.      Classical Conditioning

         B.      Operant Conditioning

         C.      Observational Conditioning

         D.      Cognitive learning

 IX.     Memory

         A.      Theories of Memory

         B.      Theories of Forgetting

         C.      The Physiology of Memory

         D.      Memory Disorders

         E.      Effective Studying

 X       Stress and Coping

         A.      Physiological Components of Stress

         B.      Psychological Components of Stress

         C.      Stress Management