STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Describe the development of cognition and language skills.

 II.     Discuss intelligence from the perspectives of development and assessment.

 III.    Compare and contrast personality from the perspectives of theory and assessment.

 IV.     Discuss abnormal psychology in terms of major disorders.

 V.      Identify the major forms of therapy used in treating psychological disorders.

 VI.     Identify major psychological, physical, and social influences on human development throughout life.

 VII.    Analyze social influences on behavior.

 VIII.   Write and speak clearly and logically in presentations and essays.

 IX.     Demonstrate the ability to select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems or compile information.

 X       Read, analyze, and apply written materials to new situations.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Cognition and Language

         A.      Theories of language development

         B.      Nature vs. nurture in language development

         C.      Concept formation

         D.      Problem solving

         E.      Creativity

 II.     Intelligence

         A.      Defining intelligence

         B.      Theories of intelligence

         C.      Measuring intelligence

         D.      Cultural biases in intelligence testing

         E.      The exceptional person

 III.    Personality

         A.      Theories of personality

         B.      Personality assessment

 IV.     Abnormal psychology

         A.      Defining abnormality

         B.      Diagnosing abnormal behavior: The classification systems

         C.      Anxiety disorders

         D.      Somatoform and dissociative disorders

         E.      Affective disorders

         F.      Schizophrenia disorders

         G.      Psycho-sexual disorders

         H.      Personality disorders

 V.      Therapy

         A.      Psychotherapy

         B.      Insight therapies

         C.      Behavior therapies

         D.      Medical therapies

         E.      Effectiveness of therapy

 VI.     Life-span Development

         A.      Conception

         B.      Prenatal development and birth

         C.      The newborn and infancy

         D.      Childhood

         E.      Adolescence

         F.      Early and middle adulthood

         G.      Aging

         H.      Death and dying

 VII.    Social Psychology

         A.      Attitude formation and change

         B.      Person perception

         C.      Conformity and obedience

         D.      Conflict and cooperation

         E.      Prejudice