Principles of Psychology:

       Psychology 110-02 Syllabus (Winter 2008)

 

Neil Lutsky

Olin 111, x4379, e-mail: NLUTSKY@CARLETON.EDU

 

 ÒThe purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best.Ó

 

-Paul ValŽry

 

Organization and Requirements:

 

Psychology 110-02 is a survey course covering major topics in psychology. The course meets for lecture and discussion on Monday and Wednesday and for presentations, research projects, and discussion on Friday. We meet in Olin 102 from 9:50-11:00 Mondays and Wednesdays, and from 9:40-10:40 on Fridays.

 

The schedule below lists the topics and readings we will be covering. Readings should be completed prior to the class meeting for which they are listed. I recommend that you then review those readings and your notes after each class session. I will not lecture on every topic in the text nor will the text cover all topics presented in class. However, the reading assignments provide useful and often necessary background for lecture and discussion, and should be completed before scheduled class meetings.

 

Three examinations will be given in this course. Note that the final examination is self-scheduled. You should also expect to complete two class research projects (and associated short reports). Grading will be based on the following approximate weights: research reports (20% for each module), in-term examinations (40%), final examination (20%). Each exam during the term must be taken at its scheduled time; each assignment must be completed for class on the date it is due. Any exceptions to either expectation (e.g., due to serious illness) must be arranged with the instructor prior to an exam or paper due date.

 

The text for this course is Psychology (7th Edition) by Henry Gleitman, Daniel Reisberg, and James Gross.  You may also want to buy the text study guide, which many students have found useful. In addition, you ought to purchase the paperback Darkness Visible by William Styron. Additional assigned readings will be distributed or placed on closed reserve in the Carleton Library. Do stop by the Psychology Department office area (Olin 107). Olin 107 has copies of and computer access to materials you might want to explore if you are now or later become interested in psychology. These include sources on the psychology major at Carleton, graduate programs in psychology, and careers in psychology.  My office is also in that area.

 

Special help sessions for course projects, computer work, and exam preparation will be scheduled during the term by the course assistant, Ayla Grey (218.393.9470, cell, greya@carleton.edu). I also encourage you to visit my office to discuss psychology and course-related questions and ideas during the open course office hour on Thursday, 1:30-2:30. I am often available in my office at other times; please stop by or call the Psychology Department secretary (x4380).

 

Check Moodle for Updates and Links

 

Topic and Reading Schedule:

 

F 1/4  Introduction to Psychological Science.

 

 

M 1/7  Personality in the Measurement Tradition; Research Module I: Personality.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 553-566.

Follow link in Moodle to Research Module I.

 

 

W 1/9  Personality in the Clinical Tradition.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 566-585.

 

 

F 1/11  Research Module I: Personality.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, Appendix pp. A12-A15.

DeNeve, Happy as an extraverted clam? pp. 141-144.

 

 

M 1/14  Social Behavior and Immediate Social Influence.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 479-501.

 

 

W 1/16  Social Influences on Extended Social Behaviors.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 501-513.

 

 

F 1/18  Obedience and the Holocaust.

 

Sabini & Silver, On destroying the innocent with a clear conscience. Moralities of

    Everyday Life, pp. 55-87.

 

Special Event: 3:30 talk by Linda Bartoshuk, University of Florida.

 

 

 

M 1/21  Basic Models of Learning.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 195-218.

 

 

W 1/23 Cognitive Learning.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 218-229, 586-590.

 

 

F 1/25  Applied Behaviorism; Research Module I due.

 

Skinner, Why we are not acting to save the world, pp. 1-8.

Animal learning simulation: Sniffy!

 

 

M 1/28  Examination: Personality, Social Psychology, and Learning.

 

 

W 1/30  Neuropsychology. Guest Presentation by Larry Wichlinski, Ph.D.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 100-115.

 

 

F 2/1  Accounts of Depression.

 

Styron, Darkness Visible, pp. 1-84.

 

 

M 2/4  Midterm Break.

 

 

W 2/6  Psychopathology.  Guest Presentation by Lisa Legrand, Ph.D., University of MN.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 594-633.

 

 

F 2/8  Counseling Psychology. Guest Presentation by Steven Kozberg, Ph.D.

 

 

 

M 2/11  Psychotherapy and its Evaluation.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 635-667.

 

 

W 2/13  Brain Structure and Functioning.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 79-100.

 

 

F 2/15  Brain, Mind, and Self.

 

Sacks, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, pp. 8-22.

 

 

 

M 2/18  Examination: Psychopathology, Biological Psychology, and Psychotherapy.

 

 

W 2/20  Thinking and Decision-making.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 271-310.

 

 

F 2/22  Research Module II: An Experimental Study of Cognition.

 

Follow link in Moodle to Research Module II.

 

 

 

M 2/25  Social Cognition.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 436-476.

Norenzayan & Nisbett, Culture and causal cognition, pp. 132-135.

 

 

W 2/27  Memory.  Guest Presentation by Seth Greenberg, Ph.D.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 233-268.

 

 

F 2/29  Memory Research; Research Module II, continued.

 

Neisser, John Dean's memory, pp. 139-159.

 

 

M 3/3  Sensation and Perception.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 120-127, 156-179.

 

 

W 3/5  Intelligence.

 

Gleitman et al., Psychology, pp. 517-550.

 

 

F 3/7  Research Module II, completed.

 

 

M 3/10 Tentative Conclusions about Psychology.

 

 

January 3, 2008