Introduction to Psychology

Psychology 101 001

Spring, 2009
Carroll Hall 111
Mon and Wed 10:00-10:50

Instructor: F. Charles Wiss, Ph.D.

Email: fcwiss@email.unc.edu
Office phone: 962-0032
Office hours: Davie 232 Wednesday 11:00-12:00 and by appt.

Graduate Student Teaching Assistants:

Anna Agranovich Daniel Peterson

agranna@email.unc.edu
Office: 206B Howell Hall
Office hours: M,W 11-12
(Grading Laura A, Laura K,
Katie and Te’Era’s sections)
djpeters@email.unc.edu
Office: Davie 361B
Office hour: M 11-12
(Grading Adam and Chrystal’s
sections)

Recitation Leaders:
Laura Andrews (611,612) swerdna.le@gmail.com
Katie Frazer (604,607) kfrazer@email.unc.edu
Chrystal Gray (605,606) chrystal_gray@kenan-flagler.unc.edu
Laura Kurtz (609,610) lauraekurtz@gmail.com
Adam Miller (602,603) admunc09@gmail.com
Te’Era Southerland (601,608) tsouther@email.unc.edu

Course description: What could be more important and interesting to learn about than people? At least that's
what I thought when I began studying Psychology back when computers only existed in science fiction novels
and the Internet was something fishermen used. And I still think that. In this course we will present a broad,
general survey of the vast field that is Psychology. Because the field is so vast, we will not cover everything,
and we will not be able to go into a lot of depth on any particular topic—that will be the work of later
psychology courses, if you choose to take them. The main goals of this course are to acquaint you with the
different areas contained within psychology, to provide you with some of the major concepts of each area, and
to teach you how to think like psychologists. By this, I do not mean that you’ll walk around figuring out what’s
wrong with all of your friends and then present them with a large bill for telling them. Actually, only a small
subset of psychologists does this, and it’s not a good way to make or keep friends. I do mean that you’ll learn to
think more critically and scientifically about what makes people think, feel, and behave in the ways that they
do. I hope that you’ll work hard, learn a lot, and find much of what is covered interesting.

Required textbook: Psychology: Themes and Variations, Briefer Version Seventh edition (2008, 2005) Wayne
Weiten, Thompson Wadsworth

Class Format/ General Info: Many people have an assumption that an Introductory Psychology course should
be pretty easy. This one is not. In some ways, it is actually more difficult than some of the 500 level courses I
teach. This is partly due to the fact that there is a LOT of information to master in this course. It is also due to
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the fact that I really want students to leave this course having mastered the basic concepts of the many sub-
fields of psychology. Please don’t make the mistake of believing that you can do well in this course by using
common-sense. Much of what science has taught us about how people work is counter-intuitive.

The class will consist of large lectures twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, and smaller Recitation
sections meeting once per week. You must be registered for a Recitation section in order to receive credit
for the course. Some of what I lecture on will be in the book. Some of the material I present will not be in the
book. You will be responsible for everything that is presented in class, and there will be test questions on
material that’s not in your book. (In other words, if you want a good grade you have to come to class and either
take notes or have a very good memory). I will not go over everything in the book that I expect you to know.
You will be tested on material from the assigned reading that was not touched on at all in class. (In other words,
you also have to read the book). I’ve been told on many occasions that I’m a fairly hard grader. Over time, I’ve
come to believe these reports. You should too, and if you’re looking for a fairly easy class, there are probably
much better options than this one.

Expectations: You are expected to come to class and take notes on material as necessary.

You are expected to do all of the assigned reading (preferably before the relevant class) and to master and
memorize all the major concepts contained in it. The assigned textbook I think is a pretty good one. One
advantage that it has, being the “Briefer” version, is that there is a little less overall reading to do than would be
the case with most Intro Psyc texts. However, because of its’ condensed format, there isn’t a lot of “filler” –the
text is pretty information-dense and most of what’s in the book is considered important.

This is a relatively large class, so we will not be able to have too many full on discussions; however questions
and comments during class are encouraged and will always be most welcome. Please try and word any
comments you wish to share in a way that is respectful to all.

Be polite. This means things like making every effort to arrive in class on time almost all the time, and staying
until the lecture is over. (I know I’m going to). TURN OFF CELL PHONES BEFORE ENTERING
CLASS. Please don’t read the paper, text your friends, or do other things that may be a distraction to those
around you. Also, see above about being respectful.

There is an experimental requirement for all PSYC 101 courses, designed to provide to all students taking their
first course in psychology some knowledge of the procedures and conduct of psychological research. A
principal aim of the requirement is for students to gain an appreciation of how psychology experiments work,
while simultaneously acquiring new knowledge about areas of psychology that students may not encounter in
their general PSYC 101 course. To satisfy this requirement, students must complete five hours of experimental
work. This requirement can be fulfilled by participating in actual psychology experiments (Option 1) or by
writing research critiques (Option 2). Students must be 18 or older in order to participate in experiments.
Those under 18 may only do Option 2 (research critiques) unless they submit a consent form signed by a parent
(available on the door of room 325 Davie Hall). More information about this requirement will be distributed in
class and posted on Blackboard.

Recitation sections: Recitation classes meet once per week and are considered an integral part of the course.
These classes will provide the opportunity to learn in a smaller, more interactive environment. The recitations
will involve active applications of the concepts discussed in class and the text, and will allow for review and
clarification of the material. You will be considered responsible for any material presented or activities
conducted during recitation. You will be graded on attendance and participation for recitation. A maximum of
25 points can be earned for participation and a maximum of 50 points will be assigned for attendance based

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upon the formula listed below. If you think there is a possibility that you may miss multiple recitation sections,
you may wish to enroll in a section of 101 that does not include this requirement.

Recitation Attendance Grading:

Number of Absences Points
0 or 1 50
2 or 3 40
4 30
5 15
6 or more 0

Papers: There are 2 papers required for this course. Each is intended to hone your abilities to critically evaluate
psychological research. The 2 paper assignments are essentially the same, it is my hope that you will use the
feedback provided on your first paper and refine your abilities when writing the second. For the first paper you
are to summarize a research study presented in a scholarly psychology journal, critique that research (i.e.
discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the research), and discuss how that research is relevant to the daily life
of you or someone you know. The article you review MUST come from one of the journals listed on the
Paper Guidelines document posted on Blackboard. Please note that there is a link on Blackboard taking
you to a webpage set up for this course to assist you with your research and citation formatting. The first
paper should be about 4 pages long. For the second paper, the assignment is basically the same, except you are
to use two research articles and the paper should be about 6 pages long (the second paper should be on a
different topic, utilizing different research articles). The first paper is worth 75 points and the second paper is
worth 125 points. The due dates for these papers vary depending on which section you’re in. See the schedule
below for your due dates. All papers are to be submitted electronically to www.turnitin.com . Instructions
for paper submission along with necessary passwords will be posted on Blackboard. There will be a 5 point
per day deduction for papers not submitted on the due date. Detailed expectations for the paper, as well as
grading criteria, will be presented in class and are posted on Blackboard

Exams: All exam questions will be multiple-choice, fill in the blank, matching, etc. Exam #1 will cover
material presented in class and Chapters 1-5 in your textbook. Exam #2 will cover material presented in class
and Chapters 6-11 in your text. The final exam will focus on material covered since Exam #2, and will also
include some cumulative questions (no more than 35% of the exam) addressing concepts from the whole
course. No make-up exams will be given and no excuses for missing an exam short of being in the hospital at
the time of the exam will be accepted.

Grading:

Your grade will be based upon the following components:

Recitation Attendance and Participation................................ 75 points

Paper 1................................................................................... 75 points
Paper 2……………………………………………………… 125 points
Exam #1................................................................................. 175 points
Exam #2................................................................................. 200 points
Final Exam............................................................................. 350 points

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 SCHEDULE

Date Reading

Jan 12 Introduction/Course Overview

Jan 14 History of Psychology Chap. 1
Jan 19 No Class – MLK Day
Jan. 21 What is Psychology? /Scientific Approaches part 1
Jan. 26 Library research/Paper assignment
Jan. 28 Memory Chap. 7
Feb. 2 Memory
Feb. 4 Scientific Approaches part 2 Chap. 2
Feb. 9 Biological Bases Chap. 3
Feb. 11 Sensation and Perception Chap. 4
Feb. 16 Sensation and Perception
Feb. 18 EXAM #1
Feb. 23 Consciousness Chap. 5
Feb. 25 Consciousness
Feb 25 Paper #1 due for Laura A., Katie, and Adam’s sections [611,612,604,607,602,603]
March 2 Learning Chap. 6
March 4 Learning
March 4 Paper #1 due for Laura K., Chrystal, and Te’Era’s Sections [605,606,609,610,601,608]
March 9&11 NO CLASS! SPRING BREAK
March 16 Motivation Chap.9
March 18 Emotion
March 23 Personality Chap. 11
March 25 Personality
March 30 EXAM #2
April 1 Stress and Coping Chap. 12
April 1 Paper #2 due for Laura A., Katie, and Adam’s sections [611,612,604,607,602,603]
April 6 Psychological Disorders
April 8 Psychological Disorders Chap.13
April 13 Psychological Disorders
April 13 Paper #2 due for Laura K., Chrystal, and Te’Era’s Sections [605,606,609,610,601,608]
April 15 Treatment of Psychological Disorders Chap. 14
April 20 Social Behavior Chap. 15
April 22 Social Behavior
April 27 Last Class

May 6 (Wednesday) FINAL EXAM AT 8:00 a.m.

**Please note – There is a chance that this schedule will be modified. Announcements will be made in
class.