Introduction to Psychology

psychology

general courses
obligatory courses

We assume that 'Introduction to Psychology' covers the minimum knowledge which first-year psychology students should master, regardless of their future specialization.

Classroom

The aim of the lecture is to introduce students to a broad range of psychological terms and to present the major issues studied in the psychology. The main achievements of the science will be presented.

The aim of the lecture is to introduce students to a broad range of psychological terms and to present the major issues studied in the psychology. The main achievements of the science will be presented. It should raise the students' knowledge of the authors of basic research and theories.

Having passed the final test, the student should be prepared to pursue studies in any chosen psychological discipline finding already known elements or at least the ones he/she has heard of.

1. The evolution of views on the subject of psychology, its methods and applications

1.1. The pre-science period

1.2. Introspective psychology

1.3. The “new” schools of psychology: psychoanalysis, behaviorism, character psychology

1.4. Some current trends

2. The structure of human behavior

2.1. Innate modification of behavior as a response to the variability of the environment’s physical qualities

2.2. Fundamental paradigms of learning: classical, instrumental and operant conditioning

2.3. The structure and organization of human actions

3. Psychological mechanisms of behavioral regulation

3.1. Activation mechanisms (emotions and motivation)

3.2. Cognitive mechanisms:

3.2.1. Perception of physical and social objects

3.2.2. Storage of information (memory)

3.2.3. Processing of information in the problem-solving process

3.2.4. Communicating with the environment

3.3. Personality as a system of self-regulation

3.4. Consciousness and its functions in the norm and in pathology

3.5. Social determinants of behavior

4. Fundamental problems of human mental development

5. Methodological and ethical problems of psychological research and practice

Required reading:

Materska, M. (2001). Wstęp do psychologii z elementami historii psychologii: Skrypt dla początkujących [Introduction to Psychology Including Elements of Its History. Beginners' Course Book] . Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe SCHOLAR.

Gerrig, R.J., Zimbardo, P.G. (2006). Psychologia i życie [Psychology and Life]. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN: rozdziały 4-8, 11-13, 16 [chapters 4-8, 11-13, 16] [and newer editions]

/or Zimbardo, P.G. (1999). Psychologia i życie [Psychology and Life] . Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN: chapters 4, 5, 8, 10 -14, 16/

Auxiliary material:

http://aneksy.pwn.pl/psychologia/

or http://stareaneksy.pwn.pl/psychologia/?id=164

Supplementary reading:

Brett, G. (1969). Historia psychologii [A History of Psychology]. Warszawa: PWN.

Hock, R.R. (2003). 40 prac badawczych, które zmieniły oblicze psychologii. Fascynująca podróż w krainę nauki [Forty Studies That Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research]. Gdańsk: GWP

Malim, T., Birch, a. & Wadeley, A. (1994). Wprowadzenie do psychologii (orig. Perspectives in Psychology). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.

Upon completing the course “Introduction to Psychology” students will:

in terms of knowledge:

- be familiar with the network of basic psychological terms

- be familiar with the evolution of views on the subject of psychology, its methods and applications

- have knowledge on the psychological mechanisms of behavioral regulation

- be familiar with innate modifications of behavior in response to changing qualities of the environment

- be familiar with the main theories of the mind, emotions, motivation and personality

- be familiar with the theory of actions

- be familiar with strategies of studying developmental change

- know the ten principles of ethical empirical studies

in terms of skills:

- be able to use the network of fundamental psychological terms

- be able to provide an in-depth explanation of the differences between the main learning mechanisms

- be able to compare the premises of the main schools of psychological thought

- be able to analyze arguments in favor of the main stances in debates on the mind, language and representation

- be able to give examples of experiments that do not meet the requirement of ethical perfectionism

in terms of other competences:

- understand the need for lifelong learning

- appreciate the importance of research on cross-cultural psychology

- be able to communicate actively with others with the aim of exchanging and disseminating knowledge on psychology

- be responsible for their words

Passing a written test

Percentages and marks for the tests:

0-60% of points – 2 (D)

61-70% of points – 3 (C)

71-80% of points – 3+ (C+)

81-90% of points – 4 (B)

91-95% of points – 4+ (B+)

96-100% of points – 5 (A)