Psychology is a hybrid discipline with roots in philosophy and sociology, on the one hand, and biology, on the other. At first glance, the diverse fields discussed in Introduction to Psychology may leave you with an impression of discontinuity and heterogeneity. Throughout the course, however, we will emphasize the common threads that bind the fabric of psychological investigation. In the various topics we will cover, including the biological bases of behavior, learning and memory, motivation, intelligence, development, clinical, abnormal, and social psychology, we will discuss various psychological principles that affect our actions, thoughts, and emotions. Course Requirements Syllabus - Tentative Class Schedule Class Notes Back to the top.
Psychology is a broad field.
However, even though psychologists may ask very different questions, most psychologists ask questions that will help explain behavior. Below are some of the specific skills this course emphasizes. Scientific Writing A primary goal is the development of scientific writing skills. Instructors will go over the specifics of this style. That is, the goal of the course is not to teach you how to write a specific lab report on a specific research project, but rather to help you gain an appreciation that writing is a developmental process.