Psychology

Psychology: Course Overview

Mr. Scott Baum

847-626-2868

scobau@d219.org

Textbook: Blair-Broeker, Charles T. and Ernst, Randal M. Thinking About Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior, Second Edition. Worth Publishers, NY.2008.

Unit 1: Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods Modules 1, 2 and 4

This unit will provide an introduction to the history of psychology, careers and subfields of psychology, and the six major approaches to the study of psychology (psychodynamic, behavioral, biological, humanistic, cognitive, and socio-cultural).

Unit 2: Learning Modules 19, 20, 21

A look at the learning process with an emphasis on the most basic form of learning - conditioning. The focus is on classical conditioning, operant conditioning and observational learning.

Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior Modules 6 & 7

In this unit we will explore the ways in which biological factors can affect our behavior. Students will learn the basics of neural transmission, the divisions of the nervous system, the main parts of the brain and which behaviors those parts are associated with, and how hormones of the endocrine system affect behavior.

Unit 4: Personality Modules 17 & 18

This unit will explore the major personality theorists and their ideas. Beginning with Sigmund Freud and his followers in the psychoanalytic school (Jung, Horney, Adler, and Erikson), and continuing with the humanists (Maslow and Rogers), the behaviorists (Skinner et. al.), the trait theorists, and the social-cognitive theorists (Bandura).

Unit 5: Psychological Disorders Modules 29, 30, 31

This unit will provide an overview of the major psychological disorders.

Unit 6: Treatment of Psychological Disorders Modules 32 & 33

This unit will focus on the various psychotherapies and biomedical treatments for psychological disorders.