Surveys the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in scientific research, biological psychology, sensation and perception, learning theory, memory, language, cognition, consciousness, and human development. Provides an overview of popular trends, examines the overarching themes of heredity vs. environment, stability vs. change, and free will vs. determinism, and emphasizes the sociocultural approach which assumes that gender, culture, and ethnicity are essential to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion. Psychology 201A is the first term of a two-term sequence in introductory psychology.
Upon successful completion students should be able to:
- Articulate how psychological research adheres to ethical and scientific principles, and communicate the difference between personal views and scientific evidence in understanding behavior.
- Delineate the credentials, skills, and experiences required for a career path in psychology and identify broad career opportunities associated with the various subfields of psychology at different educational levels.
- Recognize and respect human diversity while anticipating that psychological explanations may vary across populations and contexts, and exhibit sensitivity to feelings, emotions, motives, and attitudes regarding specific behavioral concerns.
- Analyze personal lifestyle and apply problem-solving techniques to situations while understanding the limitations of one’s psychological knowledge and skills, recognizing that ethically complex situations can develop in the application of psychological principles.
- Evaluate public and private assumptions concerning individual and group differences using a global and multifaceted sociocultural approach.
Equivalent placement test scores also accepted.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/ASOT-B, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS.