Introduction to Psychology ( SS2003)

Chapter outline: BCS Course Spring 2022

Course Instructor: Madam Raheela Tariq Assistant Professor FAST-NU.

Chapter 1. Introduction to Psychology.

Definition of Psychology: Psychology as a science of human behavior and mental processes.

History of psychology:1: Structuralism or introspection (Classifying sensation in order to

Discover the mind structure) (Wilhelm Wundt Leipzig 1879 and E.B.Titchener)

2: Functionalism (Function of mind and how people adapt to their environment) (William James)

3: Gestalt psychology. (Unified form, whole. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts)

(Max Wertheimer, Kohler & koffka)

4: Psychodynamic Model. Unconscious determinants of behavior (Sigmund Freud)

5: Behaviorism, S-O-R (Stimulus-organism-response; Observable behavior) (John B. Watson,

Skinner)

6: Humanistic Model. (Human abilities to control their lives) (Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers)

7: Cognitive Model. (Information processing knowing and understanding) (Albert Ellis, George
Miller)

Perspectives of psychology:

1: Biological 2: Psycho analytic 3: Behavioral 4: Humanistic 5: Cognitive 6: Social cultural.

Application of psychology

Experimental psy. Biological psy. Developmental psy. Social psy. Psychiatry. Health psy,
Counseling, Psy of women Industrial/organizational psy. Educational psy. Cross cultural psy
.Clinical psy .Forensic psy Environmental psy.
Research Methods: Research APA style
1: Case history (Depth study of an individual) and Focus group
2: Naturalistic observation or Field study method (observation without intervention)

3: Survey method (Inspection carried out with specific aim in mind to search for Particular kind
of Information) (Introduction to Topic, questionnaire, statistical analysis, discussion on results,
conclusion)

4: Experimental method (To establish meaningful relationship between Stimulus and response)
Hypothesis, Variables; Independent, Dependent and extraneous, Groups: Experimental and
Control.

5: Correlation (Statistical measure of relationship)

Chapter 2. Nervous system

1.Introduction; Structure of the neuron (Nerve cell, Dendrite , Axon, Myelin sheath, synapse)
Neurotransmitters(Dopamine, Serotonin, Endorphins, Acetylcholine)

2.Central Nervous system; Brain and Spinal cord Brain parts; Brain stem (1.Medulla oblongata
2.Cerebellum 3.Thalamus 4.Reticular formation5. Pons) Cerebrum ;( Lobes; Frontal, Parietal,
Occipital, and Temporal lobes) Limbic system (Amygdala, Hypothalamus, Hippocampus). The
functions of these brain areas and the various psychological phenomena that are controlled by
these parts.

3.Peripheral Nervous system; a Somatic ( Sensory and Motor nerves) b. Autonomic

(Sympathetic, Parasympathetic nervous system)

Tests,EEG,CT,MRI,PET

4.Endocrine glands (Pituitary, Thyroid, Adrenal.) Hormones and how they control behavior.

Chapter 3. Learning

Definition 1. Types of Learning; Trial & Error (Thorndike) Insight Learning (Wolfgang
Kholer) Imitation or observation (Albert Bandura) Cognitive Learning, (E.C.Tolman)
Conditioning; 1. Classical conditioning (Ivan Pavlov) Conditioned and Unconditioned – Stimuli
and Response, Acquisition, Extinction, Spontaneous Recovery, Generalization and
Discrimination. Operant conditioning (B. F. Skinner) Reinforcement
Factors influencing Learning; Motivation, Reward and punishment, Interest, Group
participation, Amount, Familiarity, Meaningfulness.

Chapter 4. Memory and Forgetting

Types of memory Short term and long term, Sensory (echoic and Iconic), Declarative or
Explicit (Episodic and Semantic), Non declarative or implicit Memory (Procedural, Condition
disposition)
Models in memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin) Memory span (Hermann Ebbinghaus)

Process; Encoding, Storage, Retrieval. Methods: Recall, Recognition, Relearning

Forgetting Amnesia- Loss of memory. Types: Anterograde amnesia, retrograde amnesia,

Alzheimer, Korsakoff, Repression, Interference – Proactive Interference and Retroactive
Interference. Cue dependent forgetting.

Chapter 5: Cognitive Psychology

Definition. Tools of Thought (Language; Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics)

Concept formation (Generalization, Abstraction) Reasoning (Inductive and Deductive)

Problem solving (IDEAL) Types of problems. Methods (Algorithm and Heuristic) &Decision
making.

Creative Thinking; Preparation, incubation, illumination, verification.

Intelligence Mental Age. IQ.EQ

Chapter 6: Personality

Definition: Factors influencing personality; Heredity and Environment.

Theories of Personality: Trait theory by Gordon All port.(c) Eyesenck and the Five factor
Model)1-Neuroticism, 2-Extraversion, 3-Openness to Experience, 4-Agreeableness, 5-
Conscientiousness 1. Psychoanalytical Personality theory (Sigmund Freud) Role of Unconscious
1- Structure of personality (ID, Ego, Super Ego) 2 -Ego Defense mechanism (Repression,
Denial, Rationalization, Displacement, Projection, Regression)Psychosexual developmental
stages .Development of Personality.Bried introduction to Neo Freudians: Alfred Adler,Karen
Horney, Carl Jung .

3. Behavioral personality Theory 4. Cognitive Social Learning Theory.5 Humanistic personality

theory .

Personality Assessment 1.Personality Inventory -Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality

Inventory(MMPI)

The California Personality Inventory (CPI) 2. Projective tests Rorschach Ink blot Test- Thematic
Apperception test (TAT) Morgan and Murray, House Tree Person (HTP) Word Association Test
(Kent Rosnoff)

Chapter 7: Stress& Mental health .

Factors affecting mental health. Normal vs Abnormal Perspectives

Conflict & Frustration; Approach-approach conflict, Approach-avoidance conflict, Avoidance-
avoidance conflict.

Stress and Managing Techniques Types of stress, Causes, Symptoms, Coping strategies.

Anger and management: Types, causes and management of anger

Chapter 8: Psychological Disorders

Major Disorders (Neurosis and Psychosis) DSM 5: Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders

Neurosis A. Anxiety Disorders 1. Generalized Anxiety 2. Panic Disorder 3.Phobic Disorder

4.Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 5.Post Traumatic Stress Disorder B. Somatic form Disorder
1.Conversion disorder 2.Hypochodriasis C. Dissociative Disorders 1.Psychogenic Amnesia &
Fugue 2. Dissociative or multiple disorder
d. Mood Disorder 1.Major Depression 2.Bipolar Disorder (Manic and depressive) 3.Suicide.

Psychosis; Schizophrenia ,types,(Disorganized or Hebephrenic, Paranoid, Catatonic,

Undifferentiated , symptoms.

Psychotherapy. Brief introduction to different psychotherapies.

Chapter 9: Motivation

Types of motivation (Primary/Biological motives –Hunger,thirst,temp,sleep etc

Secondary/Social motives ,Achievement, Affiliation, Power)

Theories of Motivation: Need theory by Maslow. David McClelland. Expectancy theory. Equity
theory.

Chapter 10: Social Psychology

Attitude Definition Theories of Attitude (Cognitive Dissonance by Leon Festinger) 2- Attitude

Formation 3- Attitude Change 4- Measurement of Attitude ( Scales by Thurston, Rensis Likert,
Guttmann, Bogardus)

Prejudice 1- Definition, Factors leading to Prejudice, Elimination or Remedy. Person

Perception. Group Dynamics 1. Types of Groups 2- Group Conformity (Asch’s Experiment).
and Obedience. Leadership 1- Types of Leaders. Traits of leader

Activities to be covered during the semester

Survey Report: Bio-psycho-social topics having impact on human behavior. It will be a group
activity, Survey report on the topic should be of 4000 To 4500 words in APA style format .Oral
presentation by all group members about their survey topic and findings.

Self profile&Assignment. 1. Introduction, scoring and interpretation of different psychological

tests.

2. Create case study on the given topic having five questions and answers.

All reports and assignments must have plagrisim reports attached.

Readings: Classical research studies and experiments done in psychology.