An Introduction to Psychology

Pre-requisites for enrolment

None.

Content of Course

The course will open with a brief overview of how psychology developed as an academic discipline and an introduction to methodologies most commonly deployed in its study. The subsequent units are arranged around broad themes, including: language, consciousness, memory, social interaction, and psychopathology. Students will develop knowledge of research and current trends within each of these areas. The earlier topics will focus on the essential biological and mental processes that facilitate goal-directed behaviour. As the course progresses, there will be an increasing emphasis on the specific psychological and environmental factors that influence and alter action and cognition. The latter part of the course will discuss human interaction, the primary focus of social psychology, and the nature and treatment of psychological disorders.

Teaching method(s)

Classes will involve a mixture of lecture-based teaching, tutorials, videos, discussions, and demonstrations of experimental methods. During this time, concrete examples of psychological concepts will be provided. Students will be encouraged to utilise their newly acquired knowledge outside of the classroom, for example by trying out techniques to support their memory. In class, students will be encouraged to engage in weekly discussions and to consider the role of psychology in contemporary society.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain basic terms and concepts associated with different facets of psychological research;

• Critically evaluate different theories of human behaviour;

• Identify common research methods used in the study of psychology;

• Recognise that sociocultural contexts may influence the development and application of psychological principles;

• llustrate the relevance of psychological concepts in real-life settings.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

• Spielman, R. M., 2020. Psychology – OpenStax CNX [online]. Available at: https://openstax.org/details/books/psychology.

Recommended:

• Baddeley, A., Eysenck, M.W. and Anderson, M.C., 2020. Memory. 3rd ed. Hove, East Sussex: Psychology Press.

• Branscombe, N.R. and Baron, R. A., 2017. Social Psychology. 14th ed. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

• Corballis, M.C.2014. Left Brain,Right Brain:Facts and Fantasies. PLOS Biology,12(1), e1001767.

• Eysenck, M.W. and Brysbaert, M., 2018. Fundamentals of Cognition. 3rd ed. Hove, East Sussex: Psychology Press.

• Eysenck, M.W. and Keane, M.T., 2020. Cognitive Psychology: A Student’s Handbook. 8th ed. Hove, East Sussex: Psychology Press.

• Holt, N., Bremner, A., Sutherland, E. and Vliek, M., 2019. Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour. 4th ed. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

• Siegel, J. M., 2003. Why We Sleep. Scientific American, 289(5), pp. 92-97.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.