Philosophy, Psychology, Language Science

Psychology: An Introduction (10 credit points)

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This course is designed to introduce you to the scientific study of human nature: from the history of the field and its major discoveries, to the latest research on topics such as human memory, intelligence, language, personality, psychopathology, and consciousness. We will look at how these aspects of the mind develop in children, how they differ across people, how they are wired-up in the brain, and how they may break down due to illness and injury.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. The Science of Psychology.

What is psychological science about and what do psychologists do? How is the scientific method used in psychological research?

2. Biology, Behaviour and Learning.

What are the basic brain structures and their functions? Are there ‘left brain’ and ‘right brain’ types of people? What is the genetic basis of psychological science? How do we learn?

3. Consciousness and Sleep.

What is conscious awareness? Why do we sleep? Why do people dream while sleeping? How do drugs affect consciousness?

4. Memory.

How are memories maintained over time? When does memory fail? How accurate are eyewitnesses?

5. Thinking, Language and Intelligence.

How do we make decisions and solve problems? Is there an inborn capacity for language? How do we understand and measure intelligence?

6. Human Development.

What factors shape infancy? How do children learn about the world? What changes during adolescence?

7. Emotion and Motivation.

What are the three major theories of emotions? Are lie detector tests valid? How are people motivated? What motivates eating? Why don't psychopaths feel guilty when they harm others?

8. Social Psychology.

When do people harm or help others? How other people influence or shape what we do? What determines the quality of our close relationships?

9. Personality.

What are the theories of personality? How is personality assessed? How do we know our own personalities? What are personality disorders?

10. Psychological Disorders.

How are psychological disorders conceptualised and classified? What are the most effective treatments?

Teaching method(s)

Teaching methods will include a mix of lecture and seminar-style teaching.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

Have a working knowledge of some of the most important areas of psychology
Understand the logic and rationale of methods used by psychologists
Understand how the discipline of psychology has developed over time
Appreciate the fact that behaviour can be explained in many different ways, and that these explanations may not be mutually-exclusive.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended

Butler, G. and McManus, F., 2000. Psychology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: OUP.
Gross, R., 2005. Psychology. London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Gleitman, H.. et al, 1999. Psychology. Norton: New York.
Miller, G., 1964. Psychology: the Science of Mental Life. London: Hutchison.

Class Handouts

Weekly handouts will be provided.

Assessments

10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide.

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

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.