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PSYC 1211
Introductory Psychology II

3.0 Credits

Description

This companion course to PSYC 1111 introduces students to the scientific study of human psychology. Topics covered include an overview of psychological theories and research methods as well as current information on such topics as evolutionary psychology, development over a lifespan, theories of personality, stress and health, psychological disorders, approaches to treatment, and selected topics in social psychology, including attitudes, prejudice, conformity, and group behaviour.

Please Note: The required texts as listed in the detailed course description are not included in the PSYC 1211 course package. Students who have previously taken PSYC 1111 may already have the required texts. Please refer to the detailed course description for specific text information. Students who do not already have these texts will need to acquire them before registering in PSYC 1211. Please contact Student Services to obtain the textbooks.

Delivery Method

Web-based.

Prerequisites

None.

Exclusions

Students with credit for PSYC 107 (SFU PSYC 102) may not take this course for further credit.

Objectives

The goals of this course are to help you acquire current scientific knowledge of theories, methods, and scientific findings from the field of psychology and an understanding of the importance of critical thinking when evaluating psychological material.

Upon successful completion of PSYC 1211, you will be able to:

  • Describe major theoretical perspectives and historical trends in psychology.
  • Describe and apply basic research methods in psychology, including researchdesign and interpretation.
  • Analyze and evaluate information using critical thinking, skeptical inquiryand knowledge of the scientific method.
  • Describe how genetic, evolutionary, and environmental influences interact,including in the cases of language and intelligence.
  • Describe and evaluate classic and contemporary psychological findings in thestudy of development over the lifespan.
  • Describe and evaluate classic and contemporary theories of personality andintelligence.
  • Describe and evaluate classic and contemporary psychological findings in thestudy of social psychology.
  • Describe and evaluate classic and contemporary psychological findingsrelated to emotion, stress, and health.
  • Describe the different types of psychological disorders, including specificexamples and current causal theories.
  • Describe and evaluate different approaches in the treatment of psychological disorders.

Course Outline

The course is divided into four units, which are further divided into topics of studyas follows:

Unit 1: An Invitation to Psychology

  • Topic 1: What Is Psychology?
  • Topic 2: How Psychologists Do Research

Unit 2: Evolution, Genes, Environment, and Development

  • Topic 1: Genes, Evolution, and Environment
  • Topic 2: Development Over the Lifespan

Unit 3: Personality and Social Psychology

  • Topic 1: Theories of Personality
  • Topic 2: Behaviour in Social and Cultural Context

Unit 4: Health, Disorders, and Treatment

  • Topic 1: Emotion, Stress, and Health
  • Topic 2: Psychological Disorders
  • Topic 3: Approaches to Therapy

Maximum Completion

30 weeks.

Required Text and Materials

This is a companion course to PSYC 1111. Therefore, the materials package for this course will not include any materials that were required in PSYC 1111.

If you did not take PSYC 1111 and don't already own the required materials, please be aware that you will need to purchase them. To do so, contact Enrolment Services at student@tru.ca or phone 1.800.663.9711.

  1. Wade, C., Tavris, C., Saucier, D., & Elias, L.. Psychology. 4th Canadian Edition with DSM-5 update + MyPsychLab. Toronto, Ontario: Pearson Education Canada, Inc, 2015.
    Type: Textbook, ISBN: 978-0-13-388756-3

Or

  1. Wade, C., Tavris, C., Saucier, D., & Elias, L.. Psychology. 4th Canadian Edition with DSM-5 update + MyPsychLab. Toronto, Ontario: Pearson Education Canada, Inc, 2015.
    Type: Textbook, Custom Reprint, ISBN 1323259449

The textbook and custom reprint textbook includes several supplements:

Textbook Companion Web site: The publisher of your textbook provides a companion website that contains a variety of useful resources, such as interactive lectures, flashcards, a glossary, and other study aids.

The Textbook comes with an access card which contains the code that is needed to access the MyPsychLab website.

Optional : If you do not have access to MyPsychLab, you are encouraged to purchase the Study Guide available for the textbook that contains learning objectives, chapter outlines, and practice exams. Wade, C., Tavris, C., Saucier, D., & Elias, L. (2013). Psychology: Study guide (4th Cdn. ed.). Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada. ISBN: 978-0-205-24750-9

All students registering for PSYC 1211 will receive the following textbook:

50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology, Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, John Ruscio, and Barry L. Beyerstein, 2010, ISBN: 9781405131124.

Additional Requirements

Computer with Internet access is required this course. (Refer to the TRU-OL Website or the TRU-OL Calendar for requirements.)

Open Learning Faculty Member Information

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Primary communication is through the "mail" tool in the Learning Environment or by phone. You will receive the necessary contact information when you start your course.

Assessment

In order to successfully complete this course, you must obtain at least 50% on the final mandatory examination and 50% overall. Students who do not submit an assignment will be assigned a mark of zero (0) for that assignment.

It is recommended that students complete all assignments in order to achieve the learning outcomes of the course.

Assignment 1 5%
Assignment 2 5%
Assignment 3 5%
Assignment 4 5%
Unit 1 Quiz 10%
Unit 2 Quiz 10%
Unit 3 Quiz 10%
Unit 4 Quiz 10%
Final Exam * 40%
Total 100%

* Mandatory