Professor Lora Connor

Introduction to Psychology A100

Email Syllabus

Welcome to Introduction to Psychology. This course is a scientific study of mental processes and behavior. The following psychology topics are explored: methodology, physiology, sensation, perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, intelligence, thought, language, development, motivation, emotion, sexuality, health, stress, personality, abnormal disorders, and therapies.

This course fulfills a degree requirement for AA options 1, 2, and 3, the AS degree, and the AA-T degree in Psychology.
It is transferable to, and comparable to, introductory courses at the UC and CSU systems.
It meets transfer requirements for GE transfer curriculum.
It can be used to satisfy GE requirements for AA degree.

Differentiate among various concepts, theories, and perspectives used in psychology.
Demonstrate how the techniques and strategies presented in class can be used to develop effective life skills.
Demonstrate the ability to comprehend research used to study mental processes and behavior conducted in psychology.

1. Identify the basic perspectives and methods used in psychology.
2. Describe and identify various aspects of the sensory systems and perceptual principles.
3. Define consciousness and altered states of consciousness and their effects on behavior and the physiology of the nervous system.
4. Distinguish between different theories of intelligence and thought, problem solving and language.
5. Track the cognitive, moral, social, and physical stages of human development, describing the components of each stage.
6. Identify, explain, and contrast theories of personality, motivation, emotion, learning and memory.
7. Describe components of sexual identity, sexual development, sexual behavior, and sexual orientation.
8. Identify the stress response of the body and differentiate methods of managing stress.
9. Distinguish differences between major psychological disorders and types of therapies.
10. Describe the various components of social psychology and how they affect a person’s daily life.