College of Staten Island

City University of New York

Psychology

General Psychology MTWThF, 9:00 AM- 11:50 PM, 3S 108

PSY 100/18311 Instructor: Asghar Sajadian, Ph.D.
Winter 2019 E-mail: [email protected]
3 Credits Office Hrs: Mon. & Thurs., 12 to 1 PM

Course Description
A study of the important facts and theories concerning human behavior and its motivation. Included will be
research methodology; at least three topics from learning, cognition, testing, physiology, and
phenomenology; and at least three topics from personality, psychopathology, emotion and motivation,
history and systems, development, and social factors. Topics will be related to major trends in recent
cultural history and to current social and moral issues. (social science) (FISR)
Prerequisite: Passing the CUNY Assessment Test in Reading and Writing

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to
1) distinguish the different scientific aspects of psychology
2) evaluate theories about human behavior and mental processes
3) critically evaluate major psychological concepts
4) distinguish between science and pseudoscience in psychology
5) utilize their written and verbal communication skills within the discipline
6) make use of psychology in their scholastic and personal lives.

Required Text
Kalat, J. (2010). Introduction to Psychology.E9, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
ISBN-13: 9780495810766

Recommended Text
Slife, B. (2011). Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Psychological Issues (17th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-
Hill.
ISBN13: 9780078050268

Evaluation and Requirements of Students

The overall assessment will comprise the following elements:

Participation: 4 points
Assignments: 6 points
Project: 15 points
3 Exams 75 points
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Total: 100 points

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Assignments

Occasionally there may be a homework assignment, which may be collected at random. Late assignment
will NOT be accepted. The project proposal and the library assignment (Due 1/7) will count towards the
assignment grade.

Project: Students are assigned to write a research paper of at least 1000 words on one of the topics listed
below:

Biological Issue 1: Is Addiction a Brain Disease?

Biological Issue 2: Is Homosexuality Biologically Determined?
Biological Issue 3: Is Evolution A Good Explanation for Psychological Concepts?
Research Issue 4: Is American Psychological Research Generalizable to Other Cultures?
Research Issue 5: Does Teaching Scientific Determinism Lead to Bad Behavior?
Developmental Issue 6: Are Today’s Youth More Self-Centered Than Previous Generations?
Developmental Issue 7: Do Online Friendships Hurt Adolescent Development?
Cognitive-Emotional Issue 8: Can Positive Psychology Make Us Happier?
Cognitive-Emotional Issue 9: Is Emotional Intelligence Really Intelligence?
Mental Health Issue 10: Does An Elective Abortion Lead to Negative Psychological Effects?
Mental Health Issue 11: Is ADHD A Real Disorder?
Mental Health Issue 12: Does Facebook Have Generally Positive Psychological Effects?
Psychotherapy Issue 13: Are All Psychotherapies Equally Effective?
Psychotherapy Issue 14: Should Therapists Be Eclectic?
Social Issue 15: Is It Better to Get Married than Stay Single?
Social Issue 16: Should Psychologists Abstain From Involvement in Coercive Interrogations?
Social Issue 17: Does The Evidence Support Evolutionary Accounts of Female Mating Preferences?
Social Issue 18: Can Sex Be Addictive?
Personality Issue 19: Does Birth Order Influence Our Personality?
Personality Issue 20: Should Freud’s Theories Be Abandoned as Useless?

The paper should include the following components:

1) A title with a student’s full name, course, section number, and date
2) Introduction: Why you chose the topic (i.e. how it relates to your career aspirations, or personal
life, and why others should care about the topic). Main question(s) should be mentioned.
3) Body: Subheadings for major topics to be discussed. Findings should include the sources of the
information.
4) Conclusion: Analysis of the findings, and what you have learned.
5) References: At least 2 primary sources in APA or MLA style.

A complete, stapled, hard copy paper must be turned in on or before the due date (1/16) at the beginning of
class to avoid point reduction or an “F”. Electronic versions (E-mails) are NOT accepted. No late
submissions will be accepted. Please keep in mind that your paper will be graded on the quality of your
critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the material.

For this assignment, it is highly recommended that you use PsycInfo or PsycARTICLES (computerized
databases) to identify articles in scientific psychology journals. You can also use Ebsco Academic Search
Premier. For advanced searching, use PsycInfo and the Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms to narrow
down the topic.

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Exams

Exams will be comprised of multiple-choice questions. Each exam will cover specific sections based on the
lectures, and will be non-cumulative. Exam dates are indicated in the schedule. Do NOT miss those dates.
If for any legitimate reason (subject to verification) you cannot make it to an exam, I must be notified
within 24 hours, so I may schedule a make-up exam to be taken within the week of the exam date.
Generally make-up exams are administered during office hours.

Additional Course Requirement (Research Participation)

The discipline of psychology utilizes the principles of scientific research to test its ideas. The faculty in the
Department of Psychology believes that all students enrolled in a PSY100 course should experience the
research process. Therefore, students are required to participate in a minimum of 4 half-hour units of
research (Research Credits; RCs) to be accumulated throughout the semester. Students have the option of
fulfilling the RC requirement in several ways including participation in laboratory experiments or surveys,
attending psychology department research talks, and completing an on-line ethics course.

Your user name and password needed to access your Research Participation System Account will be sent to
your CIX.CSI.CUNY.EDU email at the beginning of the semester. When you have received this email, log
into the system (www.csi-cuny.sona-systems.com) to sign up for research studies. Please go to the
Department of Psychology home page for detailed information: (http://163.238.8.180/~psy/index.htm).

Students who do not fulfill the research requirement will be awarded an Incomplete as their Psy100 grade.

College Attendance Policy

All students are required to attend classes as noted in the schedule. At CSI, the maximum number of
absence hours is limited to two class meetings as indicated in the Catalog/Academic Policies. In the case of
excessive absence, the instructor reserves the right to assign a “WU” grade.

Students must be punctual for classes. Classes begin promptly at the times indicated in the Schedule of
Classes. Arrival in classes after the scheduled starting time constitutes lateness. Latecomers may, at the
discretion of the instructor, incur an official absence.

Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities

CSI and CUNY follow federal guidelines -- Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 -- in providing reasonable accommodations
(http://www.csi.cuny.edu/diversity_and_compliance/reasonable_accom.html) that insure full educational
opportunity to students with disabilities. The Office of Disability Services coordinates services for students
with disabilities and assists faculty in accommodating students’ physical and programmatic needs.

CSI Policy on Academic Integrity, Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as
one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is
identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original
source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily
absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.

Violations of academic integrity may result in a lower grade or failure in a course and in disciplinary
actions with penalties such as suspension or dismissal from the College. More information on the College’s
policy, including numerous examples, can be found in the CSI Undergraduate Catalog
(http://www.csi.cuny.edu/catalog/undergraduate/5282.htm) and in Appendix L of this manual.

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Cell Phone or other Electronic Devices

In order to create a comfortable learning environment during the class, students are expected to turn off all
cell phones and iPods before entering the class. Any use of electronic devices that may be a distraction to
the instructor or any other students will be prohibited.

Tentative Course Schedule and Topics

Date Topic Chapters

1/2 Course Overview/ Introduction………………………………………………….....1

1/3 Research Methods……………………………………………………………….....2
1/4 Biological Psychology……………………………………………………………..3
1/7 Biological Psychology……………………………………………………………..3
1/8……………………..EXAM 1 (ch 1-3); Human Development………………….….………..…….........5

1/9 Human Development…………………...………......................................................5

1/10 Learning…………………………………………………………………………….6
1/11 Memory…………….…………………………………………………………….....7
1/14 Consciousness…………………….……………………………………………….10
1/15……………………EXAM 2 (ch 5-10); Motivation……....…..…………………………………….....11

1/16 Emotion…………………………………………………………………………....12
1/17 Abnormality…………..……………….……………………………...……….......14
1/18 Psychotherapy…..…………………….…………………………………..…….....14
1/22 Mental Disorders…………………………………..................................................16
1/23…………………....EXAM 3 (ch 11-16)

Please note: The instructor reserves the right to adjust or make changes to the syllabus. Students will be
notified of any changes in advance.