Introduction to Psychology, Psy-111

Pace University
Department of Psychology
Dyson College of Arts and Science
Introduction to Psychology 111
Spring Semester, 2011

Professor: Dr. Charone-Sossin

Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology
Class Meetings: One Pace Plaza
Mondays 2:30 pm-3:25 pm
Wednesdays 2:30 pm-4:20 pm
Beginning January 24, 2011
Office Hours: Arrangements for individual meetings are always welcome. Dr. Charone-
Sossin can always be reached at jcharonesossin@pace.edu
Course Development: This course provides the conceptual framework for understanding
and analyzing the development of the individual self, and how a thorough assessment of
the psychological world of that individual helps us to clarify the nature and treatment of
psychological disorders. We will also use the lens of social psychology to appraise the
ways in which we interact with people, the influence of the outside world in shaping who
and what we are and the role of social cognition in helping us to clarify our understanding
of people. We will begin with the broad strokes of understanding how the field of
psychology evolved over time and the methods that govern research in psychology and
then move into close focus of the way that the individual develops in personality and the
means in which psychological disorders can influence that development.

Required Text:
Schacter, D., Gilbert., & Wagner, D. (2009) Psychology. New York. Worth Publishers.
ISBN# 978-0-7167-5215-8

Attendance and Participation:

It is expected that students will attend all classes, and that any necessary absence
will be explained to the professor in advance so that the work that happens in class can be
made up. Active participation in class is critical; the twice a week class meetings will be
composed of both whole class lectures and small group projects where everyone is
expected to interact with each other. The lecture format of the class does not preclude
critical thinking and questioning of both the professor and the other students in the class.
What is essential is the respect that we show for each other, through shared dialogue,
refraining from the use of cell phones or computers during class, and a mutual
responsibility to thoughtfully complete all readings and assignments for the benefit of the
entire class.

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Grading:

Attendance/Participation/Preparation 15%
I Project 30%
I Paper 30%

Final Comprehensive Exam 25%

All assignments must be turned in on time to receive full credit.

Enrollment in this course presumes your commitment pertaining to all ethical

standards regarding independent work.

Make-up exams are not given except for documented, verified, medical or other
reasons of an emergency nature.

1. If you have a learning disability, you are entitled to assistance and

accommodations through the University. This assistance includes the
evaluation of your medical documentation, conducting the appropriate
tests, making recommendations for accommodation and contacting your
professors to request accommodation. However, you must contact The
Coordinator for Disabled Students at 212-346-1526. at the beginning of
the semester to ensure that you receive these services. If you fail to do so,
accommodations cannot be provided for you.

2. If you feel that you are in need of extra help in writing papers, the Pace
University Writing Center (http://www.pace.edu/dyson/writing center).
They offer tutorial services as well as handouts and reference materials
on writing. The qualified staff of instructors and student tutors can assist
you in understanding writing assignments, and are there to help guide
you through any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming topics
to revision of rough drafts. The Writing Center is located in Birnbaum
Library, 2nd floor, or can be reached by telephone at 212-346-1085.

3. Work submitted that is not your own is considered plagiarism. This

includes work copied from other students, copied, bought or ‘cut, copied
and pasted’ from the Internet or other digital media, and work presented
without appropriate citation and referencing. If you submit plagiarized

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 work, you will receive a failing grade for the assignment, and possibly for
the course. Plagiarism may also be grounds for academic dismissal from
the university.

Course Outline and Assignments:

Monday, January 24, 2011: Introduction of Course

Psychology: The Evolution of a Science Chapter 1
1. Psychology and Philosophy
2. Timeline of Psychological Thought
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Psychology: The Evolution of a Science
3. The Exploration of different psychological theories.
4. An overview of what treatments are derived from these
theories.
5. History of Psychological Disorders

Monday, January 31, 2011

Psychology: Methods of Science Chapter 2
1. Empiricism
2. Observation, explanation
3. Ethics

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Psychology: Intelligence Chapter 9
1. The measurement of intelligence
2. The nature of intelligence
3. The origins of intelligence

Monday, February 7, 2011

Psychology: Intelligence Chapter 9
1. Different kinds of testing and assessment
2. Multiple intelligence

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Psychology: Development: Chapter 11
1. Prenatal
2. Infancy and Childhood
3. Adolescence

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 4. Adulthood

Monday, February 14, 2011

Psychology: Development: Chapter 11
1. Developmental hurdles that can precipitate emotional
disturbance.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Psychology: Personality: Chapter 12
1. How do we measure personality?
2. The trait approach
3. The psychodynamic approach
4. The social-cognitive approach
5. The self
6. The humanistic-existential approach

Monday, February 21, 2011: No Class

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Psychology: Personality: Chapter 12
1. Freud
2. Maslow
3. Erikson
4. Self-concept
5. Self-esteem

Monday, February 28, 2011

Psychology: Psychological Disorders: Chapter 13
Begin Project on a particular psychological disorder and how it can manifest
itself at different stages of development. Work with 2-3 other students to create an
informative, yet compelling narrative piece, with illustrations, that describes the disorder
and ways to treat it aiming for a middle school age audience. Project is due: March
March 23, 2011

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Psychology: Psychological Disorders: Chapter 13
1. What is normal?
2. Anxiety Disorders
3. Dissociative Disorders
4. Mood Disorders
5. Schizophrenia
6. Personality Disorders

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Monday, March 7, 2011
Consultations and work on Projects
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Psychology: Psychological Disorders: Chapter 13
1. Global Assessment of Functioning Scale
2. DSM-IV
3. Classification, Coding and Labeling

Week of March 14: No Classes

Monday, March 21, 2011
Consultations and work on projects
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Projects presented and discussed.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Psychology: Treatment of Psychological Disorders: Chapter 14
1. Psychological Therapies
2. Medical and Biological Treatments

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Psychology: Treatment of Psychological Disorders: Chapter 14
1. Alternative Treatments
2. Treatment Effectiveness
Introduction of Paper: Due April 27, 2011
A 5-6 page research paper that explores one kind of psychological
treatment and the ways it can be accommodated to fit different psychological
disorders. This paper will use 3-4 journal articles or book chapters and include
an APA-style bibliography.
Monday, April 4, 2011
A closer examination of the language of different treatments and the differing
roles of patient and therapist in the different modalities of treatment.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Psychology: Stress and Health: Chapter 15
1. Sources of stress
2. Stress reaction
3. Stress management
4. The psychology of illness

Monday, April 11, 2011

Small group discussions and experiments with models of stress reduction and
management.

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Psychology: Stress and Health: Chapter 15
1. Can different preventive treatment modalities be set up to ward off or
reduce the psychological symptoms of stress and psychological
disorders?
2. Are there both pre and post onset of crisis treatment modalities that
can be put into effect in schools and workplaces?

Monday, April 18, 2011

In class consultations and small group workshops about the paper.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Psychology: Social Psychology: Chapter 16
1. How do we interact with others?
2. How are we shaped by the influence of our social world.
3. Prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Small group discussion of paper topics and findings.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011: Paper Due
Psychology: Social Psychology: Chapter 16
1. Cognitive dissonance
2. Attribution: Drawing Inference from Action
3. Theory of Mind
4. Obedience

Monday, May 2, 2011

Beginning a week-long review of the semester for the final: Chapters 1, 2, 9, 11
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Review of Chapters 12-16
Monday, May 9, 2011
Review critical concepts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Final Class
Final Comprehensive Exam
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