Description:

This section of introductory psychology takes a relatively strong biological as well as social and psychological approach to human behavior and individual differences. Topics will include basic processes of consciousness, biorhythms of sleep and wakefulness, learning, perception, cognition, intelligence, motivation, personality, and mental illness (including its biological basis - brain mechanisms, genetic causes, developmental aspects, evolutionary origins) with illustrations from human and animal research as well as anecdotes and observations from every-day life. The basic objective is to illuminate not only basic mechanisms of behavior and variation in capacity and personality, but to explore the nature of human nature and personal experience.

Texts:

Required:
Carlson, N. Psychology: The science of behavior. (4th ed.). 1993 with free student guide
Cohen, D.B. Stranger in the nest. 1999

Strongly Recommended:
Cohen, D.B. Out of the blue: Depression and human nature. 1994

Also Recommended:
Stanovich, K. How to think straight about psychology. (3rd ed.) 1992

Grading and Requirements:

There will be three non-cumulative in-class multiple choice exams -- each of whose items taps its third of the course -- plus one cumulative final exam that taps the entire semester. Each of the four exams will be composed of 40-50 multiple choice items. Material covered will be weighted roughly 50:50 from text and lecture.

Prerequisites:

None.

Updated 19 October 1998
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
University of Texas at Austin

Some graphics courtesy of Ann Pommerehn