Syllabus review. Discussion on class expectations. The scope of psychology & historical origins

Contemporary Perspectives and Research Methods Overview

Brain and Nervous System

Genes, Evolution and Behavior, Endocrine Systems and Hormones

Nature vs. Nurture Debate: Cognitive Development

Social, Moral and Personality Development

Sensory processes : the role of sensitivity, intensity and magnitude of above threshold stimuli for the different sensory modalities

Five functions of Perception; The role, benefits, and costs of selective attention in perception, bottom-up vs. top-down processing

Basic theories of learning -shaping, habituation, classical conditioning

Instrumental conditioning (Skinner). The effects of learning on cognition, brain and motivation.

Basic Division: Short term/Sensory, Working and Long-Term Memory

Implicit vs. Explicit Memory and Forgetting: The role of Interference

Assessment of Intellectual abilities, Theories of intelligence

Genetics and Intelligence. Emotional Intelligence and General Learning Disabilities.

Aspects of Conscientiousness, Dreams

Midterm Exam

Development of Language. The role of Verbal and Non-Verbal language in Communication.

Problem Solving and Decision Making, Cognitive Biases

Drives and Homeostasis, The role of hunger, sex and work in motivation of behavior

The role of incentive motivation in drug addiction, shaping of gender and sexual orientation

Components of emotions, basic emotions, theories of emotion

Emotions, Stress and Health: Influence of positive emotions, anger, fear and anxiety on health

Social Cognition – Impression Formation, Interpersonal attraction and Attitudes

Social Influence – Obedience, Conformity and Persuasion

What is Personality, Basic Theories of Personality, Personality Measurement

Definition of Abnormal Behavior, Mental Illness, Classification and Diagnostics of Mental Disorders: DSM-V

Overview of psychotherapy schools, types of therapy.

Final Exam