Unit 508: Comprehensive Psychology

1. Introduction to Psychology

1.1 History of Psychology

• Origins and evolution
• Key figures (e.g., Wundt, James, Freud)

1.2 Major Theories

• Structuralism, Functionalism
• Psychoanalysis
• Behaviorism
• Humanistic Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology

1.3 Research Methods

• Experimental, correlational, observational
• Ethical considerations

1.4 Key Concepts

• Consciousness, motivation, emotion

2. The Biological Basis of Behavior

2.1 Genetics and Behavior

• Heredity, genes, and environment interaction

2.2 The Brain and Nervous System

• Structure and function of neurons
• Brain regions and their roles
• Neuroplasticity

2.3 Hormones and Behavior

• Endocrine system overview
• Hormonal influences on mood and behavior

3. Sensation and Perception

3.1 Sensory Systems

• Vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch

3.2 Perceptual Processes

• Bottom-up and top-down processing
• Perceptual organization (Gestalt principles)

3.3 Influences on Perception

• Context, expectations, culture

4. Learning and Behaviorism

4.1 Types of Learning

• Habituation, sensitization
• Classical conditioning (Pavlov)
• Operant conditioning (Skinner)

4.2 Reinforcement and Punishment

• Positive and negative reinforcement
• Types of punishment

4.3 Applications

• Behavior modification
• Learning in education and therapy

5. Memory and Cognition

5.1 Memory Systems

• Sensory, short-term, long-term memory
• Working memory

5.2 Types of Memory

• Explicit vs implicit
• Episodic, semantic, procedural

5.3 Cognitive Processes

• Problem-solving strategies
• Decision-making models

6. Developmental Psychology

6.1 Physical Development

• Growth stages from infancy to old age

6.2 Cognitive Development

• Piaget’s stages
• Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory

6.3 Social-Emotional Development

• Attachment theory
• Erikson’s psychosocial stages

7. Social Psychology

7.1 Social Cognition

• Attitudes, attribution theory

7.2 Group Dynamics

• Conformity, obedience (Milgram, Asch)
• Groupthink

7.3 Social Influences

• Prejudice and discrimination
• Attraction and relationships

8. Abnormal Psychology

8.1 Psychological Disorders

• Anxiety, mood, psychotic disorders

8.2 Causes and Symptoms

• Biological, psychological, environmental factors

8.3 Treatments

• Psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy

8.4 Stigma and Misconceptions

• Social impact and awareness

9. Cognitive Psychology

9.1 Attention and Perception

• Selective attention, inattentional blindness

9.2 Memory and Language

• Encoding, retrieval
• Language acquisition and processing

9.3 Problem-Solving

• Heuristics and biases
• Creativity

10. Cross-Cultural Psychology

10.1 Culture and Behavior

• Cultural norms and values

10.2 Cognitive and Emotional Differences

• Culture’s effect on cognition and emotion

10.3 Research and Practice

• Cross-cultural research methods
• Culturally sensitive practice