Unit 510: Foundations and Applications of Psychology

1. Introduction to Psychology

• Definition and scope of psychology
• Historical background and evolution
  • Early roots: Philosophical origins
  • Founding figures: Wilhelm Wundt, William James
• Major psychological perspectives
  • Behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, biological, socio-cultural
• Subfields within psychology
  • Clinical, cognitive, developmental, social, health, industrial-organizational, neuropsychology

2. Research Methods in Psychology

• Scientific method in psychology
• Types of research designs
  • Experimental designs (independent/dependent variables, control groups)
  • Correlational studies
  • Observational and survey methods
• Data collection and analysis
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Inferential statistics
• Ethical considerations
  • Informed consent
  • Confidentiality
  • Protection from harm
  • Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

3. Biological Basis of Behavior

• Overview of the nervous system
  • Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
  • Peripheral nervous system
• Brain structure and function
  • Major brain regions: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe
  • Limbic system
  • Neurotransmitters and their roles
• Genetics and behavior
  • Heredity and environment interaction
  • Twin and adoption studies

4. Sensation and Perception

• Sensory processes
  • Vision: structure of the eye, visual pathways
  • Hearing: anatomy of the ear, auditory processing
  • Taste, touch, smell: receptors and pathways
• Perceptual processes
  • Gestalt principles
  • Depth perception
  • Perceptual constancies
• Factors affecting perception

5. Learning and Memory

• Principles of learning
  • Classical conditioning (Pavlov)
  • Operant conditioning (Skinner)
  • Observational learning (Bandura)
• Memory processes
  • Encoding, storage, retrieval
  • Types of memory: sensory, short-term, long-term
  • Factors influencing memory (e.g., rehearsal, interference)
• Cognitive processes in memory
  • Schemas
  • Forgetting and memory distortion

6. Social Psychology

• Social cognition and perception
• Social influence
  • Conformity
  • Obedience
• Group dynamics
  • Group decision making
  • Social facilitation and loafing
• Attitudes and persuasion
• Interpersonal relationships
  • Attraction
  • Communication

7. Developmental Psychology

• Lifespan stages overview
  • Infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
  • Piaget’s stages
  • Information processing approaches
• Socioemotional development
  • Attachment theories
  • Erikson’s psychosocial stages

8. Abnormal Psychology

• Definition and classification of psychological disorders
  • DSM-5 overview
• Common disorders
  • Anxiety, mood, personality, psychotic disorders
• Causes and risk factors
  • Biological, psychological, social
• Treatment approaches
  • Psychotherapy
  • Pharmacotherapy
• Stigma and societal implications

9. Cognitive Psychology

• Mental processes overview
• Attention and perception
• Memory systems and models
• Language acquisition and processing
• Problem-solving and decision-making

10. Health Psychology

• Psychological factors in health and illness
• Stress and coping mechanisms
• Health behavior change theories
• Mind-body connection
• Promotion of well-being