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Introduction to Psychology

Junction Psychology presents an engaging introduction to the essential topics in psychology. Throughout this study of human behavior and the mind, students will gain insight into the history of the field of psychology, as well as explore current theories and issues in areas such as cognition, motivation, and wellness. The course is designed to synthesize the broad range of knowledge about psychology, to encourage critical thinking, and to convey a multicultural approach that respects human diversity and individual differences.

Engaging Content

Topics are introduced with short, engaging videos. Text readings and practice activities provide detail and enable applied learning.

Meaningful Analytics

You’ll know how much time your students are spending learning, what material they’re working with, and when they lose engagement, so you can keep them on-track.

Easy to Use

All material is loaded and ready-to-go, including video, textbook, discussion boards, in-class presentation, quizzes and practice activities.

Affordable

Junction courses are 80+% less expensive than alternatives. No extras needed. Honest.

Meet the Subject Matter Expert

Kathryn Dumper, Ed.D. is a Professor of Psychology at University of West Georgia and Bainbridge State College where she teaches both online and face-to-face courses. She has served as a subject matter expert for the Introduction to General Psychology online course taught across the University of Georgia system, and developed numerous courses for Bainbridge State College. She has degrees from Valdosta State University and University of Phoenix.

Kathryn Dumper, Ed.D.

Professor of Psychology, University of West Georgia and Bainbridge State College

Course Details

Suitable for: Introduction to Psychology courses. We will customize to fit your class.

Great for: In-person, online or blended learning.

  • Developed by a Professor of Psychology and an expert in the field
  • Lessons are built around the way students learn today – video first, reinforced by content and assessment
  • 16 lessons with curated and sequenced activities
  • Each lesson contains introductory video, textbook readings from OpenStax, one discussion-board, one in-class presentation and one quiz
  • Students can take notes and message classmates right in the application
  • Web-based and accessible through our iPad app
  • Professor grade book and student engagement reports
  • Student notifications about upcoming quizzes
  • All-in-one design means no pop-ups, plug-ins, installing components or extra windows
  • Instructor resources are incorporated into the instructors course- no need for CD’s, DVD’s or downloads
Junction knows that the way you teach is unique. That’s why we allow you to take what we’ve built and use it as-is, or modified to fit your syllabus. Our simple editing process allows you to rearrange, add or remove content, embed videos, links or change quiz questions to better match your course. Need to collaborate with other instructors? With Junction you can share your content with colleagues. Life just got a lot easier.

Accessible: Available on the web, iPad app or as a direct link from your LMS. No downloads, plug-ins or pop-ups necessary.

Onboarding Support: Training videos and access to actual humans to get your course launched smoothly.

Easy to Purchase: Students simply register and buy, and we can work with your bookstore as needed.

Lessons

Lesson 1 — Introduction to Psychology

Learning Objectives

  • Define psychology and explain why psychology is a science.
  • Describe the major historical events, theoretical approaches, and figures in psychology and their link to trends in contemporary research.
  • Summarize overarching themes, persistent questions, and enduring conflicts in psychology, such as nature vs. nurture and free will vs. determinism.
  • Describe education requirements and career options in psychology in academic and non-academic settings.
Lesson 2 — Psychological Research

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the scientific method and its limitations.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the primary methods for conducting research, including experiments, correlational studies, naturalistic observation, surveys, and case studies and to describe the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
  • Summarize relevant ethical issues, including a general understanding of the APA Code of Ethics.
Lesson 3 — Biopsychology

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the basic principles of the theory of evolution by natural selection and understand how gene-environment interactions are critical for expression of physical and psychological characteristics.
  • Describe the parts of a neuron, the process of neural transmission, and the role of selected neurotransmitters.
  • Differentiate the central nervous system from the peripheral nervous system and understand the functions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems and the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system.
  • Distinguish between the basic brain structures and their functions and understand the functions of the spinal cord.
  • Identify the glands and hormones of the endocrine system and understand their role in regulating bodily functions.
Lesson 4 — States of Consciousness

Learning Objectives

  • Explain what is meant by consciousness.
  • Explain what sleep is and why it is important.
  • Identify the stages of sleep.
  • Identify sleep problems and disorders and their associated treatments.
  • Describe the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders and know how different categories of drugs effect behavior and experience.
  • Recognize the similarities and differences of hypnosis and meditation.
Lesson 5 — Sensation and Perception

Learning Objectives

  • Distinguish between sensation and perception.
  • Explain how physical properties of light and sound waves are associated with perceptual experiences.
  • Describe the basic anatomy and function of the visual and auditory systems.
  • Describe the basic functions of the chemical, vestibular, proprioceptive, and kinesthetic sensory systems.
  • Describe the Gestalt principles of perception.
Lesson 6 — Learning

Learning Objectives

  • Define classical conditioning and its terminology, including USC, UCR, CS, and CR, stimulus generalization, stimulus discrimination, and extinction.
  • Define operant conditioning and its terminology, including primary reinforcement, secondary reinforcement, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and response cost.
  • Apply the aspects of classical and operant conditioning to everyday examples.
  • Distinguish between the four schedules of reinforcement.
  • Describe the guidelines for the appropriate use of punishment as a consequence of behavior. Define modeling and explain the roles of vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment in learning.
Lesson 7 — Thinking and Intelligence
Learning Objectives

  • Describe cognition.
  • Recognize the components of language and understand how language use develops.
  • Describe the relationship between thinking and language.
  • Identify problem-solving strategies and explain some common roadblocks to effective problem solving.
  • Define intelligence and compare the position of psychologists who view intelligence as a general ability to those who view it as several specific abilities.
  • Describe the history and use of intelligence tests.
  • Explain how genetics and environment affect intelligence.
Lesson 8 — Memory

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how memory functions and recognize the three stages of memory storage.
  • Explain the brain functions involved in memory.
  • Describe problems associated with memory, such as amnesia and interference.
  • Recognize and apply memory-enhancing strategies and effective study techniques.
Lesson 9 — Lifespan Development

Learning Objectives

  • Define and distinguish between the three domains of development: physical, cognitive, and
    psychosocial.
  • Describe stage theories of development.
  • Identify the stages of prenatal development and recognize the importance of prenatal care.
  • Explain the physical, cognitive, and emotional development that occurs in infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
  • Summarize the biological and psychological changes that are involved in aging and recognize the factors associated with “happy aging” and longevity.
  • Recognize the five stages of grief.
Lesson 10 — Emotion and Motivation

Learning Objectives

  • Distinguish between motivation and emotion.
  • Distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Distinguish between primary motives and psychological motives.
  • Explain Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (motives).
  • Distinguish among the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory, and the cognitive theory of emotion.
  • Describe the role of learning and culture in emotions.
Lesson 11 — Personality

Learning Objectives

  • Define the term personality from a psychological point of view.
  • Distinguish among Freud’s concepts of the conscious mind, the preconscious mind, the unconscious mind, and the id, ego, and superego.
  • Recognize Freud’s stages of psychosexual development.
  • Distinguish between Neo-Freudian theories of personality development.
  • Summarize humanistic theory as postulated by Rogers and Maslow.
  • Explain Bandura’s social learning theory.
  • Distinguish between the trait theories of personality development.
  • Describe the ways in which personality is assessed and the difference between objective measures and projective measures.
Lesson 12 — Social Psychology
Learning Objectives

  • Define social psychology and distinguish between situational and dispositional influences on behavior.
  • Explain what social norms are and how they influence behavior.
  • Describe how people’s attitudes are internally changed through cognitive dissonance and externally changed through persuasion.
  • Define conformity and recognize types of social influence.
  • Define and distinguish among prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination and explain why prejudice and discrimination exist.
  • Recognize forms of aggression.
  • Describe prosocial behavior and conditions that influence the formation of relationships.
Lesson 13 — Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Learning Objectives

  • Summarize the history and scope of study in the field of industrial and organizational psychology.
  • Explain aspects of employee selection and evaluation.
  • Describe key elements of management and leadership.
  • Describe the field of human factors psychology and its role in safety, productivity, and job satisfaction.
Lesson 14 — Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Learning Objectives

  • Describe stress and recognize the sources of stress.
  • Explain the relationship between life events and stress.
  • Describe Selye’s general adaptation syndrome.
  • Explain the relationship between stress, depression, and the immune system.
  • Describe factors that influence reactions to stress.
  • Identify the characteristics of the Type A personality and describe the relationship between Type A personality and heart disease.
  • Identify effective and ineffective methods of coping with stress.
Lesson 15 — Psychological Disorders

Learning Objectives

  • Define abnormal behavior.
  • Describe the different ways abnormal behavior has been viewed throughout history, including supernatural theories, biological theories, and psychological theories.
  • Summarize the different categories of disorders, the specific disorders belonging to each category, the symptoms or characteristics of each specific disorder, and the causes of the disorder.
Lesson 16 — Therapy and Treatment

Learning Objectives

  • Define psychotherapy.
  • Recognize the ethical standards of psychotherapy.
  • Summarize the following therapies: Psychoanalysis, Humanistic psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavior therapy, Group and Family therapy, and biomedical therapies.