Elements of Psychology 2600-DSMdz1EP
Psychology should be one of the basic tools of description of reality in the humanities and social sciences. During the course, students will learn the basics of psychological knowledge, as a starting point for practical applications. Students will learn the key concepts and psychological phenomena by discussing the results of the most interesting research. Classes include four thematic blocks:
1. Class organization. Do we need psychological knowledge?
How do we acquire knowledge? Types of scientific research. Advantage of experimental studies. Situational and psychological realism
2. Cognitive responses
Model of brain functioning. Cognitive categories: classical and natural concepts. Brain networks: their activation – conscious content and operational memory. Cognitive load effect. Role of operational memory content. Primacy, recency and anchoring effects, analytical-rational and intuitive-experiential systems of information processing. Controlled and automatic processing. Cognitive schemas activation. Dynamics of memory. Hindsight bias. Information processing – confirmation effect. Activation and deactivation processes asymmetry. Cognitive inertia. Premature activation effect. Function of attractors in information processing. Competition for cognitive resources. Assimilation and contrast effects.
3. Emotional responses
Types of emotional responses – stenic and astenic emotions, feelings, sensations and moods, endo- and exocentric emotions. Descriptive opinions, assessment: evaluative vs. emotional. Physiological arousal and role of its interpretation. Misattribution of arousal. Emotional contagion. Excitation transfer. Positive-negative asymmetry. Positivity bias. Informational vs. affective negativity effect. Dynamics of emotional responses: perseveration, mere exposure, novelty, and habituation effects. Self-esteem as a basic endocentric emotion.
4. Behavioural responses
Focusing effect in: (1) explaining ones own behaviour (causes vs consequences), (2) processing information about the self vs. the others. Reflective and unreflective (impulsive and habitual) behaviours. Action strategies. Dynamics of goal implementation
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
a) In terms of knowledge:
During the seminar a student should:
- acquire the basic psychological knowledge, which would allow for an analysis of cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses – be acquainted with the basic concepts and several key psychological studies
- know methods of building scientific knowledge (differentiate between experiments and correlational studies, know the advantage of experimental studies)
b) In terms of abilities:
Due to the use of different teaching methods, student will have the possibility to develop the following abilities:
- using psychological terms to describe everyday situations
- making his/her cognitive and emotional reactions an object of reflection – analysing their determinants and consequences
- see differences in perception of the self and others, identify errors commonly made when interpreting a behaviour of the self and others
Assessment criteria
• 50%: Activity on the e-learning platform (tests with open and closed ended questions)
• 40%: Final test
• 10%: In-class activities
------- BONUS POINTS -------
• 10% Bonus points for participation in research*
*Bonus points will replace the weakest test score from e-learning platform activities
To complete the course it is necessary to achieve a total minimum of 60% of the points at the end of the semester, including a minimum of 50% of the points for the final test completion. Obtaining a score below 50% for the final test means failure to complete the course, regardless of the total score at the end of the semester.
Bibliography
Course materials available on the e-learning platform, based on: Wieczorkowska–Wierzbińska, G. „Psychologiczne ograniczenia.” (2011)
Optional reading:
Zimbardo , P. „Psychologia” (2010)
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: