Course Contents
Unit I: Introduction to Psychology as a science of Mind and Behavior - 5 hours
Nature, modern history, of Psychology, common sense and psychology, similarities and differences with other social sciences; Perspectives of psychology (Biological perspective, cognitive perspective, behavioral perspective, Psychodynamic and humanistic perspective, Socio-cultural perspective and evolutionary perspective); Scientific method and psychological research.
Unit II: Biological Basis of Behavior - 5 hours
Importance of Biology in psychological understanding of behavior, Neurons, nervous system, structure and functions of central nervous system, Endocrine system and its importance.
Unit III: Sensation and Perception - 10 hours
Sensation: Meaning, importance, sensory threshold, habituation and adaptation; Types of sensory experiences, structure and functions of Visual and auditory sensation,
Perception: definition and characteristics; Perceptual processes (Pathways in Brain and top-down and bottom-up processing), subliminal and extrasensory perception, Theoretical explanation of perceptual organization (Gestalt principles), Perceptual ambiguity and distortion; Social cognition and behavior: process of social cognition, attitude, social influence, prejudice and discrimination.
Unit IV: Learning and Memory - 9 hours
Learning: Nature of learning (Behavioral vs. cognitive, instinct, and complex forms of learning) Classical condition learning and its application; Operant conditioning learning and behavior modification and shaping, Cognitive learning (cognitive map, insight and observational learning).
Memory: Memory phenomenon and basic processes (encoding, storage and retrieval), Models of memory; Parallel Distributed Processing Model and Information Processing Model, Retrieval (cues, recall, recognition, reconstruction, and automatic encoding);
Forgetting: nature and causes of forgetting, memory and the brain, amnesia and false memories.
Unit V: Cognition (Thinking and Intelligence) - 7 hours
Thinking: Definition and nature, component of thought (mental images, concepts, prototypes) and reasoning, thought and brain; Problem solving and decision making (preparation, production and judgment): obstacles in problem solving thinking and decision making; Creativity;
Intelligence: nature, types, and determinants of intelligence, Intelligence tests and concept of IQ; Individual differences in intelligence.
Unit VI: Motivation, Emotion and Stress - 7 hours
Motivation: Nature and characteristics of motivation, Instinct, drive-reduction approach, arousal approach, incentive approach of motivation, cognitive approach to motivation; Physiological need and motivations (Hunger and sex), Socio-psychological motivation (need for achievement and power); Emotion: nature and types and functions of emotion; James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Schachter-Singer theories of emotion; Emotion and health;
Stress: stressor and the cost of stress, general adaptation syndrome model, psychoneuroimmunology of stress; Coping stress, style and learned helplessness, social support.
Unit VII: Personality - 5 hours
Nature and determinants of personality, Theories of personality: Freud's theory; Trait theory (Allport and Cattel' theory); Big five personality traits, evaluation; Bandura's social cognitive theory, evaluation; Humanistic approach; Measurement of Personality; Self-report, Projective tests, Behavioral assessment.