Introductory description

FP010-30 Psychology

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Part 1: Perspectives

• What contributions have a variety of different theorists made to the understanding of human behaviour?
• Cognitive, humanistic, behavioural and biological approaches to our understanding of human behaviour
• Cognitive, humanistic, behavioural and biological approaches to understanding motivation

Part 2: Research Methods

• Experimental techniques and research design
• Ways of collecting data in psychology
• Ethics in Psychological Research

Part 3: Classic studies and contemporary issues in Psychology

• Covers a range of classic studies in psychology which could include the Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo, 1973), obedience (Milgra, 1963), conformity (Asch, 1951), aggression (Bandura, 1961) among others
• Discussion of contemporary issues in psychology, including W.E.I.R.D. samples: see The Neglected 95% (Arnett 2008) and The Weirdest People In The World (Henrich, 2010), cultural differences in psychology (e.g. in attachment), the replication crisis, discussion of the extent to which psychology can be described as a science etc.

Part 4: The Brain

• Cells of the nervous system, the structure and function of the neuron
• The various parts of the brain and their primary functions and the lateralization of functions between the two hemispheres
• Neuroplasticity, brain injury and brain disease: could include Parkinson's, Huntington's and Aphasia
• Sensory systems
• The biopsychology of stress and the association between stress and health
• Memory, including the multi-store model of memory (MSM) and the working memory model (WMM), eyewitness testimony and reconstructive memory

Part 5: Mental Health and Illness

• How do we define abnormality?
• Diagnosis – how have times changed, the DSM, the ICD, the difference between psychology and psychiatry
• Treatment: including pharmacological and therapeutic approaches
• Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment: could include Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders and Eating Disorders

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically evaluate behavioural, cognitive and humanistic explanations of behaviour and motivation
• Evaluate the merits of different research methods, and recognise the writing structure of peer reviewed journal publications in Psychology
• Understand the impact of classic studies and contemporary issues in psychology
• Consider and appreciate the biological bases of human behaviour
• Understand theoretical models of mental illness, identify selected psychological disorders, and understand tools for diagnosis and treatment
• Understand the main theoretical models of memory.

Indicative reading list

https://rl.talis.com/3/warwick/lists/015C73D7-1EA5-9301-2E13-C47EB41916E5.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Interdisciplinary

Part of a wider Psychology module which also covers Inquiry and Research Skills, English for Academic Purposes, Statistics for Science, and Chemistry for Science

Subject specific skills

An introductory overview of psychology

Transferable skills

Critical thinking, group work, essay writing