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General Psychology - PSY150/1 Fall 2026
Course
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Lenka Martinec Novakova
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Class Rules
- Please do respect our shared learning environment. Chatting, using phones, or otherwise disrupting the class is prohibited. Disruptive students may be asked to leave for the remainder of the session.
- In accordance with AAU campus guidelines, eating is not allowed in the classroom (water is permitted). We will have two dedicated breaks during which you can eat outside the room.
- To promote active engagement, I expect you to take notes by hand. Laptops, tablets, cell phones, etc. should be put away unless you require them for an approved academic accommodation.
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Arriving late or leaving early by more than 20 minutes will result in being marked completely absent for the session.
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If you arrive late or leave early by less than 20 minutes, you will be awarded 1 attendance point for that day.
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If you miss class, you must discuss it with me within one week of your absence to arrange any eligible make-up work.
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Session 1 Sep 03 |
Part I: Historical Foundations & Overview (Sessions 1-6) Topic: Introduction to psychology as a scientific discipline Description: Definition, objectives, scientist–practitioner model; philosophical and physiological roots of psychology; biological foundations of psychology, brief overview of research methods and ethics Meyers (14th) Chapter 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science |
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Session 2 Sep 10 |
Topic: Founding of psychology as a science I Description: Wundt, introspection, experiment, functionalism Required Reading: Hunt, M. (2007). The story of psychology – Chapters 5 & 6 ● First Among Equals: Wundt (pp. 140-158) ● The Psychologist Malgré Lui: William James (pp. 159-182) |
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Session 3 Sep 17 |
Topic: Founding of psychology as a science II Description: Early movements in psychology: Psychoanalysis & Gestalt Required Reading: Hunt, M. (2007). The story of psychology – Chapters 7 & 10 ● Explorer of the Depths: Sigmund Freud (pp. 183-232) ● The Gestaltists (pp. 318-348) |
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Session 4 Sep 24 |
Topic: Behaviorism & Activity psychology Description: Antecedents of behaviorism, early behaviorism and behaviorism, crisis of behaviorism, activity psychology (Vygotsky, Piaget), and its relevance for educational psychology Required Reading: Hunt, M. (2007). The story of psychology – Chapter 9 ● The Behaviorists (pp. 274-317) |
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Session 5 Oct 01 |
Topic: Cognitive psychology Description: Cognitive psychology and the cognitive revolution – theoretical foundations and contemporary perspectives in cognitive psychology Required Reading: Hunt, M. (2007). The story of psychology – Chapter 16 ● The Cognitivists (pp. 590-650) Student Guide for a Midterm Exam presented |
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Session 6 Oct 8 |
Topic: Current psychology I & Revision Class I Description: Differences between European and American psychology; contemporary paradigms; psychology in relation to other disciplines (neuroscience, social sciences, humanities) Required Reading: Hunt, M. (2007). The story of psychology – Chapter 18 ● Users and Misusers of Psychology (pp. 703-749) Weiten, W. (2013). The Evolution of Psychology. In Psychology: Themes and Variations (9 ed., pp. 1-37). Wadsworth. |
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Session 7 Oct 15 |
Topic: Current psychology II & Revision Class II Description: Methods of research in contemporary psychology (quantitative, qualitative, big data, mixed methods) Required Reading: Hunt, M. (2007). The story of psychology – Chapter 19 ● Psychology Today (pp. 750-776) Huffman, K. R., Dowdell, K., & Sanderson, C. A. (2017). Introduction and Research Methods. In Psychology in Action (pp. 1-43). Wiley. |
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Session 8 Oct 22 |
Mid-term Exam (Test & Essay) |
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Oct 29 |
Mid-term Break |
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Session 9 Nov 5 |
Part II: Basic Psychological Processes (Sessions 9-14) Topic: Consciousness and attention Description: consciousness, unconscious processes, attention, selective attention, divided attention, altered states of consciousness, sleep, dreaming Required Reading: Meyers (14th) Chapter 3: Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind (Modules 8–10) |
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Session 10 Nov 12 |
Topic: Learning and memory Description: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, reinforcement, observational learning, memory processes (encoding, storage, retrieval), short-term memory, long-term memory, working memory Required Reading: Meyers (14th); Chapter 7: Learning (Modules 21–23) |
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Session 11 Nov 19 |
Topic: Thinking and language Description: concepts, reasoning, problem solving, heuristics, decision making, creativity, language development, the relationship between language and thought Required Reading: Meyers (14th); Chapter 9: Thinking and Language (Modules 27–28) |
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Session 12 Nov 26 |
Topic: Intelligence and problem solving Description: intelligence theories (Spearman, Gardner, Sternberg), IQ testing, emotional intelligence, problem-solving strategies, expertise Required Reading: Meyers (14th); Chapter 10: Intelligence (Modules 29–31) |
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Session 13 Dec 3 |
Topic: Motivation and emotions (biological and psychological bases of motivation; theories and research on emotions). Description: motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, needs, drives, Maslow’s hierarchy, theories of emotion (James–Lange, Cannon–Bard, Schachter–Singer), basic emotions, cultural influences. Required Reading: Meyers (14th); Chapter 11: What Drives Us: Hunger, Sex, Belongingness, and Achievement (Modules 32–35) Submission Deadline: Assignment “Everyday Reflection” |
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Session 14 Dec 10 |
Final Exam (Reflection & Test) |
Here is the course outline:
1. Introduction to psychology as a scientific discipline
Sep 3 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Definition, objectives, scientist–practitioner model; philosophical and physiological roots of psychology; biological foundations of psychology, brief overview of research methods and ethics |
2. Founding of psychology as a science I
Sep 10 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Wundt, introspection, experiment, functionalism |
3. Founding of psychology as a science II
Sep 17 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Early movements in psychology: Psychoanalysis & Gestalt |
4. Behaviorism & Activity psychology
Sep 24 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Antecedents of behaviorism, early behaviorism and behaviorism, crisis of behaviorism, activity psychology (Vygotsky, Piaget), and its relevance for educational psychology |
5. Cognitive psychology
Oct 1 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Cognitive psychology and the cognitive revolution – theoretical foundations and contemporary perspectives in cognitive psychology |
6. Current psychology I & Revision Class I
Oct 8 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Differences between European and American psychology; contemporary paradigms; psychology in relation to other disciplines (neuroscience, social sciences, humanities) |
7. Current psychology II & Revision Class II
Oct 15 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Methods of research in contemporary psychology (quantitative, qualitative, big data, mixed methods) |
8. Mid-term Exam (Test & Essay)
Oct 22 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
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9. Consciousness & Attention
Nov 5 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Consciousness, unconscious processes, attention, selective attention, divided attention, altered states of consciousness, sleep, dreaming |
10. Learning & Memory
Oct 12 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, reinforcement, observational learning, memory processes (encoding, storage, retrieval), short-term memory, long-term memory, working memory |
11. Thinking & Language
Nov 19 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Concepts, reasoning, problem solving, heuristics, decision making, creativity, language development, the relationship between language and thought |
12. Intelligence & Problem solving
Nov 26 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
Intelligence theories (Spearman, Gardner, Sternberg), IQ testing, emotional intelligence, problem-solving strategies, expertise |
13. Motivation & Emotions
Dec 3 12am .. 2:45am, Classroom 2.18
Biological and psychological bases of motivation; theories and research on emotions; motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, needs, drives, Maslow’s hierarchy, theories of emotion (James–Lange, Cannon–Bard, Schachter–Singer), basic emotions, cultural influences |
14. Final Exam (Reflection & Test)
Dec 10 8am .. 10:45am, Classroom 2.18
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