Module PSYC43260: Essentials of Psychology

Department: Psychology

PSYC43260: Essentials of Psychology

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• PSYC43560, PSYC43315 & PSYC43445

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To develop an understanding of theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches in psychology with a focus on:
• Cognitive and biological psychology, with particular emphasis on visual neuroscience and visual cognition
• Key areas of developmental psychology
• The contribution that social psychology has made to an understanding of the relations between people and social structures involving people including the nature of joint activity and such social products as crowds and groups
• Differential psychology, the study of psychological differences and similarities between people and understanding of theory and research in atypical and clinical psychology

Content

• The module will address key conceptual issues in cognitive and biological psychology, including research methods, learning, neuroscience, and major areas of vision and visual cognition, such as colour, form, motion, depth, object and face recognition, visually guided action and attention
• It will cover core areas of cognitive psychology, such as memory, decision‑making and attention
• The module will cover historical developments across cognitive, developmental, social and differential psychology, for example the evolution of research on personality, ability and psychological disorder
• It will examine central topics in developmental psychology, such as attachment, social influences on language, play, peer relations, theory of mind and self‑concept
• It will explore major themes in social psychology, e.g. group behaviour, group processes, intergroup relations and links between social structure, cognition, emotion and personality
• The module will address conceptual issues in differential psychology and psychological disorder, such as personality (e.g. anxiety, extraversion), ability (e.g. intelligence, navigation skills), psychiatric classification and major diagnostic categories
• It will introduce evidence for individual differences across psychological attributes and discuss key issues in abnormal psychology and clinical practice
• Students will gain knowledge of major theoretical approaches to personality and ability
• They will also develop practical knowledge of the issues, surrounding measurement of psychological variables and basic skills in the administration and design of psychological tests
• Students will have access to individual support through weekly surgery hours

Learning Outcomes

• A broad knowledge base relating to the core areas of psychology and in-depth knowledge of some specialist sub-areas
• A critical and scientific understanding of the mind, brain, behaviour and experience, in relation to the complex environments’ and socio-cultural contexts with in which they exist
• Present multiple perspectives in a way that fosters critical evaluation and reflection;
• Develop knowledge, leading to a critical appreciation of theory and research findings, including relevant ethical and socio-cultural issues;
• Lead to an understanding of real-life applications of theory to the full range of experience and behaviour and the application of psychological understanding to real world questions;

• Understand the conceptual and historical underpinnings of psychology as a discipline;
• Apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues, recognising that psychology involves a range of methods of research and enquiry, theories, evidence, interpretations and applications;
• Integrate ideas and findings across multiple perspectives and approaches in psychology and apply psychological knowledge ethically, professionally and safely to real-world problems;
• Identify, contextualise and evaluate diverse patterns in behaviour, psychological functioning and experience;
• Manage, synthesise and evaluate potentially conflicting sources such as primary research studies or theories;
• Employ evidence-based reasoning and examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues associated with a range of methods of inquiry and other activities;
• Critically and reflectively evaluate psychological theory and research;

• Communicate effectively using non-verbal methods;
• Retrieve and organise information found in a range of academic sources while recognising the different perspectives and influences that amplify or marginalise certain forms of knowledge and evidence;
• Critical evaluation of the quality of evidence and arguments
• Ability to adopt different theoretical positions and see relationships between them

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Acquisition of knowledge and understanding in this area is facilitated by the material covered in lectures, and the provision of detailed reading lists. Evidence of wider reading (i.e. not in set reading) will be required for higher marks
• Knowledge and understanding will be assessed through examination and essay
• The module assessments use a combination of multiple choice format, to assess the breadth of knowledge of the full syllabus, and written format to assess the ability to organise, review and evaluate evidence and theory, to provide critical appraisal, and to contrast theoretical positions
• Feedback on progress in the module will be provided via in-class activities
• Subject-specific and Key skills are fostered through lectures and discussion and will be assessed via the examination

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative exercises within lectures.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.