Psychology 2035A 001 FW25

Understanding Yourself & Others

Western University 

London                   Canada 

 

Department of Psychology 

Fall 2025 

 

Psychology 2035    Section 001 

 

Understanding Yourself & Others 

 

 

1 Calendar Description 

 

This course examines ways in which recent research findings in psychology may be applied in the individual's life. Emphasis on psychology as an empirical science and on avenues of self- understanding and personal growth. Topics include: personality, stress and coping, person perception, interpersonal communication, friendship and love, sexuality, vocational developments. 

https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html 

 

Antirequisites: Psychology 2050. 

 

3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5 

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites. 

 

2 Course Information 

 

Instructor: Dr. John Campbell 

Office & Phone: see Brightspace 

Office Hours: By appointment 

Email: jcampb7@uwo.ca 

 

Teaching Assistant: TBA 

Office: TBA 

Office Hours: TBA 

Email: TBA 

 

Time and Location of Classes: Inperson. See Student Centre for timetable. 

 

For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.  

 

3 Course Materials 

 

Weiten, Dunn, & Hammer (2018) Psychology applied to modern life (12th ed.) Boston, MA: Cengage. Be sure to purchase the 12th edition ($251.50). Also available is the eBook 365 day rental (9780357798096) option for $80. You are NOT responsible for purchasing MindTap software.  

 

4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes 

 

This course examines ways in which recent research findings in psychology may be applied in the individual's life. Emphasis on psychology as an empirical science and on avenues of self- understanding and personal growth. Topics include: personality, stress and coping, person perception, interpersonal communication, friendship and love, sexuality, vocational development. 

 

Learning Outcome  

Learning Activity  

Assessment 

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.  

Identify and recognize recent psychological findings related to a greater understanding the behaviours of yourself and individuals around you.  

Lectures, Ted talks and other videos, online demonstrations 

Midterm exams and final exams 

Knowledge of Methodologies.  

Understanding the methods used to achieve the results that are related to our greater knowledge of why we and others behave as we do.  

Lectures, Ted talks and other videos, online demonstrations and activities 

Midterm exams and final exams 

Application of Knowledge.  

Identifying how this knowledge can be utilized to change our behaviours and how we interact with others.  

Online demonstrations and activities 

Midterm exams and final exams 

Communication Skills.  

Increasing our ability to communicate with others by having a great knowledge of topics such as interpersonal communications. 

Lectures, videos, activities 

Midterm exams and final exams 

Awareness of Limits of Knowledge. 

Recognizing the limitations of research in the field of Psychology over the years and questions that remain on the topics covered.  

Lectures, videos, activities 

Midterm exams and final exams 

Autonomy and Professional Capacity. 

Developing a greater self-awareness and using that to relate more closely and clearly with others in society and in their personal lives.  

Lectures, videos, activities 

Midterm exams and final exams 

 

 

5 Evaluation 

 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives. 

 

Grades in this course will be based on three in person exams. The exams will consist of a combination of multiple-choice and fill in the blank questions. Students are responsible for material assigned in the textbook, as well as material covered in lectures. The First Exam (Oct. 02), worth 30% of the final grade, will cover material from Sept 4 through Sept 25.  The Second Exam (Oct. 30), worth 30% of the final grade, will cover material from Oct 09 through Oct. 23.  The Final Exam (December Exam Schedule), worth 40% of the final grade. 

 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives. 

 

Policy on Missing Coursework 

 

If you miss an exam and have an excuse documented and approved by the academic counselling office in your home faculty, you will be offered a make-up exam time. Please note that make-up exams may consist, in part or exclusively, of essay, short-answer, fill-in-the-blank, and/or multiple-choice items.    

 

Grades will be posted to the course web site as soon as possible after each exam. 

 

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines:  https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf 

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages: 

 

70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses 

72% 2100-2999-level courses 

75% 3000-level courses 

80% 4000-level courses 

 

In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components. 

 

Policy on Grade Rounding 

 

Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.  

 

6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule 

 

Date % of final grade Material covered 

Exam 1 Oct 02 30% Sept 4 through Sept 25 

Exam 2 Oct. 30 30% Oct 09 through Oct. 23 

Exam 3 Dec Exams 40% Nov 13 through Nov 27 

 

 

7 Class Schedule 

 

Week 

Date 

Topic(s) to be covered 

Reading (s) 

1 

Sept. 4 

Introduction 

Ch 1  

2 

Sept. 11 

Theories Of Personality 

Ch 2 

3 

Sept. 18 

The Self 

Ch 6 

4 

Sept. 25 

Social Thinking and Social Influence 

Ch 7 

5 

Oct. 2 

EXAM 1 (30%) 

 

6 

Oct. 9 

Interpersonal Communication 

Ch 8 

7 

Oct. 16 

Friendship and Love 

Marriage and Intimate Relationships 

Ch 9 

Ch 10 

8 

Oct. 23 

Development and Expression of Sexuality 

Ch 12 

9 

Oct. 30 

Midterm Exam #2 

Ch 8, 9, 10, 12 

10 

Nov. 6 

Reading Week 

No lecture 

11 

Nov. 13 

Stress & Its Effects 

Ch 3 

12 

Nov. 20 

Coping Processes 

Ch 4 

13 

Nov. 27 

Psychology and Physical Health; Psychological Disorders 

Ch 5 & 14 

14 

Dec. 4 

Psychological Disorder & Treatements 

Ch 14 & 15 

 

 

8 Academic Integrity  

 

Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf. 

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University. 

 

Statement on Use of Electronic Devices 

 

Electronic devices can used during lectures but please be respectful in the use of your phones. Phones should be on silent and no recording during lectures is allowed without previous permission.  

 

No electronic devices are allowed to be used during exams.  

 

Use of AI 

 

The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content. 

 

AI Policy for Psychology:  

Responsible use of AI is allowed in Psychology.  This includes using AI for brainstorming, improving grammar, or doing preliminary/background research on a topic.  

  

AI is not to be used in place of critical thinking.  

  

The misuse of AI undermines the academic values of this course.  Relying on AI to create full drafts or fabricate sources is prohibited.  You are ultimately responsible for any work submitted, so it is highly advised that you critically review your Generative AI output before incorporating this information into your assignments.  

  

If you use AI, you must clearly explain its role in your work.  All written assignments will require an AI Usage Statement, in which you will indicate what tools you have used, what you have used them for, and (broadly) how you have modified this information.  Assignments without an AI Usage Statement will not be accepted.  

  

Violations of this policy will be handled according to Western’s scholastic offense policies. 

 

Multiple Choice Exams  

 

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating. 

 

Exam Proctoring Software 

 

Tests and examinations for online courses may be conducted using a remote proctoring service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote  

Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca. 

 

Personal Response Systems (“Clickers”) 

 

In classes that involve the use of a personal response system, data collected will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. 

 

9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education 

 

View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link. 

 

Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western. 

If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information.  Email: aew@uwo.ca  Phone: 519 661-2147 

 

10 Absence & Academic Consideration 

 

Academic Considerations: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html 

 

 

 

11 Other Information  

 

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help. 

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.  

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca). 

 

Copyright Statement  

 

Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent. 

 

 

 

12 Land Acknowledgement 

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.