Psychology 2035A 650 FW24
Understanding Yourself & Others
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall 2024
Psychology 2035A Section 650
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 development. https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html
Antirequisites: Psychology 2050
Prerequisites: n/a
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: TBD; By appointment
Email: jcampb7@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: TBA
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Email: TBA
Time and Location of Classes: Asynchronous online lectures posted weekly
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. 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 online 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 03), worth 30% of the final grade, will cover material from Sept 05 through Sept 26. The Second Exam (Nov 07), worth 30% of the final grade, will cover material from Oct 10 through Nov 05. 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 03 30% Sept 10 through Oct 01
Exam 2 Nov 07 30% Oct 22 through Nov 05
Exam 3 Dec Exams 40% Nov 19 through Dec 03
7 Class Schedule
Week |
Date |
Topic(s) to be covered |
Reading (s) |
1 |
Sept 05 |
Introduction |
Ch 1 |
2 |
Sept 12 |
Theories Of Personality; The Self |
Ch 2 |
3 |
Sept 19 |
The Self |
Ch 6 |
4 |
Sept 26 |
Social Thinking and Social Influence |
Ch 7 |
5 |
Oct 03 |
EXAM 1 (30%) |
|
6 |
Oct 10 |
Interpersonal Communication |
Ch 8 |
7 |
Oct 17 |
Reading Week |
No lecture |
8 |
Oct 24 |
Friendship and Love Marriage and Intimate Relationships |
Ch 9 Ch 10 |
9 |
Oct 31 |
Development and Expression of Sexuality |
Ch 12 |
10 |
Nov 07 |
EXAM 2 (30%) |
|
11 |
Nov 14 |
Stress & Its Effects |
Ch 3 |
12 |
Nov 21 |
Coping Processes |
Ch 4 |
13 |
Nov 28 |
Psychology and Physical Health |
Ch 5 |
14 |
Dec 03 |
Psychological Disorders |
Ch 14 |
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.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.
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.
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.
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
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
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.