Psychology 2035A-650
Understanding Yourself and Others
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 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.
Antirequisite: Psychology 2050
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if this course has an antirequisite that you have previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in this one.
0.5 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Rhonda Balzarini
Office and Phone Number: SSC 6324
Office Hours: By appointment only
Email: rbalzari@uwo.ca
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.
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. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Required: Weiten, W., Lloyd, M., Dunn D. S., & Hammer, E.Y. (12th ed., 2017). Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Note: I recommend that students use the newest version of the textbook as some of the material has changed (especially with regards to Chapters 14-15) and so they don’t miss any material that might be on exams.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course provides a broad introduction to theories and findings associated with the scientific study of human behaviour. By understanding the psychological processes that influence behaviour, it is hoped that you will develop a greater appreciation for how these processes might influence your own behaviour in everyday life. Indeed, actively applying the material to your everyday life should enhance not only your self-understanding and personal growth, but also your understanding of other people
4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Students will be able to apply basic psychological principles to their everyday lives
- Students will be able to analyze the causes and effects of stress
- Students will be able to interpret the psychological principles in social situations including interpersonal communication, friendship, love, and marriage
- Students will be able to describe the psychological bases of their identities including gender, sexuality, and career orientation
- Students will be able to identify psychological disorders, types of psychotherapy, and uses of positive psychology
5.0 EVALUATION
|
Component |
Percent of Final Mark |
|
Midterm |
35% |
|
Final |
40% |
|
Discussions |
25% |
|
Total |
100% |
The course grade is based on participation in four online discussions and on two multiple choice tests.
Participation in three online discussions, worth 25% of the course grade
There will be a total of three required online discussions and one bonus on the course OWL site. Each discussion is therefore worth 8.33% of the course grade. A forum will become open on the day that its associated textbook chapter is introduced. The opening and closing date for each forum is listed in the Lecture Schedule (see section 7.0 of this course outline). You would need to contact your Academic Counsellor if you miss one or more posting and you are requesting academic accommodation for the missed posting(s) (see Section 9.0 of this course outline).
Students are required to post one original response and two replies to other students for each discussion. Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to respond to other students’ responses to your post. Receiving a good mark will require creative, insightful posts that show accurate knowledge of the material, elaborate on information posted earlier in the discussion, and involve a meaningful dialogue with classmates. More information about the discussions will be available on the course website.
Your forum post will be marked according to the following 3-point scale (no half marks):
0 = no, late, or an inadequate post. Aspects of an inadequate post include: restating the question in your own words but not providing a clear answer to the question; posting information that is off-topic, incorrect, rude, or irrelevant to the discussion; or providing no references or supporting experience.
1 = adequate post with superficial thought and preparation. Shallow contribution to the discussion (e.g., agrees or disagrees). The post does not enrich discussion; that is, it repeats but does not add substantive information to the discussion. There is use of personal experience, but no references to readings or to research.
2 = the post is factually correct but lacks full development of concept or thought. It elaborates on the question or on an existing post with further comment or observation. There is incorporation of some references from literature and from personal experience. The post contributes valuable information to discussion, with minor clarity errors.
3 = the post demonstrates analysis of the question or of others’ posts. Information is factually correct. There is reflective and substantive contribution which advances meaningful discussion with clear and concise comments. References to relevant literature, readings, and personal experience support comments.
The bonus discussion, if you choose to complete it, will take the place of your lowest discussion mark. Alternatively, you can use it to make up for a skipped discussion.
Two multiple-choice tests, worth 35% and 40% of the course grade
There will be two tests, non-cumulative in content. These tests deal with material covered in the textbook and in lectures. There will be 100 questions on each test, with each test being two hours long. No aids are allowed during the test. Bring your Western student card and a No. 2/HB pencil to the test. Students who wish to change the location of their exam centre will need to give Distance Studies at least 4 weeks advanced notice before the date of the test.
Missing a midterm test
It is the Academic Counsellor, rather than the course instructor, who processes all cases of missing a test. If you miss a test, you are required to contact your Academic Counsellor in a timely fashion and be prepared to submit to them the necessary supporting documentation (see Section 9.0 of this course outline). Your Academic Counsellor will inform me about the outcome of his or her discussion with you.Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
|
Exam |
% of Final Grade |
Date |
|
Midterm |
35% |
June 9, 2018 (exact time is TBD) |
|
Final |
40% |
July 30 – August 2, 2018 (exact time and date are TBD) |
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Assignments |
|
Week 1 |
May 7, 2018 |
Introduction and Overview |
Chapter 1 |
|
Week 2 |
May 14, 2018 |
Theories of Personality The Self |
Chapter 2 Chapter 6 Discussion 1 (open) |
|
Week 3 |
May 21, 2018 |
Stress and Its Effects Coping Processes |
Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Discussion 1 (close) |
|
Week 4 |
May 28, 2018 |
Psychology and Physical Health
|
Chapter 5 Discussion 2 (open) |
|
Week 5 |
June 4, 2018 |
Social Thinking and Social Influence |
Chapter 7 Discussion 2 (close) |
|
Midterm – June 9, 2018 (Exact Time and Location TBD) Midterm Exam covers Weeks 1 – 5 (Chapters 1 – 7) |
|||
|
Week 6 |
June 11, 2018 |
Interpersonal Communication Friendship and Love |
Chapter 8 Chapter 9 |
|
Week 7 |
June 18, 2018 |
Marriage and Intimate Relationships |
Chapter 10 |
|
Week 8 |
June 25, 2018 |
Development and Expression of Sex. Gender and Behaviour |
Chapter 12 Chapter 11 Discussion 3 (open) |
|
Week 9 |
July 2, 2018 |
Careers and Work |
Chapter 13 Discussion 3 (close) |
|
Week 10 |
July 9, 2017 |
Psychological Disorders Psychotherapy |
Chapter 14 Chapter 15 |
|
Week 11 |
July 16, 2018 |
Positive Psychology |
Chapter 16 |
|
Week 12 |
July 23, 2018 |
Prepare for Exam |
Bonus Discussion (open) |
|
Final Exam Final Exam covers Weeks 6 – 11 (Chapters 8 – 16) |
July 30 – August 2, 2018. Exact Date/Time of Exam TBD Bonus Discussion (close) |
||
Note 1: The Personal Explorations Workbook at the end of the textbook provides some interesting self-assessment and self-reflection exercises that are relevant to each chapter, but this material will not be covered on exams.
Note 2: Exams will cover textbook and lecture material.
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. 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 http://www.turnitin.com
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?Command=showCategory&PolicyCategoryID=1&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2018 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.
