COURSE OUTLINE
FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Instructor: Ayesha Khan
Semester: Spring 2020
email: [email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an essential understanding of the fundamental principles and theories of
human behavior. It aims at introducing students to the dynamic field of psychology, providing a
basic framework of each theoretical school of thought in psychology. Psychological Concepts,
methodology, approaches, key terminology, and studies will be explored. Students will learn to
apply psychological theories, concepts and studies to practical situations, everyday life and to
their own experience. The course also aims at developing insight into why people think, feel
and behave the way they do. Along with developing skills to scientifically and critically evaluate
data ; students will essentially develop tolerance and a basic understanding of human ethics.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To study psychological principles and create an understanding of all key paradigms of
psychology
To understand major influences and contributors in the field of psychology and the
evolution of psychology
To understand psychological research methods and the nature of experimentation in
Psychology
To understand the interaction between biology and psychology
Understand the cognitive aspects of perception, memory, motivation, emotion and
language in human behavior
To promote an appreciation and understanding of individual, social and cultural
diversity
To identify, and create an understanding of various psychological disorders
To understand human behavior in social contexts and situations
To develop tolerance and insight into basic ethical issues
To apply and integrate theoretical knowledge in various practical situations and display
usefulness of psychological concepts
CLASS EXPECTATIONS:
All students are required to read the assigned chapters/ articles/ materials designated
for the next class.
Students need to be prepared for in-class group discussions and quizzes.
Use of cellphones in class is not allowed.
Be punctual. Students will be marked absent if they arrive 5 minutes after class starts
and the names in attendance have been called out.
Cheating, plagiarism or other ethical violations will be dealt with according to IBA
policies.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are required to be present in class during roll call. Students will be marked absent if
they are not present in the class at the time of attendance or if they do not respond when their
name is called out.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Understanding Psychology By Robert S. Feldman, 2012
Eleventh edition, Published by McGraw Hill, Companies Inc., 2012
GRADE DIVISION:
Mids : 20
Finals: 30
Quizzes (unannounced): 15 ( n-1)
Class Participation: 5
Presentation : 5
Assignments: 10
Research report: 15
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Lecture 1
Introduction to the course
Lecture 2-3
Introduction to psychology: Definition, Psychologists at work, Roots of Psychology, Key issues
and controversies. (CHAPTER 1)
Lecture 4-5
Learning: Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Cognitive Approaches to Learning
(CHAPTER 6)
Lecture 6-7
Personality: Psychodynamic Approaches to Personality, Traits, Learning, Biological and
Evolutionary and Humanistic approaches to Personality (CHAPTER 13)
Lecture 8-9
Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social cognition, Social Influence ad groups, Prejudice and
Discrimination, Positive and Negative Social Behavior (CHAPTER 17)
Lecture 10-11
States of Consciousness: Sleep Dreams, Hypnosis and Meditation, Drug use: The Highs and Lows
of Consciousness (CHAPTER 5)
Lecture 12-13
Sensation and Perception: Sensing the World around us, Vision: Shedding light on the Eye,
Hearing and the Other Senses, Perceptual Organization (CHAPTER 4)
Lecture 14
Memory: The Foundation of Memory, Recalling Long-term memories, Forgetting: When
memory fails (CHAPTER 7)
Lecture 15-16
Cognition and Language: Thinking and Reasoning, Problem Solving (CHAPTER 8)
Lecture 17-18
Intelligence: What is Intelligence, Variations in Intellectual Ability, Group Differences in
Intelligence (CHAPTER 9)
Lecture 19-20
Motivation and Emotions: Motivation, Human Needs and Motivations, Understanding
Emotional Experiences (CHAPTER 10)
Lecture 21-22
Neuroscience and Behavior: Neurons: Basic elements, The Nervous System and the Endocrine
System: Communicating within the Body, The Brain (CHAPTER 3)
Lecture 23
Health Psychology: Stress, Coping and Well-being (CHAPTER 14)
Lecture 24
Development: Cognitive Development over the life span (CHAPTER 12)
Lecture 25-26
Psychological disorders: Normal versus Abnormal, The Major Psychological Disorders,
Psychological Disorders in Perspective (CHAPTER 15)
Lectures 27
Psychological research: The Scientific Method, Conducting Psychology Research, and Critical
Research Issues. (CHAPTER 2)
Lecture 28
Review Session
Note :
The above class schedule is only an outline for reference, and applicable to modification as per
requirement of the course.
