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SOSC1960 Discovering Mind and Behavior: Wednesdays & Fridays 1:30 - 2:50 PM

This document provides an overview of an introductory psychology course titled SOSC 1960 at the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong. The course is offered on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30-2:50 pm. The course introduces fundamental knowledge about human thinking and behavior and illustrates how psychology can benefit society. It also provides a basic understanding of psychology for students interested in further study. The document outlines the course topics, assignments, research participation requirements, and introduces the instructor and teaching assistant.

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ericlaw02
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
104 views

SOSC1960 Discovering Mind and Behavior: Wednesdays & Fridays 1:30 - 2:50 PM

This document provides an overview of an introductory psychology course titled SOSC 1960 at the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong. The course is offered on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30-2:50 pm. The course introduces fundamental knowledge about human thinking and behavior and illustrates how psychology can benefit society. It also provides a basic understanding of psychology for students interested in further study. The document outlines the course topics, assignments, research participation requirements, and introduces the instructor and teaching assistant.

Uploaded by

ericlaw02
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOSC1960

Discovering Mind and


Behavior

Wednesdays & Fridays


1:30 – 2:50 pm

1
What is SOSC 1960 about?
 Introduces the fundamental scientific
knowledge about human thinking and
behavior processes

 Illustrates the relevance of this knowledge to


the betterment of human performance and
well-being in a wide variety of settings in
society

 Provides a basic understanding of psychology,


especially for those who want to study
psychology further
2
What is Psychology?
 Textbook definitions
 “…the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes” (Feldman, 2013, 2017)
 “…the discipline concerned with behavior and
mental processes and how they are affected by
an organism’s physical state, mental state, and
external environment” (Wade & Tavris, 2005)
 “…the science of mental processes and
behavior” (Kosslyn & Rosenberg, 2005)

3
Ground rules
 Introducing your teaching team

 Going over…
 Course Canvas website
 Examinations
 Paper assignments
 Research participation

 Going over the topics of the course

 “Q&A” session
4
Instructor: Eva Chen
 Office location: 2346 (near Lift 3)
 Office hours: Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 pm
 Email: [email protected]
 Background:
 Psychology
 Human Development & Education
 Research interests:
 Social and cultural psychology
 Cognition
 Development
5
TA: Kayee Wong
 Office location: 3005 (near lift 4)
 Office hours: By appointment
 Email: [email protected]
 Background
 Psychology and Counseling
 Early Childhood Education
Canvas
(https://canvas.ust.hk/courses/13482)

Please spend some time exploring the


course website!

7
8
Library Toolbox

9
Examinations
 Examination times:
 Exam 1: September 29, 2017 in class
 Exam 2: November 3, 2017 in class
 Exam 3: TBD, and TBA

 Exams are multiple-choice and not


cumulative; see syllabus for more
information on what each exam will cover

 Further guidelines to be distributed in


class and on Canvas
10
Paper Assignment
 Part 1: “Test Your Mindset” online quiz
results due 12 noon, October 17, 2017

 Part 2: in-class paper assignment activity


on October 18, 2017

 Part 3: individual paper (800 words) due


12 noon, November 16, 2017

 Further guidelines to be distributed in


class and on Canvas 11
Research Participation
 3 units of participation (1.5 hours) in
research studies or exercises required

 Guidelines to join the SONA system to be


emailed after add/drop deadline

 Due to the limit of studies and exercises


available, make sure you plan ahead so
that you complete your research hours!

12
Academic Integrity

13
Final Ground Rule

 Please be respectful of the learning


experiences of everyone in class:
 Please do not chat with each other
 Please keep your electronic devices silent and
use them for class purposes only
 Please do not eat lunch or take an early tea

14
Scientific vs. Popular Psychology
 Geniuses generally have poor social
adjustment.
 People who talk about suicide are unlikely
to actually attempt suicide.
 Older people are less happy than younger
people.
 Most people would refuse to hurt other
people.

Truth or myth?
Key issues in Psychology
 Observable behavior vs. internal mental
processes

 Nature (heredity) vs. nurture


(environment)

 Free will vs. determinism

 Individual differences vs. universal


principles

 Conscious vs. unconscious determinants of


behavior 16
What do psychologists do?
Psychologists

Researchers Practitioners

Developing theoretical Applying psychological


understanding of behaviors knowledge

e.g., social, cognitive, e.g., industrial/organizational,


developmental, clinical, counselling,
experimental educational
17
What do psychologists do?
Researchers Practitioners

18
Research methods

 How do research  What are some


psychologists use ethical issues that
research to answer psychologists
questions of encounter in
interest? research?

19
Memory

 The processes through which we encode,


store, and retrieve information

 How good is your memory? Can we always


rely on our memories of the past?

20
Learning

 The processes through which relatively


permanent change in behavior is brought
about

 How do we learn? How are we conditioned


to behave the way we do?

21
Development

 The pattern of growth and change that


occur throughout life

 How do our genes and early experiences


shape who we become as adults?

22
Sensation and perception

 Sensation: Activation of the sense organs


by a source of physical energy

 Perception: The sorting out, analysis,


and integration of stimuli by the sense
organs and brain

23
States of consciousness

 Different states of awareness of the


sensations, thoughts, and feelings
experienced at a given moment

 What happens when we sleep, meditate,


or take drugs?

24
Intelligence

 The capacity to understand the world,


think rationally, and use resources
effectively

 How do you know if you are intelligent?


Are there different kinds of intelligence?

25
Personality

 The pattern of enduring characteristics that


produce consistency and individuality

 What kind of a person are you? How do you


know?

26
Social psychology

 The scientific study of how people’s


thoughts, feelings, and actions are
affected by others

 Why do we like some people more than


others? How does our society shape our
thinking?

27
Psychological disorders

 The study, diagnosis, and treatment of


psychological disorders

 What behavior and thoughts are


considered abnormal?

 How do we treat psychological disorders?

28
Health and well-being
 The relationship
between
psychological
factors and
health and well-
being

 How do we
manage our
stress and stay
mentally fit?
29
For next time!
 Review the syllabus

 Recommended: Read through the textbook


(available in bookstores and in the library)

30

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