Coursework Unit 2: What Influences and Shapes Behaviour Introduction to Psychology: 6 Branches (Oct 10) - Reviewed the 6 Branches of Psychology, why they are important, and which ones are still relevant today.
Language Day 1: Structure of Language (Oct 11) - Discussed why language is important and the basic structure of human language.
- Used the example of the "gronk" to illustrate how language is symbolic.
- Read research frontiers "Can Animals Acquire Language" and answer the following questions for homework.
- 1) Are other species able to communicate? List some examples.
- 2) Based on the research presented, do you think it’s possible to teach language to animals? Why?
- 3) If primates were able to develop language, list three major shifts that might happen in their society.
Day 2: Development of Language (Oct 12) - Played a game to illustrate how language may be created. Showed the constraints on language, and why it can be so difficult to learn.
Learning Day 1: Classical Conditioning (Oct 15th) Introduced Ivan Pavlov and his experiments with classical conditioning.Did an experiment attempting to condition heart rate.Day 2: Operant Conditioning and Observational Learning (Oct 16th) - Discussed the work of BF Skinner and how operant conditioning varies from classical conditioning.
- Looked at Bandura's Bobo doll experiments, and how observational learning effects children.
- Homework: Read "Can Classical Conditioning Make Us Sick" and answer
- 1) What is the US, UR, CS and US.
- 2) Application: Do you think conditioning has the ability to actually heal? Use specific evidence from articles to support your answers.
- Homework: Read Lessons from Lassie and answer
- 1) Describe how observational learning is related to the article.
- 2) Application: Do you think that watching violent video games/TV influences a child's behaviour. Use specific evidence from the article.
Memory (Oct 17th) - Examined the different levels of memory, and how everyday life and recall can be related to memory limitations.
- Watched clips explaining such phenomena as false memories and eye-witness accounts.
- Discussed forgetting and the patient HM.
Thinking and Intelligence (Oct 18th)
- Unit 2 Quiz (19 marks) - Oct 18th
- Briefly discussed the idea of forming concepts to compare information.
- Outlined deductive, inductive, and analytical reasoning.
- Discussed the history of IQ tests and what intelligence really means.
Sensation and Perception (Oct 19th) - Started by watching a video on ravens and how intelligence is fluid, and varied depending on context.
- What is the definition of sensation, and how does it vary by age.
- What is perception, and how does what we perceive vary from person to person?
- We used optical illusions to illustrate the idea of perception.
- Links to go with slideshow
States of Consciousness (October 22) - Discussed all form of consciousness, including waking, sleep, and altered states on consciousness.
- Outlined stages of sleep, why sleep is necessary to live, and ways to achieve a better nights rest.
- Discussed dream theory and why we dream.
Emotions (October 23) - What are emotions and why are they important to humans?
- Can animals express emotions as well as humans?
- What influences our emotions?
- Homework: Watch Harlow's experiment and tell me: Why do you think emotions are important? How important is nurture to human development?
Nature vs Nurture What shapes who we are and how we behave? Is it our genetics or our environment? Day 1: Evidence for Nature ( October 24th) - Watched "The Girl Who Was Born a Boy" and answered the following:
- 1) What role did Dr. Money propose nurture play in development?
- 2)Were Dr. Money's practices ethical? Why or why not (use specific examples)?
- 3)What role does nature plays in gender identity?
- 4) Do you think gender identity is an important part of personality?
- Read Twin Studies article and answered questions.
- Homework: Finish questions for "Girl who was born a boy" and twin studies article.
Evidence for Nurture: (October 25/26th) - Discussed feral children and the evidence they provide for the nature/nurture debate.
- Answered the following questions in regards to the video:
- 1) What do you think of the validity of the feral child stories?
- 2) How does the evidence from feral children support the nature/nurture debate?
- 3) What areas of development were impeded in feral children?
- Homework;Finish answering feral children questions
Introduce Nature vs. Nurture project (Oct 29) - Introduce Nature vs. Nurture Project
- Part 1 Due: November 5th
Mental Illness (Oct 30th) - Introduced Abnormal Psychology, defined what is normal
- Outlined 5 types of mental disorders.
- Watched MTV True Life "I Have Schizophrenia"
Fear . . . and other negative emotions (October 31) - Introduced flight or flight response and why fear is adaptive
- Watched Psycho, discussed fear AND mental illness of Bates
Personality (Nov 1) - Discussed personality and how it develops.
- Looked at personality theories based in psychology, sociology, and anthropology.
Motivation (Nov 7) - Discussed typical human goals and what drives us to achieve them.
- Looked at Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
- Defined self actualization.
Research Methods (Nov 7) - Discussed the difference between qualitative and quantitative research, gave examples for both.
- Discussed sources of bias, defined reliability and ethics.
Introduced Part 2 of Nature vs. Nurture project. Due Tuesday November 13th. You are to research what the public thinks is more important;nature or nurture? You may work in pairs BUT each individual must poll a minimum of 5 people. You are to include: - General Question (2 marks)
- Audience (2 marks)
- 3 statistics you found (5 marks)
- A paragraph including any source of bias you might have encountered OR how would did you prevent bias? (5 marks)
Socialization (Pt 1) (Nov 8th and 9th)
- Looked at what primary socialization is and how is shapes us.
- Discussed 5 main agents of socialization, and what they might teach us.
- Finished wtaching 'MTV True Life: I have Schizophrenia'
Socialization (Pt 2) and Mass Media (Nov 12th) - Defined secondary socialization and went through common role playing scenarios of secondary socialization.
- Discussed negative and positive effects of Mass Media on socialization.
- Homework
- TV ad: Look at an ad on TV and answer the following questions.
- Who is the target?
- Does this ad send a positive or negative message?
- What does this ad teach us about society?
- Song: Pick a song and answer the following questions
- Does the song send a string message?
- What does this song teach us about society?
- Facebook: Answer the following questions based on your experiences on Facebook
- What are some unwritten rules (norms) that apply to Facebook.
- Do you act any differently on Facebook than in real life?
- Is Facebook a positive or negative influence?
- What does Facebook teach us about society?
UNIT 2 TEST! - The Unit 2 test will take place Tuesday Nov 20th. Below is a review sheet including test breakdown, concepts that will be included, and a copy of the long answer question.
Unit 3: Socailization: How do groups affect behaviour?
Conformity in Social Groups (Nov 21)
- Discussed primary groups vs. secondary groups
- Three factors that shape our groups: Norms, Roles, Sanctions
- 4 factors that affect conformity
Conformity and Abuse of Power (Nov 23 and Nov 26) - Defined conformity, obedience and compliance
- Two types of conformity
- Informational Social Influences
- Normative Social Influences
- Looked at examples of experiments relating to conformity, power, and obedience
- Asch's Line test
- Robber's Cave Experiment
- Milgram's Shock Experiment
- Zimbardo's Prison Experiment
- Defined Bystander Effects
Cults (Nov 26 -28) - What defines a cult (and why it is so hard to define)
- Examples of physical controls cults use
- Examples of psychological controls cults use
Anthropology Perspective on Groups (Nov 29) - Looked at various cultural groups throughout history, and how their environment affected group dynamics.
Review of Power, Obedience, and Conformity (Nov 30) - Took a closer look at Milgram, Asch, and Zimbardo.
- Re-examined results of their experiments
Theories on Socialization (Dec 3) - Defined resocialization, and when it occurs
- Looked at theories of socialization by Piaget, Cooley, and Mead
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