Reading Assignments for Psyc 100.  Fall 2002.

Walter vom Saal

[this document now contains the complete set of readings for the course]

(From Feldman, R.S.  Essentials of Understanding Psychology, 5^th edition.  New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.)

General guidelines: When pages are given, it means you are responsible for the major sections that begin on the first page named and end on the last page named. You are responsible for understanding all of the text within the pages assigned, including figures, charts, tables, illustrations, and boxes.  It is most important that you know all margin definitions in the pages assigned.  Also pay special attention to all headings, subheadings, italicized words, and boldface words that appear in the pages assigned.  For each of these, you should be able to define it, explain it, and give an example that demonstrates your understanding.   The best way to study the text is to first skim the chapter for main ideas (no more than five minutes), then read it more carefully. Test yourself by giving a definition and example of each key term to a friend or study partner with the book closed.  I strongly recommend that you create a set of index cards with key terms on one side, and a definition and example on the other side, and use these to study and test yourself. 

Specific reading assignments.   NOTE:  There may be adjustments and changes in these assignments.  You are responsible for any changes announced in class (even if you miss a class).  Unless adjustments or changes are announced in class, you are responsible only for the material identified below, and the exams will cover only that material (plus material from classes, lectures, and handouts).

In the assignments below, "Read pages x to y" means you are responsible for the sections that begin and end on those pages. "Omit pages x to y" means you are not responsible for the material in the sections that begin and end on those pages.  The exam will not cover that material. However, I strongly encourage you to take a quick look through those pages to get the main idea and to see what is there.  Some of it may be interesting and valuable to you.

For all chapters, you should read all the “Prepare,” “Optimize,” “Evaluate,” and “Rethink” sections related to your required readings in each chapter, and the "Looking Back" section at the end of each chapter.  You will need to determine what portions of these are relevant, based on the pages assigned.  Going through these final sections of each chapter will help you sort out the main ideas and will help you study.

FOR READING DUE DATES, RETURN TO THE HOME PAGE FOR PSYC 100 AND CLICK TO SEE THE LIST OF DATES.  Note that some changes in dates may be announced in class.

A. MATERIAL COVERED IN EXAM #1.

Introductory Material:

Read pp.xxviii-xxxiv ("A Guide for Students").  Know what is meant by P.O.W.E.R. and by  SQ3R.

Chapter 1.  Introduction to Psychology.

Unit L02: Perspectives in psychology.  Selections from Chapter 1.  Read pp. 2-10.  Omit bottom of p.10 – middle of p.12.  Read middle of p.12 – p.18.  Also read and know Table 13-1 on p.417, which is relevant to this section.

Unit L03: Research in psychology.  Selections from Chapter 1.  Read pp. 19-35.

Unit L04: Critical thinking in research.  No readings for this lecture.  Look again at the readings for Unit L03.

Unit L05: The biological basis of behavior.  Selections from Chapter 2.  Read 41-47. Skim 48-49 to know what neurotransmitters are, but you do not need to know the names of the specific neurotransmitters and you do not need to know Table 2-1 on page 48. Read middle of 49 - 55. Read 56-59 but you do NOT need to know the brain parts or terms in the margins on those pages. Read 60-64. Omit 64-66. (NOTE: when the same page is listed as part of a section to read and part of a section to omit, as in this example, it means you are responsible for the previous section that ends in the middle of page 64, but you may omit the new section that starts in the middle of page 64.) Read the section from the bottom of 66 to the top of 68. Omit the section on bottom half of 68. As in all chapters, read the final Looking Back section, but you are only responsible for the material on the pages previously indicated.

Unit L06. The nature - nurture debate.  No specific readings at this time.

Unit L07. Evolutionary psychology.  No readings from text.  See the handout on the website.

Unit L08. Sensation and perception.  L08a: Sensation.  Selections from Chapter 3.  Read 74 - middle of 77 and middle of 78 - middle of 88.  L08b: Perception.  Read 98-108.

Unit L09.  States of consciousness.  Selections from Chapter 4.  Read pp. 114-127, 130, and 132-135. Know the table on page 136.  Read 137-139.  On pages 124-125, be sure to know the italicized terms insomnia, sleep apnea, SIDS, and narcolepsy.

THIS COMPLETES THE READINGS FOR EXAM #1

THE READINGS BELOW ARE FOR EXAM #2:

REMINDER: In the pages listed below, I have not listed page numbers for the Looking Back sections at the ends of the chapters.  You should always read those sections and be sure you know the parts relevant to the assigned readings.

Unit L10. Learning and conditioning.  Selections from Chapter 5.  Read 148-top of 154.  Omit middle of 154-155.  Read 156 - middle of 161.  Pay special attention to Table 5-1 on page 160 and be sure you understand it.  Omit bottom of 161-top of 164.  Read middle of 164-166.  Omit 167-168.  Read 169-171.  Omit 172-middle of 173.  Read middle of 173-175.

Unit L11: Memory.  Selections from Chapter 6.  Read 180-middle of 193.  Omit middle of 193-middle of 194.  Read middle of 194-197.  Omit 198-204.  Read bottom of 204-207.

Units L12 and L14: Language and thought; creativity and problem solving.  Selections from Chapter 7.  Read 210-223 (except that you may omit prototypes, algorithms, and heuristics on p.214).  Omit 224-227.

Unit L13: Intelligence.  Selections from Chapter 7.  Read 228-bottom of 237.  Also know Table 7-1 (but not Figure 7-12) on 238.  Omit 238-243.

Unit L15: Motivation and emotion.  Selections from Chapter 8.  Omit 248-middle of 254.  Read middle of 254-255 and know Maslow's hierarchy.  Omit bottom of 255-260.

Unit L16: Motivation: Human sexuality and gender.  Selections from Chapter 8.  Read 261-266.

Unit L17: Motivation: Love and relationships.  Selections from Chapter 14.  Read pages 458-461 on love.

THIS COMPLETES THE READINGS FOR EXAM #2

THE READINGS BELOW ARE FOR EXAM #3:

Unit L18: Human development.  Selections from Chapter 9.  Read 282-top of 285.  As usual, be sure you know all terms in the headings, subheadings, and margins, plus those in italics in the text.  Omit bottom of 285-top of 289.  Read middle of 289-290.  Omit 291-298.  Read about Erickson's theory on 298-299.  Skim 300-303 to know that Piaget had a theory of cognitive development, but you do not need to know the full details of his theory.  Omit 304-308.  Read bottom of 308-top of 310 to know Kohlberg's theory of moral development.  On the bottom of 309-310, you do not need to know the details of Gilligan's theory, but you do need to know her basic criticisms of Kohlberg's theory.  Read about Erickson's theory on 310-311.  (Note that Erickson's theory is covered on 298-299 and on 310-311.  I want you to read about the theory, but you do not need to memorize the stages.  You should know what the theory is about, how many stages it claims there are, and what the first stage is.)  Read bottom of 320-321 and know Kubler-Ross's theory, including how it applies to other situations as described in class.

Unit L19:  Personality.  Selections from Chapter 10.  Read 328-333.  Know the definition of personality on p.328 and the two key components of that definition as described in class.  Know Freud's stages of development.  Know what defense mechanisms are, and understand the ones listed in Table 10-2 on p.332.   Omit 333-334.  Read the section of 335 on trait approaches to personality.  Omit the remainder of 335-340 EXCEPT you should know the basic concept of traits and underlying dimensions or primary traits as described on 335 and 337-338 and as illustrated in Table 10-3 on p.337.  Omit 340-344 EXCEPT you should know about biological approaches and the concepts of temperament, unconditional positive regard, and self-actualization as described on pp. 340 & 343.  Read 345-350.

Unit L20: Health Psychology.  Readings from Chapter 11.  Read pp. 362-368.

Unit L22: Psychological Disorders.  Readings from Chapter 12.  Read 381-387.  Omit 387-389 EXCEPT look at the table on p388: you should read that table to see the full range of psychological disorders, though we will cover only three of them (anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia).  Read 390-393 (anxiety disorders).  Omit bottom of 393-395 (somatoform disorders and dissociative disorders).  Read 396-403 (mood disorders and schizophrenia).  Omit 404-406.  Read bottom of 406-412.

Unit L23: Treatment of Psychological Disorders.  Readings from Chapter 13.  Read 415-424.  Omit bottom of 424-427.  Read 428-429.  Omit 430-436, except know what ECT and psychosurgery are and what disorders they are used to treat.  Read 436-437 on choosing a therapist.  As in all chapters, read the Looking Back section on 438-439.

Unit L24: Social Psychology.  Readings from Chapter 14.  Read 441-444 plus figure 14-2 on 445.  Work hard to understand cognitive dissonance, which will also be discussed in class.  Omit bottom of 445-447.  Read bottom of 447-457.  Omit 458-466.  Again, as in all chapters, read the Looking Back section on 466-468.

THIS COMPLETES ALL OF THE READINGS FOR THIS COURSE

NOTE: THE FINAL EXAM will be held at the regular final examination time as described in the syllabus.  It will have TWO PARTS.  The first part will be similar to the last two examinations, and will consist of multiple choice questions covering the Part 3 of the course.  The second part will be a set of CUMULATIVE questions covering all three parts of the course.