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Syllabus
Forums
FlashCards
Exam
History, Approaches, Methods
Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
States of Consciousness
Learning
Cognition
Motivation and Emotion
Developmental Psychology
Personality
Psychological disorders and health
Treatment of psychological disorders
Social Psychology
Statistics, Tests, and Measurement

COURSE SYLLABUS
HSS-006 – Introductory Psychology

About the Course
The Introductory Psychology examination covers material that is usually taught in a one-semester undergraduate introductory course in psychology. It stresses basic facts, concepts and generally accepted principles in history, approaches and methods of psychology; biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception; states of consciousness; learning; cognition; motivation and emotion; personality; psychological disorders and treatment; social psychology; and statistics, tests and measurements. Please note that the questions on the CLEP Introductory Psychology exam will continue to adhere to the terminology, criteria and classifications referred to in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) until further notice. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published in May 2013 with revisions to the criteria for the diagnosis and classifications of mental disorders. In the interest of fairness and to allow time for publishers to integrate such changes into pertinent sections of textbooks, the College Board has decided to align the tests with the DSM-IV-TR.

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Activities:
Flash Cards Quiz Forums Crib Sheet
Flash Cards Practice Exam Course Forums Crib Sheet

Credit by Exam Program
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Resources
Exam Bank Questions = 309
FlashCard Phrases = 304
Media Web Links = 5

Recommended Prerequisits
None

Sections
Section 1 - History, Approaches, Methods
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • History of psychology
  • Approaches: biological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic
  • Research methods: experimental, clinical, correlational
  • Ethics in research
Section 2 - Biological Bases of Behavior
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Endocrine system
  • Etiology
  • Functional organization of the nervous system
  • Genetics
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Physiological techniques
Section 3 - Sensation and Perception
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Attention
  • Other senses: somesthesis, olfaction, gestation, vestibular system
  • Perceptual development
  • Perceptual processes
  • Receptor processes: vision, audition
  • Sensory mechanisms: thresholds, adaptation
Section 4 - States of Consciousness
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Hypnosis and meditation
  • Psychoactive drug effects
  • Sleep and dreaming
Section 5 - Learning
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Biological bases
  • Classical conditioning
  • Cognitive process in learning
  • Observational learning
  • Operant conditioning
Section 6 - Cognition
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Intelligence and creativity
  • Language
  • Memory
  • Thinking and problem solving
Section 7 - Motivation and Emotion
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Biological bases
  • Hunger, thirst, sex, pain
  • Social motivation
  • Theories of emotion
  • Theories of motivation
Section 8 - Developmental Psychology
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Dimensions of development: physical, cognitive, social, moral
  • Gender identity and sex roles
  • Heredity-environment issues
  • Research methods: longitudinal, cross-sectional
  • Theories of development
Section 9 - Personality
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Assessment techniques
  • Growth and adjustment
  • Personality theories and approaches
  • Research methods: idiographic, nomothetic
  • Self-concept, self-esteem
Section 10 - Psychological disorders and health
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Affective disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Health, stress, and coping
  • Personality disorders
  • Psychoses
  • Somatoform disorders
  • Theories of psychopathology
Section 11 - Treatment of psychological disorders
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Behavioral therapies
  • Biological and drug therapies
  • Cognitive therapies
  • Community and preventive approaches
  • Insight therapies: psychodynamic and humanistic approaches
Section 12 - Social Psychology
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Aggression/antisocial behavior
  • Attitudes and attitude change
  • Attribution processes
  • Conformity, compliance, obedience
  • Group dynamics
  • Interpersonal perception
Section 13 - Statistics, Tests, and Measurement
The following are among the topics covered in this section:
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Inferential statistics
  • Measurement of intelligence
  • Reliability and validity
  • Samples, populations, norms
  • Types of tests

Available Resources
Note - These are open web resources identified and provided by students and for the students.  The students rate them from most useful to least useful. They are not created, published, managed or copyrighted by Avatar Virtual Learning and we do not take responsibility for them or guarentee their availability.  Students are advised to follow safe web actions when using any of these resources.

RatingTypeLinkRate It
*****VIDEOMIT's Open Course ware lecture series on Introduction to Psychology
*****VIDEOIntro to Psychology - Crash Course Psychology
*****SITEPsych Web - Includes text book links
*****COURSEFree Psychology Course by Modern States Education Alliance
*****COURSEAmerican Psychological Association: Psychology Topics