PSY 103 SP 19 1

Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University

PSY 103-01 Introduction to Psychology
Spring 2019
Blackboard Site: https://blackboard.stonybrook.edu/
Graduate TA’s
Jackelyn Payne Jackelyn.Payne@stonybrook.edu
Monday/Wednesday 4:00-5:20 pm
Office: Psych B 243 Office hours: Fridays 12:30-2:30 pm
Javits Lecture Hall, Room 100
Instructor: Joy Marie Bolger
Amanda Yazdani Amanda.Yazdani@stonybrook.edu
Joy.Bolger@stonybrook.edu
Office and hours: TBA
Office Hours: Mondays 2:00-3:30pm
Tuesday 8:00-9:30 am
Undergraduate TA’s
(or by appointment)
Jocelyn Paulose Jocelyn.Paulose@stonybrook.edu
Office: Psych B 151
Office hours: TBA

Sarah Son Sarah.Son@stonybrook.edu

Office: PSY B 361 Office Hours: Thursdays 1:00-3:00pm

Luna Thapa Luna.Thapa@stonybrook.edu

Office hours: TBA
Required Text:
Kalat, James W. (2017) Introduction to Psychology, (11th ed). ISBN: 978-1305271555

Also Required: Turning Technologies QT2 clicker (See Blackboard for links to tutorials and supplemental
information). Your clicker must be registered and brought to class to answer in-class questions.

QT2 and 1 year subscription: 978-0-9972248-1-8

or
QT2 and 5 year subscription: 978-0-9988191-1-2

Course Description:
An introduction to research and theory in psychology in such areas as learning, perception, cognition,
biopsychology, development, personality, abnormal and social psychology. As part of the course, students
must participate in experiments.

Course objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course the student should:
1. Be able to identify basic concepts in the core areas within the different fields and schools of
psychology.
2. Have a clear understanding of the scientific method applied when conducting research in psychology.
3. Have a clear understanding of the different professionals and their roles within the field.
4. Identify and explain some of the enduring issues within the field of psychology.
5. Understand human behavior from a multidimensional perspective.
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What you can expect from me:
To treat you respectfully. To answer your email within 48 hours, UNLESS it is an essay question. Then either
give me more time or come to office hours. Give fair exams that are composed of questions derived from
material that has been covered in lecture or the assigned reading. To post any important announcements to
our Blackboard page.
What I expect from you:
To treat me and your classmates respectfully. This includes not talking during lecture. This is distracting to me
and your classmates. To be on time for class. Coming in late is disruptive and you might miss an important
announcement.

Quantifying Scholastic Performance (AKA- Your grades  )

In-class participation 30% Throughout the semester there will be ten questions asked in ten randomly
selected classes as noted on the syllabus schedule by “Q3”-(One question during each of the ten selected
classes). Each question will be worth 3 points. For each of the ten questions you answer correctly, you will
earn 3 points. If you answer all 10, you will receive all 30 points. You may not turn in your answers at a
different time than the class the question was asked.

Exams 45%. There will be three non-cumulative exams worth 70 pts each. Your lowest grade will be
dropped. If you miss an exam, that becomes your dropped grade. I do not give make up exams so please
make arrangements to be present on the day exams are scheduled. The two highest exam scores will be
averaged and count as 70% of your grade. If you are pleased with your first two grades, then you may use the
final exam as your dropped grade.

Research Participation 25% : Students are expected to participate in 5 credit hours of research.
There is an instructional document posted on our Blackboard course site on how to select and
sign up for a study. You will receive 5 points for each hour of participation. You must complete
your participation by May 8th.

Example: You answered 7 in class questions: (7x3) 21 points

Your exam points: 45, 30, 35 (average 45+35) 40 points Final grade- 86
Research Participation (5 hours x 5) 25 points

Attendance: You are expected to attend class regularly. Doing well in any of my courses has been positively
correlated with attendance, semester after semester. (Of course correlation doesn’t always equal causation;
however, are you willing to take that chance?).
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Grades and Attendace 2018

100

80

Final Grade
60

40

20

0
40% 60% 80% 100%
Percentage of Classes Attended

Student Accessibility Support Center (SASC) Statement:

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please
contact the Student Accessibility Support Center (SASC), ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building,
room 128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are necessary and
appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with
their professors and the staff at the Student Accessibility Support Center (SASC). For procedures and
information go to the following website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities

Academic Integrity Statement:

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted
work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any
suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center
(School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of
Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on
academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary
website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/academic_integrity/index.html

Critical Incident Management Statement:

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty
are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to
teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the
HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES Please refrain from using electronic devices during class time other than your clicker.
Notebooks may be used to type lecture notes ONLY, not for internet browsing etc. and so forth. Any
interruptions in class time due to text messaging, or phone use may result in being asked to leave the
classroom.

Schedule: This is subject to change at my discretion.

Date Topics and Lectures Chapters

(Some lectures may run into the next class meeting)
PSY 103 SP 19 4
1/28 Overview of the course/syllabus. 1,2
Enduring Issues in Psychology
1/30 Nature vs. Nurture: Environment, genetics and behavior.
2/4 Research Methods and Systematic Inquiry/ Behavioral Biology I 3
2/6 Human Behavioral Biology II/Do we really possess free will?
2/11 Lifespan Psychology Birth, Infancy and Early Childhood Q3 5
2/13 The Adolescent Brain: With and without drugs on board.
2/18 Disorders Diagnosed in Childhood and Adolescence. 5
2/20 Juvenile criminal behavior and subsequent responsibility:
Psychologists inform and debate with members of our legal system.
2/25 Emerging Adults and Middle Adulthood 5
2/26 Death and Dying: What is a “dignified death”? Q3
3/4 Personality Theories and Assessment 14
3/6 EXAM I
3/11 Personality Disorders 14
3/13 Human Sexuality and The Sexual Response Cycle Q3
Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders/Paraphilias
3/18 SPRING RECESS
3/24
3/25 Social Psychology 13
3/27 Cults: From allure to mass suicides. Q3
4/1 Learning 11
4/3 Motivated Behaviors /The Neurobiology of Addiction and Substance
Abuse Q3
4/8 What makes us happy? 11
4/10 Feeding and Eating Disorders Q3
4/15 EXAM II 8
4/17 Cognition and Mental Abilities
4/22 Psychological Disorders In Childhood Q3 15
4/24 Psychological Disorders II
4/29 Mood Disorders 15
5/1 Anxiety Disorders Q3
4/22 Impulse Control Disorders 15
4/24 Treatment Approaches Q3
4/29 Forensic Psychology
5/1 Sexual Predators and Criminals: Treatment and Risk Assessment
Stress and Health Psychology Q3
5/6 States of Consciousness 10
5/8 You Decide!
5/14 FINAL EXAM 8:30-11:00 PM