Piaget and Vygotsky Notes

In case you missed it, or were just looking for a little refresher, here are the notes from class.

First Piaget

note, please, there is no embedded video in this keynote.  The links to see most of the the videos on youtube are here:

The baby without object permanence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUeJOuEOYdM
The "three mountains experiment:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OinqFgsIbh0&NR=1
The girl who demonstrated an understanding of conservation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA04ew6Oi9M&feature=PlayList&p=D2B1B8A07AF995CC&index=18


then Vygotsky

Development Unit Syllabus

A little bit behind, but better late than never.  Here's the Development Syllabus, in case you can't find yours.  All three classes are there, so make sure that you're checking the correct one.

Dream Analysis

If you're working on your dream analysis and would like a little refresher, here are the notes. 

Know that for the assignment itself, you don't have to talk about all the same parts of your dream for both a Freudian and Jungian analysis - the two analysts would find different parts important.

Daydream Keynote

In case you were taking advantage of the positive effects of daydreaming in class...

Sleep Keynote

If you missed the information in class on sleep, or you would just like to review, here's the keynote.

States of Consciousness Syllabi

There is only one link for the Block 3, 4, and 6 States of Consciousness Syllabi , so do make sure that you are looking at the right one (scroll down).  They're color coded, as usual.

Biological Basis of Behavior Review Guide

I had a couple of requests to get the review guide at the beginning of the unit so that folks can see where we are heading as we go along.  Here you will find the guide for the Biological Basis of Behavior.  Feel free to print it out and use it as we go.  I will also give you a hard copy in class a few days before the test.

Brain Gain Article and Questions

This assignment is due on Tuesday, November 20th for blocks 3 and 4.  It is extra credit for block 6.

Please read the article "Brain Gain" by Margaret Talbot from the New Yorker from April 27th, 2009.  It is a long article, so please be prepared to spend some time on it.  

Before you start reading, please answer the first three questions found here.  Then, as you read, please answer the rest of the questions.

Endocrine System

Miss the in-class work about the endocrine system?  You have a couple of options.  You can get the chart from someone in class.  Alternately, you can read the information on the endocrine system as a whole and make sure that you have the following information:

The main functions of the: Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Thyroid, Adrenal Glands, Pineal Gland, Pancreas and Gonads.  You do not need to know all of the hormones listed, but you do need to know: Insulin and Glucagon, Testosterone and Estrogen, Melatonin, and Epinephrine.

Finally, you should figure out how behavior changes if there are problems with these glands (i.e. they are producing too much or too little of their hormones.)

How a Neuron Works

If you missed the notes on how a neuron fires, the keynote is below. 

Biological Basis of Behavior Syllabi

Should you need it...

Block 3 Syllabus for the Biological Basis of Behavior

Block 4 Syllabus for the Biological Basis of Behavior

Block 6 Syllabus for the Biological Basis of Behavior

Social Psych Unit Test Review

Here is the Review Guide for the Social Psych Unit test, which will be given on Monday, October 29th.

Reading for Optional Discussion (UPDATED)

My apologies for getting this posted so late.  If you don't have time to read it, I understand.  That said, it's a fascinating read and I think is really relevant to those who feel a little attacked by MissRepresentation.

The Distress of the Privileged

 

In some of your classes, I referenced some other articles.  If you are interested in reading them (and others), here are some links.

A funny article on what women's lives are like according to TV ads.

Stereotyping in movies (also funny).

Disney goes skinny.

All male panel on birth control 

The real effects of PMS (also funny).

In Class Activity and Paper assignment

Here you can find the assignment for the Prejudice and Discrimination Paper that is due on Monday, October 22nd. 

Today in class we did an online exercise on how small choices often result in widespread segregation.  If you were absent, please do the activity and answer the questions on the sheet provided.

Interpersonal Attraction

If you would like to review the interpersonal attraction keynote, here it is.

Altruism Articles

Today in class we talked about Altruism, and we read a couple of articles where people failed to help others.

There is the classic case of Kitty Genovese.

The there is the more contemporary case of the gang rape outside of a California high school.

Finally, we talked about the situational explanations given for both the rape itself and for why people didn't help.  We talked about the ways that men and women read the article on the gang rape quite differently.  Part of Social Psychology is understanding that not only our immediate surroundings drive our behavior, but also the broader society in which we live.  To this end, students were given the article Schroedinger's Rapist, which I think does a very good job illuminating the way that the world is a different place for men and women.  Worth a read.

Social Influence

Here's the keynote on Social Influence, which summarizes what you need to know on Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience.

Please note: I was unable to upload the video footage.  There is a link for the Asch Line Experiment.  I could not get the footage for the Milgram Obedience Experiment, but if you search on youtube you should be able to get a lot of stuff to show up.

Class Info, October 4-5

Today in class we covered Social Thinking, which encompasses the idea of schema, attribution theory, and cognitive dissonance.

If you missed class, be sure to get the short notes from someone.

Social Psychology Syllabus

Don't forget to stay on top of your work! 

Block 3 Social Psych Syllabus

Block 4 Social Psych Syllabus

Block 6 Social Psych Syllabus

Behaviorism Keynote

I normally try to upload the keynotes just as they are in class.  This was so movie heavy that the upload was too tedious.  I have included links to the youtube clips shown.  Hope it's helpful!

Review sheet on Historical Perspectives

The primary area of focus for this part of the unit was the Psychoanalytic Perspective.  Therefore that perspective makes up the majority of the review sheet.  However, you should be familiar with the basic ideas of the behavioral perspective, and, importantly, the key ways that perspective differs from the psychoanalytic perspective.

The review sheet itself can be found here.

Historical Perspectives on Psychology

Playing a little catch up with this post.

1.  You should be familiar with Freud's division of the mind.

2.  You should have a basic understanding of Freud's psychosexual stages of development.  If you missed the discussion in class, read the second half of the Freud packet, and answer the questions found here.

3.  We will be learning about Defense Mechanisms in class.  I will update this post to include the keynote presentation.

3a.  Here's the keynote on Defense Mechanisms:

4.  We will also be talking about the behavioral perspective.  You have been given an edited version of the article Behaviourism: The Early Years, by Robert Wozniak.  It can be found at the link in an unedited version.  Here are the accompanying questions, which are due on Monday, October 1st (for block 3) and Friday, September 28th (blocks 4 and 6).

How to construct an experiment

Remember: You will be asked to identify parts of an experiment in a given example, as well as construct your own experiment using the relevant terms.

Research Methods Info

Clicking around here, you can find pretty much everything from class about research methods, with the exception of the experimental research method.  Those notes will be posted tomorrow.

Here is the Research Methods Chart, which covers the strengths, weaknesses, and optimal time to use each research method.  You should note that this chart is blank.  If you need information, please check with a classmate.

The articles from the Boston Globe that conflate correlation with causation are here.  The in-class worksheet is helpful to tease out the differences between correlation and causation.

Stay tuned for the experimental method.

Perspectives Keynote

Here's the notes from class the past few days.  Remember, these perspectives don't explain every behavior; they provide a way to understand behavior in general.

Don't forget: Quiz on Monday, September 10!

Homework Assignment for September 4th

Click here and here to access the course description and course expectations.

In case you have misplaced the handout, it can be found here.

This assignment is worth 10 points.

First Day of Class

Miss class on the first day?

We watched the following video and discussed the questions at the end.

We also read the first three pages of the New Yorker article Don't (which can be found in its entirety at the link).

Introductory Syllabi

Click below in case you have misplaced the copy of the syllabus given to you in class.

Intro to Psychology Syllabus - Block 3

Intro to Psychology Syllabus - Block 4

Intro to Psychology Syllabus - Block 6