Psychology 102 Syllabus

COURSE: PSY 102 Psychology of Personal and Social Growth, 3 credits

TIMEFRAME: Fall 2007, Internet

INSTRUCTOR: Wendy Raynor, MS Counseling & Ed. Psychology, UNR 2002

PHONE: Office (8:00 am – 5 pm M-F) 623-6218 Home (evenings) 623-2584 Or GBC Office, leave message 623-4824

Email: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]

TEXT: Psychology and Personal Growth 7th Edition by Nelson Goud and Abe Arkoff: Pearson Publishing; ISBN: 0-205-46883-7

CATALOGUE/ COURSE DESCRIPTION: PSY 102 is a study of personality and adjustment in normal persons. Adjustment techniques and reactions to frustration and conflict in the content of various social groups considered.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the semester the students will be able to:

1. Describe communication and its possible problems. 2. Discuss the search for identity both as emerging adults and in relationships. 3. Explain Abraham Maslow’s self-actualization and its implications for personal growth. 4. Communicate effectively in small groups to discuss growth topics. 5. Journalize their personal growth both as individuals and as participants in social groups and relationships. 6. Describe the social, emotional, and cognitive factors that contribute to the personal and social growth of the individual. 7. Prepare an in-depth investigation on a topic related to personal or social growth based upon reading an extra book of the student’s choice.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:

This course will be delivered through a combination of lecture, reading and writing assignments, group discussions via WebCampus, and student reflections.

GREAT BASIN COLLEGE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS:

I. Disability Access: “Great Basin College supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact the ADA Officer (Julie Byrnes) in Elko at (775) 753-2271 at your earliest convenience to request timely and appropriate accommodations.”

II. Academic Integrity Policy: Academic dishonesty is defined as an act of deception in which a student claims credit for the work or effort of another person or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic work. Academic dishonesty is a violation of the GBC Student Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated in this class. Any evidence of academic dishonesty/plagiarism in this course will result in a failing grade on the assignment and/or a failing grade for the course. Appropriate institutional consequences will also be employed if necessary such as academic probation or suspension. This is a very critical offense. If you are ever uncertain about your use of another person’s work(ideas, language, data, etc.) you must come to see me about it. Acts of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following: CHEATING – unauthorized copying or collaborating on a test or assignment, or the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials. 1 TAMPERING – altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and/or documents. FABRICATION – falsifying experimental data or results, inventing research or laboratory data on results for work not done, or falsely claiming sources not used. PLAGIARISM – representing someone else’s words, ideas, artistry, or data as one’s own, including copying another person’s work (including published and unpublished material, and material from the Internet) without appropriate referencing, presenting someone else’s opinions and theories as one’s own, or working jointly on a project, then submitting it as one’s own. (I have a computer program that will search your words on the Internet . . . so do not make the choice to plagiarize).

GRADING POLICIES:

1. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. That is students must respond with at least 3 online responses per week in order to get participation points. Participation in class discussion and activities is valuable to learning. Weekly class work earns weekly attendance points. Please contact me in the event of an emergency or extenuating circumstances.

2. Grading Policy: Attendance 25 pts per class for weekly discussion work. 50 points for each of 4 Journal checks, 25 points for Follow-up items and Applied Activities, 100 points for a Book Report, 100 points per exam (3). A=90 – 100%, B=80 – 89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%. (+) and (-) for each letter grade at the beginning and end points of each span. A grade of “I” (incomplete) may be assigned if necessary; makeup the missing assignment to earn a full letter grade. I will not withdraw students who choose not to attend class. They will receive a grade of F.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. A typed Journal Notebook (50 points each) will be assigned weekly (4 checks) throughout the semester. You will be writing about your learnings in the course. The topics can be either student or teacher chosen. Some weeks, I will give a topic and some weeks I will allow you to choose a topic related to what we have been exploring that week. The entries can vary in length. You will be required to have at least 32 pages. Do not panic, that is only 8 pages per check. Each journal entry should contain two elements: i. A concise summary of the stimulus activity (reading, Applied Activity, class discussion, etc.) No more than a third of the entry should be devoted to this summary. ii. An interpretation or application of the topic which shows how it relates to your life. This should comprise two-thirds of the entry.

2. A typed Book Report (100 points) will be assigned. You will be asked to read an extra book of your choice on any topic related to the course. This allows you to pursue a more in-depth investigation or to explore an area not coved in the text or class sessions. Book selections can be found throughout the text. Another source is local bookstores, libraries or the internet under Self-Improvement or Psychology. Papers should be at least ten full pages in length, margins no larger than 1 inch on all sides, font size no larger than 12. You must include a summary or your book and your reaction to the book and its implications toward your personal journey. Papers must be typed; hand written papers will not be accepted, minus 10 points for brevity, minus 5 points for late papers.

3. There will be five unit tests, as scheduled. Question formats used will be Multiple Choice and Short Answer Essay. (100 points each.)

TIMELINE

Aug 27 – Sept 1 Topic: Human Communication Reading Assignment: pg 59, Interpersonal Communications by Warner Burke pg. 61; To Hear and To Be Heard by Carl Rogers pg. 66; Self- Disclosure by Nelson Goud pg. 75; Personal Journaling as a Life Companion by Lou Beeker Schultz

Sept. 2 –. 8 Topic: Human Communication Reading Assignment: You Just Don’t Understand by Deborah Tannen; Assertive, Nonassertive, and Aggressive Behavior by Arthur J. Lange and Patricia Jakubowski; Awakening Intuition by Frances Vaughan; The Nature and Uses of Dreaming by Ernest Hartmann, M.D.

2 Sept. 9 - 15 Topic: Identity Reading Assignment: The Search for Identity: A Modern Problem by Carl Rogers; The Basic Relationship by Abe Arkoff; Rubricizing by Nelson Goud; Suddenly I’m the Adult? By Richard Cohen

Sept. 16 - 22 Topic: Identity Reading Assignment: The Rivers We Call Ourselves by Sarah Silbert; Woodworker by Craig Mosher; Ending the Battle of the Sexes Aaron R. Kipnis and Elizabeth Herron; If I Were a Car, I’d Be a Lemon by Denise Karuth

Journal Check #1 Test #1 – Human Communication and Identity

Sept. 23 - 29 Topic: Growth Dynamics Reading Assignment: Self-Actualizing and Beyond By Abraham Maslow; Uniqueness by Nelson Goud; Getting Unstuck: Joyfully Recreating Your Life by Harold H. Bloomfield and Robert B. Kory; The Unpredictable by Nelson Goud

Sept. 30 – Oct. 6 Topic: Growth Dynamics Reading Assignment: The Lesson of the Cliff by Morton Hunt; Herbie by Tom Keating; Too Perfect by Allan E. Mallinger, M.D., and Jeannette DeWyze; Advice to William Somebody by Poe Ballantine; Vital Moments by Nelson Goud

Oct. 7 - 13 Topic: Human Relationships Reading Assignment: Shoulders by Nelson Goud; Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Nan Silver; Are Money Fights Ruining Your Marriage? By Dianne Hales

Oct. 14 - 20 Topic: Human Relationships Reading Assignment: Internet Romance by Meghan Daum; Parents by Martin Shepard; Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts by David W. Johnson; The Missing Halloween by Nelson Goud

Journal Check #2 Test #2 - Growth Dynamics and Human Relationships

Oct. 21 - 27 Topic: Emotions and Feelings Reading Assignment: What’s Your Emotional I.Q.? by Daniel Goleman; Grumbles by Nelson Goud; Worry by Wayne Dyer; The Positive Face of Anxiety by Daniel A. Sugarman and Lucy Freeman

Oct. 28 – Nov 3 Topic: Emotions and Feelings Reading Assignment: The Causes of Loneliness by William A. Sadler, Jr.; Little Joys by Abe Arkoff; Anger by Wayne Dyer; A Matter of Principle by Nelson Goud

Nov. 4 - 10 Topic: Emotions and Feelings Reading Assignment: Optimism and Pessimism by Abe Arkoff; On the Death of a Father by Sanford Colley; Loss and Mourning by Judith Viorst

Nov. 11 - 17 Topic: A Quality of Life Reading Assignment: Having the Time of Your Life by Nelson Goud; The Happiness Machine by Ray Bradbury; The Last Leaf by O. Henry

Journal Check #3

Nov. 19 - 24 Topic: A Quality of Life - Happy Thanksgiving! Reading Assignment: Active Solitude by Carin Rubenstein and Phillip Shaver; Teachers in the Forest by Nelson Goud

3 Nov. 25 – Dec 1 Topic: A Quality of Life Reading Assignment: Silicon Snake Oil by Clifford Stoll; To See Anew by Nelson Goud; Who Will Play Your Music? By Michael Jones

Dec. 2 - 8 Book Reports are Due – Discussion of Books

Dec. 10 - 14 Finals Week – Journal Check #4 Test #3 – Emotions and Feelings and A Quality of Life

4