MI4106 Basic Psychology Syllabus:

MI4106 Basic Psychology Syllabus – Anna University PG Syllabus Regulation 2021

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 Develop a strong research background and understanding of the scientific foundation of psychology
 Develop a knowledge base of human behaviour across the broad areas of psychology.
 Become aware of the applications of psychology in the professions associated with psychology.

UNIT I INTRODUCTION

Nature, scope and methods, Major perspectives of modern psychology, Subfields of psychology, Psychology and diversity, Evolutionary psychology – exportation of psychology; Biological Bases of Behaviour: Neurons, nervous system – basic structure and function, The brain

UNIT II SENSATION AND PERCEPTION

Sensation: Sensory Thresholds – Role of Psychophysical Procedures, Sensory Adaptation, Vision: The Eye, Light, Basic Functions of the Visual System, Color Vision, Vision and the Brain, Hearing: The Ear, Sound, Pitch Perception, Sound and Localization, Touch and other Skin Senses, Smell and Taste: How They Operate, Some Interesting Facts, Kinesthesia and Vestibular Sense, Perception: Organizing Principles, Constancies and Illusions: When Perception Succeeds and Fails, The Plasticity of Perception: Innate VS Learned, Extrasensory perception: Perception without Sensation

UNIT III MEMORY

Human memory: The Atkinson and Shiffrin Model, Neural networks models, Forgetting – Memory Distortion and memory construction – Memory in everyday life – Memory and the brain: Evidence from memory impairments

UNIT IV COGNITION AND INTELLIGENCE

Cognition: Thinking, Making decisions, Problem solving, Language; Intelligence: Unitary or Multifaceted, Measuring intelligence, Human intelligence: The Role of Heredity and the Role of Environment, Grouping differences in intelligence test scores, Emotional intelligence, Creativity

UNIT V HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Human Development: The Childhood years – Physical growth and development, Perceptual development, Cognitive development, Moral development, Social and emotional development, Gender identity and sex-category constancy; Adolescence, Adulthood and Aging: Death and bereavement

TOTAL: 45 PERIODS

COURSE OUTCOMES:

By the time they graduate, students will:
 Demonstrate knowledge of the major theoretical approaches and findings in psychology
 Know the research methods used in psychology, apply their knowledge in research design, and data analysis
 Critically assess information related to the study of behaviour and mental processes, and use the critical assessment in forming conclusions and arguments
 Develop tolerance for ambiguity and opinions that differ from their own

TEXT BOOKS

1. Robert A. Baron – Psychology (5th edition), Pearson Education
2. S.K. Mangal: An Introduction to Psychology

REFERENCES

1. Daniel L. Schacter, Daniel T. Gilbert & Daniel M.Wegner – Psychology (2nd edition)
2. James W. Kalat – Introduction to Psychology (10th edition)
3. Lahey, B. B. (1998). Psychology: An Introduction, Tata Mc GrawHill
4. M.R. Murthy:Foundation of Psychology
5. Morgan & King – Introduction to Psychology.