Education and life in general is about progress, not perfection.

Melinda Neely
Psychology Syllabus

Welcome to Psychology!
This course introduces various aspects of psychology. Developing your ability to support your opinions logically and reasonably will be extremely important. However, this class requires loads of new information that may be very unfamiliar to most of you. Discussion, activities, and videos constitute the majority of class time; you will also need to read. I expect you to be courteous at all times. However, I also expect you to be brave and share your thoughts and conclusions with the class. I believe we will enjoy our time together. Furthermore, I know you will find something we study interesting this year!

  • Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.
    Charles Dickens

Required Materials- Everybody wants to save the Earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.-P.J. O'Rourke
Please use whatever keeps you organized: a binder with paper and dividers, a folder, or a notebook for example. I do not care what system you choose as long as you come to class with basic necessities (paper, pen/pencil) and any assignments or occasional handouts. Everyone will receive online access to the textbook, and we will use a classroom set during class as needed. If consistent access to the online text is a problem, please contact me so that a physical textbook can be provided if needed.

  • There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception. Aldous Huxley

Assignments- Man's main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is. The most important product of his effort is his own personality. -Erich Fromm
Assignments will include written responses, class discussions, and applications of information. Applying information may include analyzing articles or interpreting case studies. Designing experiments and examining scenarios also demonstrates your understanding of the material. Positive class participation is expected. Expected participation includes paying attention; not sleeping in class; asking questions; bringing in materials related to the topics studied; and debating opinions logically. Basically, contribute something to the class daily. There is also a semester exam. You will probably also complete some projects, write some essays, and take some unit tests. Generally, I accept late work without penalty. However, projects turned in after an agreed-upon due date will be docked points. *I ALWAYSgive fair time for completion of work.*

  • Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine, or idealism.
    C.G. Jung

Grades-Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.- Quentin Crisp
Generally, assignments range from 10-25 points. Tests are 100 points.
Projects and the semester exam* are worth 100 points.
**Please remember that the semester exam is weighted more heavily than normal grades.

  • A habit is a shirt made of iron. – Czech proverb

Topics of study- Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible.
Richard P. Feynman
MemoryMotivation & EmotionNeuroscienceAbnormal Psychology Treatment Social Psychology Learning Sensation & Perception

  • Memory is a crazy woman that hoards colored rags and throws away food.-Austin O'Malley
  • Those of you who go along to get along have no backbone and destroy the foundation of courage. You are the enablers of those who are guilty of misconduct. You are just as guilty as those who break the code of ethics and oath you swore.-Christopher Jordan Dorner
  • There is Normal Society and then there is the Abnormal-Freaks-Who-Deserve-Our-Public-Pity-and-Private-Ridicule Society. The first is the world of good jobs and Christmas shopping and marriages and vacations and the scent of new cars. And then there is that other world, the world of the glazed eye, of people who chant at the moon and spout conspiracy theories and get sexually aroused by furry animal costumes. Some dress all in black to carry out vampire rituals and others collect cats until they’re a furry shoulder-to-shoulder flood on every floor of the house. The Abnormal travel among the Normal and leave behind them a trail of sickeningly awkward conversations and stifled laughter, of hidden smirks and rolled eyes. And worst of all, pity.
    David Wong

Feel free to email me with concerns or questions.

I have an appetite for the normal in my life, as well as the abnormal. -Benedict Cumberbatch