Introduction to Psychology

This course is about how and why people think, feel and behave. Students will learn and apply theories of self, mind, and behavior. This course is an experiential course. Students will learn to think more critically and scientifically about what makes people think, feel, and behave. This course offers students an engaging introduction to the essential topics in psychology. Throughout this study of human behavior and the mind, students will gain insight into the history of the field of psychology, as well as explore current theories and issues in areas such as cognition, motivation, and wellness. The main goals of this course are to acquaint students with different areas contained within psychology, to provide them with some of the major concepts of each area. Basic topics that would be covered would be historical and contemporary psychology, including various perspectives: biological, Psychoanalytic (Freudian), behavioral (Skinner, Pavlov, and other theories), humanistic, Jungian, cognitive, Transactional analysis. Some practical topics like Memory, Personality, cognition, Motivation, mindfulness, Cognitive behavior therapy and basics of positive psychology would also be covered. Students will also learn the concepts of Intelligence. Computational Psychology, Computational Neuroscience and Technological research in interventions would also be explored.

1. Students are able to explain concepts of General Psychology
2. Students are able to explain and demonstrate the concepts of cognitive psychology: Cognition, Emotion and Behavior
3. Students are able to explain the concepts behind Memory, learning and personality
4. Students are able to critically analyze Western and Indian psychology and practice of mindfulness.
5. Students are able to explain and theoretically design other concepts of Psychology like therapies, personality, psychoanalysis and computational methods of Psychology