General Psychology

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:13.00

Study Course Accepted:10.08.2023 14:58:13

Study Course Information
Course Code:		VPUPK_143		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		4.00		ECTS:		6.00
Branch of Science:		Psychology; General Psychology		Target Audience:		Psychology
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Guna Svence
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 5 J. Asara Street, vppkrsu[pnkts]lv, +37167061587
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		24	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		48
Classes (count)		8	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		16
Total Contact Hours								64
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		12	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		24
Classes (count)		8	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		16
Total Contact Hours								40
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Preliminary knowledge is not required.
Objective:
To develop general knowledge of psychology as a science and its main fields, profession of a psychologist and work ethics, historical development of psychology, research methods in psychology, basic principles of the nervous system, development of an individual and the role of heredity and environment in the development of the individual, mental processes, emotional states, motivational theories, personality theories, individual interaction and interaction within the group.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Psychology as a science, its main tasks, general psychology and its goals, profession of a psychologist and ethics of work, education in psychology in Latvia.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
2	A brief insight into the historical development of psychology science.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
3	The main fields of modern psychology, methods of research in psychology.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
4	General structure of the nervous system, development of the human brain and biochemical processes.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
5	Heredity and environment, genetics, physical and sociocultural environment, the role of the family in the development of the individual.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Mental processes, senses and perception, attention and consciousness.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Memory, language, thinking, problem solving, decision making, intelligence, creativity.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Emotions and feelings. Emotional states, biological principles of emotions. Insight into the history of theories of emotion.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
9	The concept of motivation and theories of motivation.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
10	Periodization and regularities of psychological development of an individual			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
11	Concept of personality: Personality, individual, individuality. Personality structure: temperament and character			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
12	An individual in a social environment. Social psychological processes of the group			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Psychology as a science, its main tasks, general psychology and its goals, profession of a psychologist and ethics of work, education in psychology in Latvia.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	A brief insight into the historical development of psychology science.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
3	The main fields of modern psychology, methods of research in psychology.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	General structure of the nervous system, development of the human brain and biochemical processes.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
5	Heredity and environment, genetics, physical and sociocultural environment, the role of the family in the development of the individual.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Mental processes, senses and perception, attention and consciousness.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Memory, language, thinking, problem solving, decision making, intelligence, creativity.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Emotions and feelings. Emotional states, biological principles of emotions. Insight into the history of theories of emotion.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
9	The concept of motivation and theories of motivation.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
10	Periodization and regularities of psychological development of an individual			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
11	Concept of personality: Personality, individual, individuality. Personality structure: temperament and character			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
12	An individual in a social environment. Social psychological processes of the group			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Students independently read the specified literature sources, make summaries and draw main conclusions, write self-reflection after each module and prepare a presentation together with other students on the specific topic, prepare for the exam. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
• Active participation in seminars (15%). • Self - reflection (30%). • Presentation on independently accomplished work (15%). • Written examination (40%). Active participation in seminars and discussions. Requirements: The student actively participates in all seminars, engages in discussions on the particular issue, problem, is able to justify and defend his/her opinion, uses appropriate terminology in discussions and refers to the literature sources read. Prepare for the written test on the material covered during lectures. Requirements: The student successfully completes the written test. In small groups prepare a presentation on the particular topic of general psychology. Requirements: The student prepares a presentation on the particular topic of general psychology, independently studies theoretical literature.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):		Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		1. Describes psychology as a science and its main goals. 2. Lists main directions of psychology. 3. Describes the concepts of different psychology schools and their main differences. 4. Recognises human psychological qualities and states, mental processes. 5. Names the main research methods in psychology. 6. Defines what the psyche is and what types of mental manifestations are. 7. Describes the main tasks of general psychology. 8. Describes the structure of the nervous system, the structure of the human brain and the biochemical processes. 9. Describes the role of heredity and the environment in the development of the individual. 10. Defines such concepts as "consciousness, attention, perception, senses, memory, language, thinking and intellect". 11. Characterises emotional processes, factors influencing emotions and the relation of emotions with cognitive processes. 12. Describes the concept of motivation. 13. Describes the processes of thinking, relationship between thinking and memory, operations, formation of concepts, thinking and language. 14. Describes the development of the individual in childhood, adolescence and adult age. 15. Defines the concept of temperament. 16. Describes the behaviour of the individual in the social environment. 17. Describes the concept of a group, group types, structure and development stages.
Skills:		1. Explains the main directions and fields of psychology. 2. Describes the individual typological features of the personality. 3. Explains the factors that influence decision of the group.
Competencies:		1. Explains various mental phenomena. 2. Compares various directions and branches of psychology. 3. Explains basic concepts of psychology in the context of an individual and a group.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Mārtinsone, K. & Miltuze, K. (red.). (2015) Psiholoģija. 1. Pamatjautājumi – teorijas un pētījumi. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 358.lpp.
2	Mārtinsone, K. & Miltuze, K. (red.). (2015) Psiholoģija. 2. Personība, grupa, sabiedrība, kultūra. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 304.lpp.
3	Mārtinsone K. & Miltuze K. (red.). (2015) Psiholoģija. 3. daļa. Lietišķās jomas. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 166.lpp.
4	Cacioppo, J. T., Freberg, L., & Cacioppo, S. (2021) Discovering psychology: The science of mind. Cengage learning.
5	Gray, P, & Bjorklund, F. D. (2018) Psychology. New York: Macmillan Education: Worth Publishers.
6	Cacioppo, J. T., Freberg, L., & Cacioppo, S. (2021) Discovering psychology: The science of mind. Cengage learning.
Additional Reading
1	Weiner, I. B. (2013) Handbook of psychology. Hoboken: Wiley.
2	Gray, P. (2011) Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.
3	Mārtinsone, K., Lasmane, A., & Karpova Ā. (2016) Psiholoģijas vēsture. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 544. lpp.
4	Schacter, D., Gilbert, D. T. & Wegner, D. M. (2009) Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.
5	Eysenck, M. (2004) Psychology: an international perspective. Hove; New York: Psychology Press.
6	Gross, R. (2010) Psychology: the science of mind and behaviour. London: Hodder Education.
Other Information Sources
1	American Journal of Psychology
2	American Psychologist
3	Annual Review of Psychology
4	Psychological Bulletin
5	Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied
6	British Journal of Psychology
7	Psychological Review
8	Current Directions in Psychological Science