University of Central Punjab

Faculty of Information Technology

Course Outline: Introduction to Psychology
Course Code: CSHU-1843

Total Lectures: 30, Credit hours: 3

Instructor: Saba Javed

Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Wed, 2pm to 5pm, C Block (10)

Course Description

This course is designed to provide a broad introduction to psychology which covers major areas.
It focuses on contemporary issues in psychology such as perception, intelligence, emotions,
motivation, learning, memory and personality are explored. While focusing on the building
blocks, it also makes clear the relevance of psychology to students in everyday life.

Course Objectives

 The course aims to familiarize students with the basic concepts of Psychology explaining
human behavior.

 This course will generally enable students understand human behavior particularly in
terms of psychological perspectives, concepts, theories, & application/scope of
psychology in broader perspectives.

 Course will give understanding on research methodology and research ethics.

 Course will explore the relationship between psychology and computer science like
memory, perception and learning etc

 This course will generally enable students to design, develop and evaluate user-friendly
technology.

 Explore and understand the relation between psychological findings and everyday human
behavior.
Following is an outline of the topics to be discussed. This list may change at times at the
instructor’s discretion. Furthermore, one may take longer to cover one topic than another, so it
may be necessary to extend the lecture time into another week.

Course Outline:

Week Topic Contents

1 Introduction to Historical perspectives, Schools of thoughts, Psychology’s current

Psychology perspectives, Assignment 1 Activity 1
2 Branches of psychology, introduction to industrial/organizational
psychology ( consumer psychology,
Relationship between Psychology and Computer Sciences
3 Sensation and Definition of sensation, Sensory systems, Sensory coding, Sensory
perception adaptation, Selective attention,

4 Constructing perception, Perceptual illusions, Errors in Social

perception, Extrasensory perception

5 Intelligence Human intelligence, Measuring intelligence, Variations in

6 Learning
7 The Research
Enterprise in
psychology
8 Mid term Exam
intelligence, genetic, culture & environmental influence on
intelligence, cultural myths. Multiple Intelligence
IQ vs EQ.
Activity 2: Debate IQ vs EQ
Assignment 2
Types of learning, classical & operant conditioning (generalization,
discrimination) , Assignment 3
Learning by observation. Behavior modification.
Experimental research (advantages and disadvantage), Descriptive
research (Observation, survey, case study). Research Ethics
Cover all topics from week 1 to week 7.

9 Motivation Classification of motives, Theories of motivation,

10 Emotion Emotional experience, Theories of emotion, Physiology of emotions,

11 Anger management. Emotions regulation. Emotional intelligence

Activity: 3.
Assignment 3
12 Memory Stages of memory, features of short term and long term memory,
measuring memory, forgetting, repression and suppression,

13 Personality Theoretical concepts, Types, Psychoanalytic and Humanistic theories

of personality, Behavioral and social learning perspectives,
Personality model
14 Personality assessment and tools, Characteristics of healthy
personality Assignment 4
15 Stress and coping Stress, Types, symptoms, Defense mechanisms, Coping Strategies,
PTSD (Seminar)
Activity 4
16 Review REVIEW. FINAL TERM

Grade Distribution

Exam Type Percentage (%)

Quizzes 15

Assignments 10

Mid Term 20

Final Term 40

Final Project 10

CP 5

Total 100

INPUT (Teaching Methodology)

Your main source of input is lectures, reading your text, slides, handouts and visiting the library
to obtain ancillary reading material. Discussion in class will be used to handle questions and
problems in reading and lectures are designed to provide a framework where one’s reading
becomes meaningful.

OUTPUT (Assessment & Evaluation): As mentioned above, one’s degree of attainment of

each set of goals will be measured by means of exams, quizzes, assignments, projects and
presentations. Details will be discussed during the first week of classes.

Recommended Text
Mitterer, J.O, Coon, D, Martini, T. (2016). Psychology: A Modular Approach. (1st Ed.). Nelson
Education Ltd.

Weiten,W.(2007). Psychology: Themes and Variations (7th Ed.). United States of America:
Wadsworth.