Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Science and Higher Education General Psychology (Psyc 1011) Contributors Koye Kassa, Bahir Dar U1 Chapter One, Chapter Five, and Chapter Six Belay Tefera, Addis Ababa University Chapter Two ersity Aemero Asmamaw, University of Gondar Chapter Three, Chapter Four, and Chapter Seven Habtamu Disasa, Dilla Uni sity Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, and Chapter Eleven Revised and Edited by Belay Tefera, Addis Ababa University September, 2019TABLE OF CONTENTS “Module Introduction, Module Objectives CIIAPTER ONE ESSENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY. 1. Definition of Psychology and Related Concepts 1.2. Goals of Psychology. 13, Historical Background and Major Perspectives 1.3.1, Barly schools of psychology. 1.3.2, Modem schools of psychology. 1.4, Branches/Sub Fields of Psychology 1,5. Research Methods in Psychology. CHAPTER TWO. SENSATION AND PERCEPTION. sof sensat 2.1.The meas perception Psychology 2.2.The sensory laws: Sensory thresholds and sensory adaption, 2.3.Perception 2.3.1 Selectivity of perception: Attention 2.3.2.Ftom pereeption 2.3.3.Depth perception 2.3.4.Pereeptual Constancies. 2.3.5.Pereeptual Ilusion, (CHAPTER Three LEARNING AND THEORIES OF LEARNING ... 3.1, Definition, Characteristics and Principles of Learning. 3.1.1, Definitions of learning. 3.1.2. Charactersties of learning 3.1.3, Principles of learning, 3.2. Factors Influencing Learning 3.3. Theories of Learning and their Applications 3.3.1, Behavioral Theory of Learning 3.3.2, Social Learning Theory (observational learning) theory. 3.3.3, Cognitive Learning Theory CHAPTER FOUR MEMORY AND FORGETTING 5.1 Memory 5.1.1 Meaning and Processes of Memory 5.1.2 Stages/Structure of Memory. 5.1.3 Factors Affecting Memory 5.2 Forgetting 13 Is 16 2 22 23 24 26 a7 30 3 36 36 39 39 40 40 40 41 2 a 43 32 s4 56 56 st 38 59 i) 645.2.1 Meaning and Concepts of Forgetting 5.2.2. Theories of Forgetting, 5.3. Improving Memory (CHAPTER FIVE, MOTIVATION AND EMOTIONS 5.1. Motivation 5.1.1, Definition and types of motivation 5.1.2, Approaches to motivation (theories of motivation) 5.1.3, Conflict of motives and frustration. 5.2. Emotions 5.2.1, Definition of emotion 5.2.2. Theories of emotion, (CHAPTER SIX PERSONALITY. 6.1. Meaning of Personality 6.2. Theories of Personality 6.2.1, The psychoanalytic theory of personality, 6.2.2. The trait theory of personality, 6.2.3. Humanistic theory of personality (CHAPTER SEVEN. PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND TREATMENT TECHNIQUES. 7.1 Nature of Psychological Disorders 7.2. Causes of Psychological Disorders (Based on Perspectives) 7.2.1 The Biological Perspective 7.2.2 Psychological Perspectives. 7.3. Types of Psychological Disorders 7.4 Treatment Techniques CHAPTER EIGHT. INTRODUCTION TO LIFE SKILLS. ‘8.1, Nature and Definition of Life skills, 8.3. Components of Life Skills 8.2. Goals of Life Skills. (CHAPTER NINE. INTRA-PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. 9.1. Self-Concept and Self-Awareness 9.2. Selesteem and self-confidence 9.3. Self-Control. 9.4. Anger Management 49.8, Emotional Intelligence and Managing Emotion 9.6. Sess, Coping with Stress and Resilience: 9.9. Critical and Creative Thinking 9.8. Problem Solving and Decisi Making. iii 64 “6s “1 cy Cc) Cy “9 0 ™ 15 75 16 ” 9 ” 80 80 88 88 89 90 90 90 91 96 99 99 100 100 102 106 106 107 los 10 un 12 13 116 nsCHAPTER TEN. 121 ACADEMIC SKILLS. 121 10.1, Time Management ba 10.2, Note-taking and Study Skills. 123 10.3. Test-Taking Skill 12s 10.4. Test Anxiety and Overcoming Test Anxiety 127 10.5. Goal Seting 129 10.6, Career Development Skill 130 (CHAPTER ELEVEN 132 SOCIAL SKILLS. 132 TILL. Understanding cultural Diversity ..sses o o 133 11.2. Gender and Social Inclusion, 135 11.3. Interpersonal Communication Skill oo... sonnel 36 11.4. Social Influences 137 11.5. Peer Pressure 137 11.6, Assertiveness. 140 11.7, Conflict and Conflict Resolution Mai 11.8, Team Work. 143 11.9, Overcoming Risky Behavior 144 REFERENCES. 146 ivModule Introduction You might have heard or used the term psychology before you start reading this module. Psychology is a science of human cognitive processes and behaviors. This module focuses acquainting you with this science of mind and behavior. Chapter one introduces the field of psychology as a study of mind and behavior. The second chapter discusses the first step in building mind and behavior called sensation and perception. Points discussed in chapter three are definition, principles and characteristics of leaning, factors influencing learning, theories of leaning and their applications, behavioral theory of learning, social learning theory and cognitive learning theory. Chapter four of the module teaches you about memory, meaning and process of memory, stages of memory, factors affecting memory, forgetting, meaning and concepts of forgetting, theories of forgetting and improving memory. In the fifth chapter concepts of motivation, definition and types of motivation, theories of motivation and their applications, conflict of motives and frustration, emotions, definition of emotion, components of emotion and theories of emotion and their applications. In chapter six, concept of personality and its theories particularly psychoanalytic, trait and humanistic theories are discussed, Psychological disorders and treatment techniques nature of psychological disorders such as causes of psychological disorders, types of psychological disorders and treatment techniques are discussed in chapter seven. Chapters eight, nine, ten and eleven deal with life skills. In chapter eight, nature and definition, goals and components are discussed, Self-concept and self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence, self-control, emotional intelligence and managing emotion, resilience and coping with stress, anger management, critical and creative thinking and problem solving and decision making are discussed in chapter nine. In chapter ten, academic skills: time management, note-taking and study skills, test-taking skill, test anxiety and overcoming test, anxiety goal setting and career development skill are presented. Chapter eleven educates about social skills understanding intercultural diversity and diversity management, genderand social inclusion, interpersonal communication skills, social influences and peer pressure, assertiveness, conflict and conflict resolution, team work and overcoming risky behavior Module Objectives Up on the completion of this course, students will be able to: + Describe basic psychological concepts; ‘+ Compare and contrast the major theoretical perspectives in psychology; ‘+ Discuss different aspects of human development; ‘© Compare and contrast different leaning theories; ‘+ Summarize motivational and emotional processes; ‘© Demonstrate social and interpersonal skills in everyday life; Set an adaptive goal and plan for future; ‘© Apply knowledge of psychology in their life; and ‘+ Develop their life skills.CHAPTER ONE ESSENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY Chapter Overview This chapter tries to acquaint students with the concept of psychology. The specific contents addressed in the chapter are definition of psychology and related concepts, goals of psychology, historical background and major perspectives in psychology, branches/subfields of psychology, and research methods in psychology. Learning Appetizers A psychologist once asked a group of university freshmen to tell him who they think a psychologist is. Some say ‘someone who reads the palm of an individual and tells the behavior of a person’, others said ‘someone who is a fortune teller’, the rest said, ‘a person who can understand what someone is thinking about at a certain time.’ What about you? You just explore these views as you proceed through the discussions in this chapter. Learning Outcomes At the end of this chapter, you will be able to: + Define psychology Show historical roots of psychology as a science + Point out the goals of psychology + Identify early schools and modem perspectives of psychology + Discuss the basis of differences among perspectives of psychology + Identify subfields of psychology + Differentiate the major research methods in psychology + Explore the major steps of scientific research in psychology 1.1. Definition of Psychology and Related Concepts Brainstorming Questions ‘© What comes to your mind when you hear about the word psychology? © Have you ever heard about, read or listened to anything related to psychology? © What was its content about? ‘© Did you appreciate it? Why? ‘© What do you expect from the course in psychology?