Positive Psychology Psy Fall 2011

Transcription

1 Positive Psychology Psy Fall 2011 Instructor: Patricia S. Foster Phone: (936) Department: Psychology Office: 215-E, McKibben Ed Bldg. Office Hours: M & W & F 10am: - Noon T& R 9:30 10:30 and 1:00-2:00 and by appointment Class meeting time & place: M, W, F 9:00 9:50 McKb Ed. 263 Course Description: This course will introduce students to the strengths-based paradigm of psychology based on the skills, attitudes, and behaviors that relate to optimum human functioning, resiliency and meaningful living. This course is designed to explore the concepts, research behind the concepts, techniques, resiliency factors and exercises to enhance optimism, decrease stressors, and significantly increase well-being. The course is designed to be exploratory and experiential, with assigned readings, activities, and volunteer opportunities for a complete positive experience. Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) The student will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. The student will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation. The student will respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes. The student will understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues. The student will value empirical evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a science. Proficiency Level Intermediate Student Learning Outcomes 1. Students will become familiar with the new paradigm of positive psychology, resiliency factors, and subject well-being. 2. Students will become familiar with the research that supports that principles and skills of positive psychology. 3. Students will be expected to demonstrate applications of the core concepts of positive psychology and resiliency factors. 4. Students will develop an understanding of the dimensions of happiness/subjective well-being and their application to their lives. 5. By participating in a service learning volunteer opportunity, students will demonstrate the applications of positive psychology and resiliency factors. Exemplary Education Objectives : This course is not in the core curriculum for a degree in psychology. Thus, there are no exemplary educational objectives assessed in this course.

2 Positive Psychology (Psy Fall 2011) 2 Text and Materials: Baumgardner, S.R. and Crothers, M.K., (2009). Positive Psychology. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. Additional readings: American Psychologist (January, 2000). Special Issue on Happiness, Excellence, and Optimal Human Functioning. Course Requirements: There will be a total of three (3) exams given throughout the semester and a final exam, with the lowest score being dropped. 6 exercises will be assigned for a total of 20 points each. A total of 4 pop-quizzes will be given during the semester to check student understanding of concepts. Grading Policy: Activity Points each Total 2 exams and final 90 (lowest exam score is dropped) exercises Pop Quizzes Reflection papers Possible points =A = B = C = D Below 270 = F Attendance Policy: It is important to attend class. Information is given through lectures that will be included on the exams. Information about papers, exercises, and assignments are also discussed during class. Pop quizzes are given in class and cannot be made up. If you miss the class, you lose those points. The SFA Way: Our faculty, staff, alumni and students believe in doing things The SFA Way. We expect the best from ourselves and each other, and we hold each other accountable when we fail to maintain these standards. The instructor and each student enrolled in this course will be expected to abide by the principles of the SFA Way. Academic Integrity (A-9.1) Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn t blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won t cheat, then you know he never will. John D. MacDonald Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism.

3 Positive Psychology (Psy Fall 2011) 3 Definition of Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit. Please read the complete policy at Students with Disabilities To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, / (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54) Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average. Acceptable Student Behavior Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial, academic or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed.

4 Positive Psychology (Psy Fall 2011) 4 Course Schedule: This is the proposed course schedule for the semester. The instructor reserves the right to make changes as deemed necessary. Students will be notified of changes as they occur. Date Topic Reading/assignments 8/29 Course Introducton none 8/31 What is positive psychology? Ch 1, pgs 1-8 9/2 Defining Positive Psychology Ch 1, pgs 8 12/ Assignment #1 given 9/5 Labor Day holiday- No Class Eat Bar-b-que and relax 9/7 Meaning & Measure of happy Ch 2, pgs /9 Meaning continued (SWB) Ch 2, pgs Assignment #1 Due today 9/12 Meaning continued Ch 2. 9/14 Positive emotions Ch 3, pgs /16 Positive emotions continued Ch 3, pgs /26 Well-being Ch 3, pgs /28 EXAM #1 Ch 1 3 9/30 Resilience Ch 4, pgs /3 Resilience Ch 4, pgs /5 Resilience Ch 4, pgs /7 Facts of Life Ch 5, pgs /10 Facts continued Ch 5, pgs /12 Money, happiness & culture Ch 6, pgs /14 Money, happiness and culture Ch 6, /17 $, and culture cont. Ch 6, pgs /19 Implementation and actions Read articles from course website 10/21 EXAM #2 Ch 4-6 & Articles 10/24 Personal goals Ch 7, pgs /26 Goals and well-being Ch 7, pgs /28 Self-regulation Ch 8, pgs /2 Self-control failure Ch 8, pgs /4 Positive traits Ch 9, pgs /7 Neuro, Approach & Avoid Ch 9, pgs /9 Optimism and research Ch 9, pgs /11 EXAM #3 Ch /14 Classification of Virtue Ch 10, pgs /16 Wisdom Ch 10, pgs /18 Transcendence Ch 10, pgs

5 Positive Psychology (Psy Fall 2011) 5 11/21 Attachment & Religion Ch 10, pgs /23 Relationships & Well Being Ch 11, pgs /25 Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Safe & experience joy 11/28 Relationships & Well Being Ch 11, pgs /30 Relationships & well-being Ch 11, pgs /2 Life Above Zero Ch 12, pgs /5 Life Above Zero Ch 12, pgs /7 Life Above Zero Last Lecture Video, Part 1 12/9 Life Above Zero Last Lecture Video, Part 2 12/12 Final Exam 8 10 AM In this Room! In the event you must miss a class, contact someone from your contact list to get the notes, details on assignments that were given, and other important information. Get these contacts the first day of class! Do Not list anyone that might miss class the same day you do (on the same team, club, etc). Contact Name Phone #