This document provides an overview of a first year psychology module titled "Themes and Issues in Psychology" that will run during the 2011/2012 academic year. The module is worth 30 credits and includes 4 assessments. It aims to introduce students to the origins and approaches of psychology and explore key topics and debates. Support resources are available to help students succeed in the module and develop self-awareness and employability skills.

1. “ Themes and Issues in Psychology” First year module: 2011 / 12

4. Module Overview “ The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled” (Plutarch)

5. Overview: History of psychology Psychology as ‘science’? Internal & external causes of behaviour Hereditary & environment? Traits and Situations? Attachment? Attribution? Normality and Abnormality. Free-will vs. determinism. Psychological research methods and perspectives Ideographic or nomothetic approaches to the study of experience. Nature & characteristics of consciousness. Challenging existing theories and approaches Overview of primary theoretical approaches Psychodynamics - Behaviourism - Humanistic Psychology - Positive Psychology

10. ‘ I ‘ Interior individual ‘ IT ’ Exterior Individual ‘ We ’ Collective Cultural ‘ ITS ’ Social system Environment (Adapted and developed from different writing of Ken Wilber.)

11. How do I become who I am?

18. Books

19. Books? Key Text(s): Author Title Date Publisher 1. Gross, R. Themes, Issues and Debates in Psychology (Third edition). 2009 HodderArnold 2. Glassman, W.E. Approaches to Psychology 2009 Open University Press

21. Support as a Student?

22. Are you experiencing difficulties?

23. Are you experiencing difficulties?

24. ‘ ARC’ – Ground Floor Corridor - NorthWing