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Questions and Answers
What was the author's initial struggle when teaching Introduction to Psychology?
How did the author think students would benefit from the lectures?
What is the fundamental integrating principle of the discipline of psychology, according to the author?
Why did the author think the sympathetic nervous system matters?
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What was the author's goal in creating a more consistent focus on the theme of behavior?
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What did the author think was often not made clear to students about psychology?
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Why did the author think Piaget's findings matter?
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What is the main benefit of tying all the material to the concept of behavior, according to the author?
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Study Notes
Challenges in Teaching Psychology
- Initially, teaching Introduction to Psychology was difficult due to the abundance of information and the struggle to link topics together for students.
Importance of Integrating Principles
- The abundance of information available to students made it hard for them to remember and understand the many phenomena of psychology.
- Students needed a structured approach to understand what was most important and why it mattered.
Solution: Focusing on Behavior
- The theme of behavior is a fundamental integrating principle of psychology, but it's often not made clear to students.
- Affect, cognition, and motivation are critical and essential, and are best understood through their links with behavior.
Applying the Theme of Behavior
- The sympathetic nervous system matters because it has specific and predictable influences on our behavior.
- Piaget's findings matter because they help us understand the child's behavior, not just their thinking.
- Social cognition matters because it helps us better relate to others in our everyday social lives.
Benefits of Integration
- Focusing on behavior allows for a structured approach to lectures, writing assignments, and testing.
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Description
Teaching Introduction to Psychology can be challenging, as it requires linking various topics together to provide an integrated set of principles and knowledge.
