English as a Foreign Language Special Interest

Psychology

Introduction

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Key Vocabulary: Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neuropsychology, Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Experimental Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Social Psychology

Unit One: The Brain and the Nervous System

What is the difference between a brain and a mind?

Key Vocabulary: cerebral cortex, cerebellum, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, brain stem, cranium, spinal cord, nervous system, synapse, neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, GABA and glutamate

Unit Two: Sensation and Perception

What is the difference between sensation and perception?

Key Vocabulary: perception, sensation, synesthesia, illusion, awareness, attention, visual, auditory

Sensation refers to the process of sensing our environment through touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. This information is sent to our brains in raw form where perception comes into play. Perception is the way we interpret these sensations and therefore make sense of everything around us.

Unit Three: Social Psychology

Are there cultural differences in body language?
Should decisions be based on empathy?

Key Vocabulary: body language, empathy, facial expression, cultural intelligence, gesture, offensive, cross cultural communication

Unit Four: Developmental Psychology

What does it mean to be normal?

Key Vocabulary: learning disability, ADHD, Asperger's syndrome, autism spectrum, psychosocial development, adolescence, cognitive development, learning styles, IQ, EQ

Unit Five: Addiction

What is the difference between substance use and abuse?

Key Vocabulary: opiods, withdrawal, treatment, compulsive, dependence, chronic, euphoria, habit-forming, fatigue, nausea

Unit Six: OCD and Anxiety

Unit Seven: Abnormal Psychology

Unit Eight: The Psychology of Sleep

Wrap Up