Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PSYCD009.
Course Title (CB02)
Psychology of Human Relationships and Normal Adjustment
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This is a survey of current theoretical and applied psychological knowledge relevant to personal/social relationships and normal psychological adjustment.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is a major preparation requirement in the discipline of Psychology at the CSU and UC for the B.A. degree. This course also contributes to the fulfillment of major requirements for the A.A. degree in Liberal Arts. In addition, this course meets a general education (G.E.) for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSU GE, and IGETC and is UC and CSU transferable. This course uses psychology in a very practical way to improve individual lives. Many students who want to enhance their own lives and or are considering entering the helping professions take this course.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
2GEX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area E - Personal DevelopmentApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
CGEXCSU GE Area E - Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (Non-Activity)Approved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
PSYPsychologyApprovedC-ID PSY 115

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Journals on class topics

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Student Presentations

Assignments

  1. Assigned readings from required text and references
  2. Individual presentation to critically analyze and evaluate the intersection of course materials (selected reading and/or lecture content) and its application to everyday life. Topics selected by the student or instructor.
  3. A research paper that examines a significant contemporary issue or problem in adjustment psychology selected by the student or instructor. The focus of the research paper will be on the summary, integration, critical analysis and/or synthesis of the theoretical perspectives and/or body of empirical data germane to the explication of the problem or issue examined. The research paper should be 7 to 10 pages in length and follow the style and format of the American Psychological Publication Manual or other standard research paper format.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Individual or collaborative oral and written report to be evaluated by instructor on presentation style, materials and content utilizing standard percentage scale.
  2. Periodic journals comprised of essay questions to evaluate the student's grasp of the theories and core concepts and their application to everyday life.
  3. A two-hour comprehensive final exam including multiple-choice questions and an essay component that will require students to summarize, integrate, and critically analyze the major theoretical perspectives, modes of inquiry, and the important core concepts examined throughout the course. Grade scale will be standard percentage 90, 80 70 and so forth.
  4. A research paper that examines a significant contemporary issue or problem in adjustment psychology selected by the student or instructor. The APA format will be evaluated along with paper content on a 50 point scale using standard percentage. The majority of the source material for the research paper must be derived from primary sources and relevant course reading. The research paper should be 7 to 10 pages in length and follow the style and format of the American Psychological Publication Manual or other standard research paper format.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Wayne Weiten, Dana S. Dunn and Elizabeth Yost Hammer. "Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century, 12th edition, Cengage 2018.
Daniel Goleman. "Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships" Bantam Dell, A Division of Random House 2006.
Thich Nhat Hanh "The Art of Communicating" Harper Collins 2013.
Martin E. P. Seligman "Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being" Simon and Schuster Inc. 2012

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Adler, A. "Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology". New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1988.
Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballantine Books, 2006.
Hanson, Rick. Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence. New York: Harmony Books, 2013.
Aronson, Elliot. The Social Animal. 9th ed. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 2009.
Alicke, M.D., R.J. Smith and J.L. Klotz. "Judgments on personal attractiveness: The role of faces and bodies." Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 12,381-389, 1986.
Amateo, P.R. and B. Keith. "Parental divorce and adult well-being: A meta-analysis." Journal of Marriage and the Family. 53, 43-58, 1987.
Basow, S.A. "Gender Stereotypes: Traditions and Alternatives". Pacific Grove, CA.: Brooks Cole, 1986.
Stroebe, W. and C.A. Insko. "Stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination; Changing conceptions in theory, and research." In D. Bar-Tal, C.F. Graumann, A.W. Kruglanski and W. Stroebe (eds.). Stereotype, Prejudice. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1989.
Segall, M.H., P.E. Dasen, J.S. Brry and Y.H. Poortinga. Human Behavior in Global Perspective: An Introduction to Cross-cultural Psychology. New York: Pergamon, 1990.
Rychlak, Joseph F. "Personality and Psychotherapy". 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981.
Berger, Kathleen Stassen. "The Developing Person Through the Life Span". 7th ed. New York: Worth Publishing, Inc., 2009.
Biernat, M. "Gender stereotypes and the relationship between masculinity and femininity: A developmental analysis." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 61, 351-365, 1991.
Cohen, S. "Personality characteristics as moderators of the relationship between stress and disorder." In R.W.J. Neufeld, (ed.). Advances in the Investigation of Psychological Stress. New York: Wiley, 1989.
Pennebaker, J.W. "Opening Up: The Healing Power of Confiding in Others". New York: Morrow, 1990.
Rice, L.N. and L.S. Greenberg. "Humanistic approaches to psychotherapy." In D.K. Freedheim. (ed.). History of Psychotherapy: A Century of Change. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1992.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Compare and contrast major Theories of Personality
  • Recognize and distinguish adjustment problems of adolescence and adulthood
  • Evaluate the effects of stress
  • Compare and contrast the major coping processes
  • Analyze the process of interpersonal and cross-cultural communication
  • Analyze friendship, love, and marriage
  • Analyze gender differences
  • Examine leadership styles
  • Identify challenges and adjustments associated with work and career

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate knowledge in core areas of Relationships and Adjustment and their applications to everyday life.

Outline

  1. Compare and contrast major Theories of Personality
    1. The nature of personality
      1. Self-perception
        1. Self-concept
        2. Self-esteem
      2. Public selves
      3. Identity
    2. Psychodynamic Perspectives
      1. Freud's psychoanalytic theory
      2. Adler's individual psychology
      3. Neo-Freudian theories: Eric Fromm and Karen Horney
      4. Evaluating psychodynamic perspectives
    3. Behavioral Perspectives
      1. Pavlov's classical conditioning
      2. Skinner's operant conditioning
      3. Bandura and social learning theory
      4. Evaluating behavioral Perspectives
    4. Humanistic perspectives
      1. Rogers person-centered theory
      2. Maslow's theory of self-actualization
      3. Evaluating Humanistic Perspectives
    5. Biological perspectives
      1. Eysenck's theory
      2. Evaluating biological perspectives
  2. Recognize and distinguish adjustment problems of adolescence and adulthood
    1. Major theories of development
      1. Piaget's view of cognitive development
      2. Erikson's view of personality development
    2. The transition of adolescence
      1. Physical changes
      2. Cognitive changes
      3. The search for identity
      4. Time of turmoil
      5. Adolescent suicide
        1. Prevalence of suicide
        2. Myths about suicide
        3. Preventing suicide
        4. Application: Understanding and preventing suicide
      6. Cultural and racial differences
    3. Phases of adult development: Arnett, Gould and Levinson
      1. Leaving the family and becoming independent
      2. Emerging Adulthood
      3. Adulthood & Age 30 transition: doubts and reevaluation
      4. Evaluating Arnett, Gould and Levinson
    4. Application: Becoming a effective parent
      1. Historical changes in parent-child relationships
      2. Maternal behavior and infant-mother attachment
      3. Dimensions of child rearing
      4. Effects of parenting styles
      5. Issues in rearing adolescents
      6. Towards effects of parenting
      7. Using punishment effectively
  3. Evaluate the effects of stress
    1. Major types of stress
      1. Frustration
      2. Conflict
      3. Change
      4. Pressure
    2. Factors in the appraisal of stress
      1. Familiarity
      2. Controllability
      3. Predictability
      4. Imminence
    3. Responding to stress
      1. Emotional responses
      2. Physiological responses
      3. Behavioral responses
    4. The potential effects of stress
      1. Impaired task performance
      2. Disruption of cognitive functioning
      3. Burnout
      4. Delayed effects: post-traumatic stress disorders
      5. Psychological problems and disorders
      6. Physical illness
      7. Beneficial effects
    5. Factors influencing tolerance to stress
      1. Social support
      2. Hardiness
      3. Optimism
      4. Sensation seeking
      5. Automatic reactivity
    6. Applications: monitoring your stress
      1. Measuring life stressors using the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rationing Scale
      2. The life experiences survey
    7. Stress, personality, and illness
      1. Type A Behavior, hostility and hearth disease
      2. Cancer
      3. Other diseases
      4. Effects on immune functioning
      5. Accidents and injuries
    8. Habits, lifestyles, and health
      1. Smoking
      2. Overeating
      3. Nutrition
      4. Exercise
      5. Lifestyle with AIDS
    9. Cultural and racial factors related to stress
    10. Reactions to illness
      1. The perception of pain
      2. The decision of seek treatment
  4. Compare and contrast the major coping processes
    1. The concept of coping
      1. Giving up
      2. Striking out at others
      3. Indulging yourself
      4. Blaming yourself
      5. Defensive coping
    2. Constructive coping
    3. Problem focused coping
      1. Systematic problem solving
      2. Seeking help
      3. Self-control
    4. Emotion focused coping
      1. Releasing pent-up emotions
      2. Distracting yourself
      3. Meditation
      4. Relaxation procedures
    5. Applications: achieving self-control
      1. Specifying target behavior
      2. Gathering baseline data
      3. Designing a program
      4. Executing and evaluating the program
  5. Analyze the process of interpersonal and cross-cultural communication
    1. The process of Interpersonal communication
      1. Components of the communication process
      2. Importance of communication
    2. Nonverbal communication
      1. Personal space
      2. Facial expression
      3. Eye contact
      4. Body language
      5. Gestures
      6. Touch
      7. Paralanguage
      8. Deception
    3. Verbal communication
      1. General principles
      2. Self disclosure: the key to intimacy
    4. Maladaptive Communication and interpersonal conflict
      1. Barriers to effective communication
      2. Miscommunication
    5. Effective Communication
      1. Creating a positive interpersonal climate
      2. Guidelines for effective speaking
      3. Guidelines for effective listening
      4. Dealing constructively with conflict
    6. Factors that influence Cross-cultural Communication
      1. Attitudes, cross-cultural stereotypes, and prejudices
      2. Beliefs
      3. Differential cultural values
      4. Culture and social class differences
      5. Cross-cultural gender roles and expectations
  6. Analyze friendship, love, and marriage
    1. The nature and development of close relationships
      1. Identity and intimate relationships
      2. Development of close relationships
      3. Social exchange in close relationships
    2. Interpersonal attraction
      1. Characteristic of other person
      2. Your own characteristic
      3. Interaction factors
    3. Friendship
      1. Gender differences in friendship
      2. Committed romantic relationships and friendship patterns
      3. Cultural and ethnic differences love and friendship
    4. Romantic Love
      1. Myths about love
      2. Sexual orientation and romantic love
      3. Gender differences in regard to love
      4. Theories of love
      5. The course romantic love
    5. Loneliness
      1. Prevailing and consequences of loneliness
      2. The roots of loneliness
      3. Coping with loneliness
    6. Shyness
      1. Prevalence and consequences of shyness
      2. Situational nature of shyness
      3. Coping with shyness
    7. Marriage
      1. The motivation to marry
      2. Selecting a mate
      3. Predictors of marital success
    8. Marital adjustment across the family life span
      1. The unattached young adult
      2. The newly married couple
      3. The family with young children
      4. The family with adolescent children
      5. Launching children into the adult world
      6. The family in later life
    9. Vulnerable areas in marital adjustment
      1. Unrealistic expectations
      2. Gaps in role expectations
      3. Work and career issues
      4. Financial difficulties
      5. Inadequate communication
      6. Problems with in-laws
      7. Sexual problems
      8. Jealousy
      9. Growing in different directions
      10. Cross-cultural differences marital expectations
    10. Divorce
      1. Increasing divorce rate
      2. Deciding on a divorce
      3. Adjusting to a divorce
      4. Remarriage
    11. Alternatives to marriage
      1. Remaining single
      2. Cohabitation
      3. Gay relationships
    12. Critically analyze sexuality
      1. Motives underlying sexual interactions
      2. Communicating about sex
      3. Sex in committed relationships
  7. Analyze gender differences
    1. Gender stereotypes and gender comparison
      1. Cognitive abilities
      2. Personality traits
      3. Social behavior
      4. Psychological health
    2. Biological origins of gender differences
      1. Brain organization
      2. Hormonal influences
    3. Environmental origins of gender differences
      1. Process of gender-role socialization
      2. Sources of gender-role socialization
      3. Gender-role socialization in childhood and adolescence
    4. Traditional gender roles
      1. Role expectations of males
      2. Problems with male role
      3. Role expectations of females
      4. Problems with female role*
      5. Sexism: a special problem for females
  8. Examine leadership styles
    1. Define Leadership
    2. When do leaders emerge
    3. Gender and leadership
    4. Trait vs. situational theories
    5. Styles of leadership
  9. Identify challenges and adjustments associated with work and career
    1. Perspective on Work
      1. The nature of work
      2. Contemporary trends
      3. Today's workers
    2. Women in the workplace
      1. Historical overview
      2. Today's workplace for women
    3. Balancing work and other spheres of life
      1. Workaholism
      2. Multiple roles
      3. Leisure and recreation
    4. Models of Career Development
      1. Trait measurement and matching models
      2. Development of models
      3. Women's career development
    5. Understanding job satisfaction
      1. Importance of job satisfaction
      2. Measuring job satisfaction
      3. Ingredients of job satisfaction
    6. Occupational Hazards
      1. Unsafe working conditions
      2. Job stress
      3. Sexual harassment
    7. Important considerations in career choice
      1. General principles
      2. Examining your personal characteristics
      3. Researching job characteristics
      4. Application: Job search
Back to Top