2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences17:Psychology
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Mitsue Nagamine
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S417
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is an introduction to the principles of human behaviors. This course is intended primarily for students without significant study experience in psychology. Several key concepts and principles are explained in class.
The main goals of this course are to acquaint you with the different areas encompassed within psychology and to have a more in-depth understanding of human behavior, especially that related to significant social problems.
Course description and aims
Upon completion of this course, students will:
1) become familiar with several concepts and typical principles in psychology.
2) be able to critically think about and discuss social problems from a psychological standpoint.
3) utilize psychological knowledge in everyday life.
Keywords
Introduction to Psychology, behavior, social issues
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of each class, a social problem related to new principles is demonstrated and discussed in a group from a psychological standpoint. Then, the instructor will introduce new concepts and principles. Students will discuss the solutions for other actual phenomena in everyday life or other social problems by using these concepts in a group.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is psychology? What are research methodologies in psychology? | State the definition of psychology and explain research methodologies in psychology. |
| Class 2 | Power of unconscious mind | Explain the subliminal effect and mere exposure effect. |
| Class 3 | Mechanism of diffusion of responsibility | Explain the bystander effect and social loafing. |
| Class 4 | Persuasion skill and leadership | Explain the typical persuasion skills. |
| Class 5 | What is stress? | State the definition of stress. |
| Class 6 | Stress control | Explain the stress-control method. |
| Class 7 | Effective communication skills: acceptance and empathy | Explain the function of acceptance and empathy in communication. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Not required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reference books:
Maki Wada (Ed.) Psychology, 4th Edition, Koubundou, ISBN-13 978-4335002465 (Japanese)
Yukihiro Nobuhara, Saku Hara, Manami Yamamoto (Ed.) Neuroscience literacy, Keiso shobo, ISBN-13 978-4326102013 (Japanese)
Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ISBN-13 978-0141033570 (English)
Robert Cialdini, Influence: Science and practice 5th Edition, Allyn and Bacon, ISBN-13 978-0205609994 (English)
Mitsue Nagamine, Introduction to Stress Psychology, Iwasaki Academic Publisher, ISBN-13 978-4753312078 (Japanese)
Course materials are posted on T2SCHOLA.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students are encouraged to actively participate in discussion and group work during classes.
Each student writes a worksheet in every class and a term paper.
Assessment will be based on: worksheet written in every class (35 points in total: 5 points for each), active participation in group discussion and contribution to the class (15 points) and term paper (50 points).
In case groupwork practices are less than five, grade will be “falling” even if you get 60 points in total.
Related courses
- LAH.S105 ： Psychology A
- LAH.S205 ： Psychology B
- LAH.S306 ： Psychology C
Prerequisites
None
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Mitsue NAGAMINE, nagamine.mitsue[at]ila.titech.ac.jp
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.
Other
There is possibility that schedule may be modified.