PY0PYB: Psychology and the Body

Module code: PY0PYB

Module provider: Psychology; School of Psych and Clin Lang Sci

Credits: 20

Level: Foundation Level

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Richard Carciofo, email: r.g.carciofo@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PY0PSR (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to introduce students to the scope and nature of psychology as a science. The emphasis of this module will be on acquiring knowledge and understanding of the biological basis of thought, behaviour, and emotions. The module also aims to develop students’ transferable skills in analysis, evaluation, and critical thinking. The focus of this module will be on several core areas in Psychology such as Stress, Cognitive Psychology, and Sleep. This module will also touch on the study of the brain which involves topics in Biopsychology such as the Nervous system and the Brain.

The Module Lead at the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Malaysia isÌýChong Kai Hao (kaihao.chong@reading.edu.my)

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the biological mechanisms underlying human behaviour in terms of neuronal, cerebral, and hormonal activity.
2. Produce a written case study using research evidence according to the APA format
3. Apply theoretical models in addressing neurological and psychological problems.

Module content

• The nervous system andÌýthe neuron
• Action potential andÌýsynaptic transmission
• The endocrine system and hormones
• The brain
  • The forebrain
  • The midbrain andÌýhindbrain
• Stress
  • The sympatho-medullary (SAM) pathway and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) pathway
  • Theories of coping
• Memory
  • Multistore-memory model
  • Working memory model
• Sleep
  • Consciousness and stages of sleep
  • Sleep problems and disorders

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching will be delivered through weekly 2-hour lectures followed by 2-hour seminars.

Lectures and seminars will be conducted on campus (unless otherwise specified).

Lecture materials, formative discussions, and summative assignments will be hosted on Blackboard.

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is toÌýcomply with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 46 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Writing exercises on the discussion board, in-class group work, and statistics exercises.Ìý

Reassessment

Additional costs