MAKEUPS

Anyone who need to make up a midterm or Quiz 3 or 4 must do so by the end of this week. Please contact me to schedule for Thursday morning.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE/TOPICS

The following is the schedule for final exams as well as adjusted topics for these exams.

Psy 101H- Monday/Wednesdays, 8:00am- Final Exam- 12/19/2018 
Psy 215H-Monday/Wednesdays, 9:30am- Final Exam- 12/19/2018  
Psy 201-Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30am- Final Exam-12/20/2018 
Psy 215, Tuesday/Thursday, 11:00am- Final Exam-12/20/2018 
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30pm-Final Exam, 12/20/2018 

For Psy 101, 101H- We will cover the biological basis of behavior through the chemistry section- exam will cover up to the slide on Serotonin-Final exam will cover Humanism, Cognitive Theory, and Biology through this slide

For Psy 215, 215H- We will cover through the Addiction slides-Final Exam will cover Personality Disorders and Addiction

For Psy 201- We will cover memory through the accuracy of memory slides (slide before "In search of the engram" slide)- Final will be Neuroanatomy (from the mid-brain), Plasticity, and Memory through this slide


PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!!!! 

Brain Health

As we head into the holiday and New Year season, most of us will be developing our new Years resolutions. Often they revolve around improving our health. The following article hopefully will give you food for thought about making improving your brain health one of these!!!


https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/keeping-your-brain-in-tiptop-shape/2018/11/23/8e37cf08-cd78-11e8-a3e6-44daa3d35ede_story.html?utm_term=.05acca263dd9

Why truth has become so tenuous.....

In Psy 101 we have been talking about the view of cognitive psychologists in terms of different errors we make in terms of information processing, The following article offers a fascinating look at how the internet has contributed to our tendency to process information inaccurately....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/nothing-on-this-page-is-real-how-lies-become-truth-in-online-america/2018/11/17/edd44cc8-e85a-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bc4352fe2bf7

SOME HOPE IN THE BATTLE WITH ADDICTION

As we have (and will be) discussing in class, a major issue in our society is that of addiction. Of particular concern, is what has been termed "The Opioid Epidemic". The following article talks about some positive progress being made as our country more directly confronts this growing concern.......

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/25/health/opioid-overdose-deaths-dayton.html


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PSY 201 AND 215 UPDATES

The following are updates of the syllabus for the end of the year in terms of topics we will be covering.

Psychology 215, 215H (Abnormal Psychology):

• ·         Quiz #3-Personality Disorders- will be last Quiz- Quiz Average will be 3 Quiz Grades averaged together.
• ·         We will definitely cover Substance Related and Addictive disorders
• ·         If time permits, we will cover the Sexual Disorder part of Sexual Disorders (Paraphilias) and Gender Dysphoria

·         Final will include everything we have covered since the mid-term- These three topics

Psychology 201(brain and Behavior)

• ·         Quiz #3-Neuroanatomy- will be last Quiz- Quiz Average will be 3 Quiz Grades averaged together.
• ·         We will definitely cover Neuroplasticity
• ·         If time permits, we will cover Human memory

·         Final will include everything we have covered since the mid-term- These three topics

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

PSYCHOLOGY CLUB EVENTS

The psychology club will be holding several events over the next few weeks that some of your students may want to attend. I will be passing around a sign-in sheet at each event:

•             11/28 – Psychology career panel 11am room 228:

o             Speakers will discuss career opportunities in psychology.  Specifically forensics, clinical, and educational/ABA work will be discussed.  Light refreshments will be served.

•             11/29 – Psychology movie night #1 – The Machinist – 6pm – Islip Arts 115

o             Movie will start by approximately 6:15 and the event will conclude by 9pm.  Pizza and soda will be severed. 

•             12/13 - – Psychology movie night #2 – Good Will Hunting – 6pm – Islip Arts 115

o             Movie will start by approximately 6:15 and the event will conclude by 9pm.  Pizza and soda will be severed. 

Note that neither movie would not be appropriate for young children.  I mention this because last year we showed Pixar's Inside Out and several of my students brought their children or siblings. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday season.

The following are some suggestions from the American Psychological Association (APA) to make the most of the holiday season.....

https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/holiday-season.aspx

IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON RELATIONSHIPS

In class we have been discussing the impact of technology on relationships. The following article talks about a graduate student's ideas on this topic developed while they were completing their dissertation.......

https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/technology-can-have-positive-and-negative-impact-on-social-interactions

APA FORMAT VIDEO

It was brought to my attention that the APA format video on the website is not working (thank you!!). The following video will be its' replacement....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODakMMqvIs

Sports and Concussions

There has been a lot of focus on the long-term impact of concussions on athletes. A great deal of it has been on the issue of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (C.T.E), the accumulated impact of multiple concussions. A recent study was published looking at the impact of sub-concussive events on high school athletes, which is frightening in many ways while beginning to assist in the understanding some of the possible long-term mechanisms of C.T.E. The following article summarizes the main finding of some of these studies....

https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/lacrosse/nyit-lacrosse-concussion-study-1.23134220

NOVEMBER 20TH CLASS CANCELLATION-MAKEUP WORK AND NEW DUE DATES FOR PAPER

As I mentioned in a previous post, all of my classes will be cancelled on Tuesday, November 20th.

For any classes that have their due date on this date, the following adjusted schedule applies:

• The new due date for the paper will be the following Tuesday, November 27th. 
• If you are able to hand in thee paper before November 20th, (i.e. class before, November 15th), I will give 5 points extra credit on the paper. 

In terms of the classes themselves, in order to try and keep us on track time-wise, the following topics will not be covered in class and you will be responsible for reviewing slides, readings, and videos: 

• Psy 215: Clusters A & C of the Personality Disorders-we will cover Cluster B and the rest of the powerpoints
• Psy 201: Hemispheric Specialization on the Neuroanatomy slides, Prenatal development on Neuroplasticity slides
• Psy 101- TBD 

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!

HOLIDAY FUN!

As the holiday season kicks off, it is hopefully a great time for fun, family, and food!!! The following article, which was written by a family therapist, offers some suggestions on how to survive the family part!!!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/loving-bravely/201711/the-seven-cs-thanksgiving

STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND HOME PURCHASING

In Psychology 101 we are in the process of covering Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. As part of that we talked about a "home" and the possible impact of student loan debt on this aspect of one's life. The following article further explores the impact of exploding student loan debt on other aspects of life, specifically, the ability to purchase a home.....

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/saddled-with-huge-student-loan-debt-homebuyers-sacrifice-more-to-purchase-a-house/ar-BBPoQWX?li=BBnbfcN

VETERAN'S CELEBRATION

Criminal Justice Event

On Wednesday, 11/7, 11 A.M., in the Babylon Building Montauk Room, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder will give a presentation regarding major police issues affecting Long Island. All are welcome.

ALL PROFESSOR VOLLARO'S CLASSES ARE CANCELLED ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH

All of my classes are cancelled for Tuesday, November 20th (which is  the week of Thanksgiving)!!!!

PRIORITY REGISTRATION-If you are interested in either Psy 215 or Psy 201 next semester

As you may know, the next two weeks are priority registration for current students. Just an FYI..two of my psychology courses (Psy 215 and Psy 201) are honors courses. If you are a non-honors student and are interested in taking them, you can do so if you have a B+ or above in your current course. If you are interested, please see me as we will have to arrange you being registered in the course through the honors department (which I can arrange).

Please see me if you have any questions.

PSY 215, 201 MIDTERM DATES

Just wanted gto confirm the final dates for Midterms:

Psy 201, Tues/Thurs, 9:30am, Thursday November 8th
Psy 215, Tues/Thurs, 11:00am, Thursday, November 8th

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Good luck to everyone on your Midterms.

THE BENEFITS OF SLEEP

As many of you are in the midst of midterms, it is important to keep in mind how important it is to get enough sleep!!! The following article is an excellent summary of the studies regarding the benefits of sleep and has an accompanying guide in terms of how to improve your sleep.....

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/smarter-living/how-to-get-better-sleep.html

SOME MIDTERM REMINDERS

As Midterm exams approach, I would like to remind you of a few things regarding class. For specifics regarding individual classes, please refer to the class syllabus:

Withdrawals: The deadline for withdrawals is 10/31/2018. If you need to withdraw from class, please do so by that date. The general policy is no withdrawals will be granted after the deadline.

Grades: 25% of the final grade is the Midterm, 25% the final, 25% the paper, and 25% is the Quiz Average. Remember, if you missed a quiz it will be counted as a zero unless you make it up. You can only makeup one quiz per semester and there are deadlines for these makeups. Please refer to the syllabus for these specific deadlines.

Attendance: The course attendance policy is that you have up to 3 absences where grades are not affected. After 3 absences, 2 points will be subtracted from your final average for each additional absence. 

Midterm Exams Scheduled so Far: 

Psy 101H, Monday/Wendesday, 8:00am- 10/31/2018
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 12:00pm- 11/1/2018
Psy 215H, Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 am- 11/7/2018


Announcements are forthcoming for midterms for other classes.

Please see me if you have any questions!!!!

DREAMING OF THE LOTTERY!

As we sit back and dream about how all our problems will be solved once we are minted as a new billionaire after winning today's lottery, read the following article which separates myth from fact (but don't let it stop you from dreaming!!)

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-bad-looks-good/201810/riches-rags-and-other-lottery-winning-myths

The Psychology of Halloween

Why is Halloween such a popular holiday? Read n to see........

https://www.iflscience.com/brain/trick-or-treat-psychology-fright-and-halloween-horrors/

SOME REMINDERS

As we begin to approach mid-term time, there are a few reminders that I felt were important:

• Please review your syllabus and make sure you are familiar with upcoming due dates, assignments, etc. It has been some time since we initially reviewed it so familiarizing yourself with it once again will ensure you do not miss anything
• Anyone whom has missed either Quiz #1 or Quiz #2 should make sure they make it up-remember, a missed quiz gets averaged in to your Quiz grade as a 0. 
• Remember you can makeup only one quiz so if you missed any make sure you are in class for the rest of them
• The deadline for withdrawals is 10/31/2018. If you are planning to withdraw from the class definitely do so by that date as no withdrawals are granted after it. 
• Every Psychology class requires a paper. Please make sure you are familiar with the specifics of the assignment and if you haven't already, need to start it. 
• Midterms are approaching. I'll announce specific dates for the mid-terms in class and also please check the blog for specifics but right now, we are on track for most classes to have mid-terms last week of October-first week of November. 

The semester moves very fast!!! If you have any questions/concerns please ask!!!!! 

WHAT DOES YOUR CHOICE OF HALLOWEEN COSTUME SAY ABOUT YOU?

Legend has it that Freud once said..."Nothing is accidental...everything has a meaning...." and that we could learn a lot about ourselves by analyzing.."psychoanalyzing"..everything.

One could imagine that Halloween provides fertile ground to give us insight into someone...the following article talks about how our choice of Halloween costumes might provide some inisight.....

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-why-behind-the-buy/201310/what-your-halloween-costume-says-about-your-personality

STUDENT LOAN DEBT

In Psy 101 the writing assignment focuses on the issue of student loan debt..the following article is about a recent study which talks about rising debt levels and how they are affecti ng post-graduate life.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/10/04/us-student-loan-debt-reaches-staggering-trillion/?utm_term=.3a833eff9e92

GENERAL REMINDERS

Now that we have had our first quizzes there are a few reminders I want to reiterate:

• Be aware of upcoming due dates: For those eligible for extra credit, due dates are upcoming for Early Submission of paper (please see syllabus for details) as well as Mid-Term Extra Credit 
• You should be reviewing and working on papers-please review the syllabus and videos  about the paper and ask if you have any questions about paper requirements 
• ALL CLASSES ARE CANCELLED TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH 
• The deadline for withdrawals is 10/31/2018- No withdrawals will be granted past this date so if you need to withdraw please make sure you do so

Hope this is helpful in keeping everyone on track!!!!! 

NATURE VS. NURTURE

A major debate within the field of Psychology is often referred to as the Nature vs. Nurture debate. The following article talks about how scientists use twins as a means of studying this age-old question.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-see-twins-as-the-perfect-laboratory-to-examine-the-impact-of-nature-vs-nurture/2018/09/28/d8423d16-9bfc-11e8-b60b-1c897f17e185_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bea66685dbac

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY-THIS WEEK!!!!

For those classes that already have extra credit opportunities, you can substitute this one for one of the 2 already offered. For honors classes, you can earn up to 5 points extra credit on the Midterm for completing this assignment.

The extra credit assignment is to either attend one of the lectures or obtain information on a topic from the represented agencies and complete a 2-3 page paper on the topic, including specifying what you learned on Mental health Awareness Day. You must obtain 2 other sources and the paper must be completed in APA style.

CONDEMNED TO REMEMBER

On Monday, October 8^th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Shea Theatre on the Ammerman Campus in Selden, there will be a free presentation of the award winning Irish film, Condemned to Remember.  The screening is cosponsored by the Honors College, the Ammerman Office of Student Activities, the Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding, and the Ammerman Social Science Department.  The film is produced by RTE (Ireland’s national television and radio broadcaster) and directed by Gerry Gregg (often described as “Ireland’s Ken Burns.”)  The film is a documentary concerning Europe’s handling of the refugee crisis and stars Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental (also known for the documentary Close to Evil) and how he is condemned to remember his own childhood at the hands of the Nazis.  It is a powerful film and both Gregg and Reichental will be present at the screening to answer questions from the audience.

 

All students, faculty, staff, and the general community are welcome to attend.

FASCINATING PROGRESS

In Brain and Behavior we have talked about different ways to study the brain. We have also talked about how with advances in technology some of these methods are being adapted for treatment purposes. One of the methods we discussed is brain Stimulation, where electrodes are used to induce electrical activity in the brain. The following fascinating (and hopeful video) examines the case where Neurostimulation has been successful in helping one persistent and hard working young lady gain the ability to walk again after being paralyzed....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/health-science/watch-these-paralyzed-patients-walk-again/2018/09/24/5d1b1e2e-c00e-11e8-9f4f-a1b7af255aa5_video.html?utm_term=.69295ede5dc5

TO ALL HONORS STUDENTS-AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE HONORS PROGRAM

The Honors email update is now complete.  If you have not received any emails this week from Kathy McCoy in the Honors Program, please stop by the Honors office in Southampton 202 to rectify the issue.

 

COLLEGE EDUCATION?

In Psy 101 the paper is focusing on the thorny issue of student loan debt and whether or not it is worth it. One argument suggests the answer to this question ultimately depends on the amount of money one will earn after graduating. The following report by CBS news reports on one study exploring this very important question......

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/the-best-college-majors-to-get-a-high-paying-job/ar-AAABRhN?li=BBnbfcN

RESEARCH METHODS REVIEW

ATTENTION PSY 101 STUDENTS

We are currently covering Research Methods in Psy 101. This will be a major focus of our first Quiz as well as the Midterm. Professor Nick Ullrich will be running a review session on Research Methods next Wednesday, Sept 26, from 11-12pm in H-228.

I strongly encourage you to attend as it will be very helpful for our first Quiz, which will be the following Monday, October 1st.

Please let me know if you have any questions!!!

FIND OUT THE BENEFITS OF AN INTERNSHIP!

INTERNSHIP PANEL

 

DATE: Monday, October 1^st

TIME: 11am-12:15pm

LOCATION: Babylon Student Center, Montauk Point Room, Ammerman Campus

 

THE LINE UP:

Corie Maneri (Criminal Justice major) Intern with the Suffolk County Police Department

Liam Murphy (Alumnus-Business/Sport Management) Public Relations/Marketing Intern at Drotman Communications and Team Attendant at Long Island Nets

Melanie Esteves (Liberal Arts student interested in Clinical Lab Science) Research Intern with the Suffolk County Department of Health Arthropod Borne Disease Lab

Dr. Michal Romas (Employer) Coordinator of Training and Professional Development at Developmental Disabilities Institute

 

WHY ATTEND?

Participants will discover the benefits of doing an internship. Interns will share what they accomplished and how it shaped their future. An employer will discuss the mentoring relationship that is formed, what they look for in an ideal candidate and offer advice to future interns. Professors Feinberg, Munsch, Giaccone and Higginson

will share some of the available cooperative education courses offered at Suffolk allowing students to gain academic credit for completing an internship.

 

ATTENTION PSY 101 STUDENTS

We are currently covering Research Methods in Psy 101. This will be a major focus of our first Quiz as well as the Midterm. Professor Nick Ullrich will be running a review session on Research Methods next Wednesday, Sept 26, from 11-12pm in H-228.

I strongly encourage you to attend as it will be very helpful for our first Quiz, which will be the following Monday, October 1st.

Please let me know if you have any questions!!!

THREAT TO SELF

In Psy 101 and Psy 215 we have been discussing the concepts of threat to self and others. Such situations are often the most difficult encountered by Mental health Professionals. The following article is written by a young psychiatrist who discusses his struggle with handling situations where such difficult decisions must be made.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/danger-to-self-a-psychiatrist-in-training-grapples-with-the-power-to-involuntarily-commit-patients/2018/09/14/05350670-a489-11e8-8fac-12e98c13528d_story.html?utm_term=.9455f5b0b8bd

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY SCHEDULE

Mental Health in College Students

In many of our classes, we have been discussing issues related to mental health and their prevalence. The following article talks about a recent study that suggests, as we discussed, they are much more common then people tend to think....

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180913113916.htm

TECHNOLOGY, PROGRESS AND ETHICS

As technology progresses, scientists continue to make progress on understanding the human brain and mind. One of the newest approaches is to grow "mini-brains" in the laboratory, a process that is fraught with technical and ethical issues. The following article is a great introduction to this emerging approach:


https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/lab-grown-brain-bits-open-windows-to-the-mind--and-a-maze-of-ethical-dilemmas/2018/09/02/9a76efee-a25b-11e8-83d2-70203b8d7b44_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.a8489d647653

SCCC Mental Health Awareness Day-Extra Credit

This is a series of workshops and activities scheduled for October 3, 2018 which provides students with a wide range of information concerning mental health, wellness and skills to support academic/personal success.  The event runs from 9:30 am through 1:30 pm primarily in the Babylon Student Center with workshops/activities available at 9:30 am, 11 am, and 12:30 pm. 

For those classes that already have extra credit opportunities, you can substitute this one for one of the 2 already offered. For honors classes, you can earn up to 5 points extra credit on the Midterm for completing this assignment.

 

The extra credit assignment is to either attend one of the lectures or obtain information on a topic from the represented agencies and complete a 2-3 page paper on the topic, including specifying what you learned on Mental health Awareness Day. You must obtain 2 other sources and the paper must be completed in APA style.

 

Due Date: October 25th, 2018

Workshops on a variety of issues will be offered, such as:

•                      Introduction to Kundalini Science

•                      Unum Heart Meditation Station

•                      Suicide awareness and prevention

•                      The benefits of journaling for emotional and mental wellness

•                      Stress management through creative arts therapy

•                      The elements of wellness – the role it plays in mental health and academic achievement

•                      The Biology of Addiction

•                      Rape Aggression Defense – self-defense for women

•                      Veterans and mental wellness

 

Mental health & Wellness agencies which will have information and resources available include, such as:

 

•                      Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD)

•                      THRIVE, Recovery Community and Outreach Center

•                      Response Hotline (Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention)

•                      Mather Hospital Eating Disorders Program

•                      Community Growth Center

•                      The Suffolk County Crime Victims Center

•                      Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk – domestic violence and sexual assault  (VIBS)

•                      SCCC Mental Health Services

•                      Joseph Dwyer Veterans’ Peer Support Project & SCCC Veterans Services

 

 

PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!

 

 

ATTENTION TUESDAY/THURSDAY CLASSES

ALL CLASSES WILL BE CANCELLED THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH.

BACK TO SCHOOL SUCCESS

The following article gives some basic suggestions on how to achieve success as we transition back to school!

http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-schwab-tips-for-college-freshman-20180831-story.html#

WELCOME

WELCOME FALL 2018 STUDENTS

      I am hoping we have a stimulating and enjoyable semester as you experience the world of Psychology. My goal is to offer students who are willing to work hard an opportunity to be immersed in the world of Psychology, explore topics of interest in more detail, and earn a good grade in the course.  I also am hoping you will pick up the necessary skills for writing a good academic research paper. On that note, I would like to share a few areas to focus on to both enhance your course experience and give yourself a chance to obtain the best grade possible:

Homework: Success at college depends as much on what you do outside the classroom as what you do inside of it. It will be important to consistently complete your standing homework assignments. If you do, they will provide you valuable context and reinforcement of class lectures. 

Your standing homework assignments are:

1. Keep up with the reading: It is a general assumption you will be doing a reading to accompany the class lectures. This will help enhance your understanding of the material and give you a deeper knowledge of the subject matter. The assigned reading for the topics we are covering in class can be found on the syllabus. 

2. Watch the assignment videos: The videos associated with the lectures were designed to provide you more details about different topics as well as reinforce material covered in class. Watching them is an excellent way to enhance your understanding and assist with the process of committing the material to memory for test preparation.

       3. Make sure you are aware of the due dates and requirements for all writing assignments and follow them!!!

4. Stay in touch: Many issues can be resolved earlier in the semester and can make the rest of the semester go much smoother. Make sure you are familiar enough with course expectations to ask the questions early in the semester. Feel free to ask during class time so everyone can get the benefit of the information. Office hours are listed on the syllabus and other times are available by appointment. 

       5.Check the Psychology blog on a regular basis for updates on the class, additional reading assignments, and extra credit opportunities, if/when they are offered.  

6. Class Participation: Please feel free to share thoughts, ideas, and questions during class. I find class discussion an integral part of a stimulating learning experience and hope you will be an active participant in the class. 

       YOUR FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT is to familiarize yourself with the website which will be an invaluable resource throughout the semester! 

MAKEUP QUIZZES/FINAL EXAMS

As we head into the end of the semester, please be aware that if you need to makeup any quizzes from after the Midterm, the last day to do so is Thursday, May10th. Also, please keep in mind any missed grades (i.e. Quiz) counts as a 0.

Final exams are scheduled as follows:

Psy 201H-Monday/Wednesday, 8:00am-Monday, May 21st
Psy 215H-Monday/Wednesday, 9:30am-Monday May 21st
Psy215, Tuesday/Thursday 9:30am-Tuesday May 22nd
Psy101,Tuesday/Thursday, 11:00am-Tuesday, May 22nd
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30pm-Tuesday, May 22nd

END OF SEMESTER ADJUSTMENT, PSY 201H, MON/WED, 8:00AM

Due to all the missed classes this semester, the following adjustments will be made to the syllabus:

Plasticity: We will cover material up until "The aging brain" and just the section on "Telomeres"-you will be responsible for the rest.

Memory: We will cover for the final

Final Exam: 5/21/2018 (Will review, if possible, on 5/16).

END OF SEMESTER ADJUSTMENT, PSY 215H, Mon/Wed, 9:30am

Given all the missed classes this year, the following adjustments will be made to Psy 215. We will only have three Quizzes, the last one being on Personality Disorders. The final exam will be on Personality Disorders and Substance Related Disorders (which we will cover next).

The following topics will not be covered in class but you will be responsible for the slides/reading:

Personality Disorders: Cluster C

Substance Related Disorders: We will cover alcohol and the Opioids.....you cover the rest.


FINAL EXAM DATE: 5/21 (If there is time we will do a review on May 16th)

END OF SEMESTER ADJUSTMENTS-PSY 215-Tue/Thurs, 9:30am

Given all the missed classes this year, the following adjustments will be made to Psy 215. We will only have three Quizzes, the last one being on Personality Disorders. The final exam will be on Personality Disorders and Substance Related Disorders (which we will cover next).

The following topics will not be covered in class but you will be responsible for the slides/reading:

Personality Disorders: Cluster C

Substance Related Disorders: We will cover alcohol and the Opioids.....you cover the rest.


FINAL EXAM DATE: 5/22 (If there is time we will do a review on May 17th)

EXTRA CREDIT DUE DATE NEXT WEEK

Just a reminder that for those that are eligible, the final due date for extra credit for the Final Exam is next Tuesday, May 1st. Please see the syllabus for details of the assignment.

ADHD

Many people have heard of or have experience with someone who is diagnosed with ADHD. The following article gives an excellent idea of what it is like to live with and treat this psychological disorder....

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/well/family/helping-kids-with-adhd-and-their-families-thrive.html

Psy 215

Attention All Psy 215 Students:

In the current chapter of Personality Disorders we will NOT be reviewing the "Cluster C" Disorders- please make sure you review the slides and the reading as they will be on the Quiz/Test......

Politics and Psychology

Much has been spoken about the current political climate of our country. The following article examines this using principles of Psychology to enhance understanding of it....

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/4/11/16897062/political-psychology-trump-explain-studies-research-science-motivated-reasoning-bias-fake-news

As we have discussed in class, it is common these days for one to suffer from either anxiety or depression. Luckily, the availability of treatment for these disorders is greater than it has ever been. One treatment that has grown in popularity is the use of S.S.R.I medications. While they are often effective in terms of treatment for both depression and anxiety, some concern has evolved about the long-term use of them. Some patients have complained about becoming "addicted" to them and having trouble discontinuing their use. The following article is an excellent review of such an important issue.


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/07/health/antidepressants-withdrawal-prozac-cymbalta.html

MIDTERMS/Grades

As we complete and I return midterms/papers, please make note of the following:

At the current time, you should have grades for 2 quizzes, the Midterm, and the Paper (when it is returned).

• If I do not have a grade in the grade book then a 0 is assigned for the missing grade. When possible, I designated this on your midterm scantron. Please make sure and check that this is accurate and speak to me to clear up any discrepancy.
• If you were due any extra credit this would be designated on the Midterm scantron. Again, if for some reason this was not designated please let me know.
• Please keep in mind that if you failed to submit the paper by the deadline, a 0 will be assigned for that grade
• Also, a reminder that any absences over two will result on a 2 point decrease of the final average

Please take the time to make sure all grades are accurate. If there are any problems, please feel free to let me know!

SCHEDULE UPDATE

Hope everyone had a great Spring Break.

Given all the class cancellations I just wanted to provide an updated schedule for the next week.

MIDTERMS:

Psy 201H, Monday, 8:00am- Monday April 2nd
Psy 101, Tuesday 11:00am- Tuesday, April 3rd
Psy 101, Tuesday 12:30pm- Tuesday April 3rd

PAPERS:

Psy 201H, Monday, 8:00am- Monday April 2nd
Psy 215H, Monday 9:30am- Monday April 2nd
Psy215, Tuesday, 9:30am-Tuesday April 3rd
Psy 101, Tuesday 11:00am- Tuesday, April 3rd
Psy 101, Tuesday 12:30pm- Tuesday April 3rd

• Although we missed the deadline for early submission for the essay (if allowed) in order to be eligible you still need to meet the other criteria (i.e. writing center verification)

Additionally, classes on Wednesday, April 4th (Psy 215H, Psy 201H, are CANCELLED!)

Midterms for Psy 215 will be announced this week.

The college's policy for inclement weather does not include makeup days. As a result, topics will be assigned for students to cover to make up the missed classes. Announcements for these will be posted soon.

Please make sure you ask if you have any questions and check back for any updates!!!

MIDTERM EXAMS/NOTES

The following is the schedule for Midterm Exams:

Psy 201H, Monday/Wednesday, 8:00am- Wednesday March 21st
Psy 215H, Monday/Wednesday, 9:30am- Wednesday, April 4th
Psy 215, Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30am- Wednesday April 4th
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 11:00am- Thursday March 22nd
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30pm- Thursday, March 22nd

PLEASE NOTE:

• IF CLASS IS CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER (OR ANY OTHER REASON) THE EXAM WILL BE GIVEN ON THE NEXT SCHEDULED CLASS!!
• MAKEUPS FOR EITHER QUIZ 1 OR 2 MUST BE COMPLETE BY THE MIDTERM- FAILURE TO MAKE UP A QUIZ RESULTS IN A 0 FOR THAT GRADE
• FINAL DUE DATE FOR PAPERS IN PSY201H, PSY215H, AND PSY 215 IS THURSDAY, MARCH 22ND. FAILURE TO HAND IN THE PAPER BY THAT DATE RESULTS IN A 0 FOR THAT GRADE

PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!

PSY 101 STUDENTS-REMINDER REVIEW OF LEARNING THEORY ON MONDAY!

Attention Psy 101 Students:

Professor Nick Ullrich will be conducting a review for the topic of Behaviorism on March 19th, 2018, at 11:00am in Southampton Room 30. This topic will be included on our midterm which will most likely be given that week as well. Students who attend and sign the sign-in sheet will earn 3 points extra credit on the Midterm. This will be an excellent opportunity to begin to review for the midterm so all students are encouraged to attend.

If there are any questions please let me know.

This semester the Honors Club's major outreach project is hosting it's second annual Out of the Darkness Walk. The walk is aimed raise awareness of suicide prevent, raise money for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) which supplies aid to those struggling with suicide, as well as unit the Long Island community to show support for those struggling with a lose of hope.

This is an excellent opportunity to participate in a worthwhile cause!

PSY 101 BEHVAIORISM REVIEW

Attention Psy 101 Students:

Professor Nick Ullrich will be conducting a review for the topic of Behaviorism on March 19th, 2018, at 11:00am in Southampton Room 30. This topic will be included on our midterm which will most likely be given that week as well. Students who attend and sign the sign-in sheet will earn 3 points extra credit on the Midterm. This will be an excellent opportunity to begin to review for the midterm so all students are encouraged to attend.

If there are any questions please let me know.

THURSDAY MARCH 8TH CLASSES

As per the college's directive, the Psy 215 class held at 9:30am is cancelled. The Quiz that was scheduled today will be given next Thursday, March 15th.

All other classes/quizzes will be held as scheduled. 

SCCC Graduation

Now is the time to apply for graduation, if you expect to complete the requirements for an associate degree or a one-year certificate by May or August 2018.  Apply online by visiting MySCCC and selecting Apply for Graduation from the Quick Links for Students menu.

 

Keep the following items in mind:

 

·         Submit the application for graduation by April 1 to guarantee that your name will be included in the graduation program on commencement day.

·         Submit the application for graduation in order to be posted as a graduate.

·         Submit the application for graduation whether or not you are planning to attend the graduation ceremony.  This will ensure that your diploma contains the correct information.

 

Why is receiving your degree important?  That’s easy to answer.  If you will be attending another college, your associate degree may allow you to transfer more of your Suffolk County Community College credits.  Additionally, your degree can make possible many employment and scholarship opportunities as well as give you access to Suffolk’s alumni association benefits.  Finally, your Suffolk diploma is a testament to your hard work and accomplishment of this important educational goal.

 

If you have already filed for graduation, please disregard this notice.  We wish you all the best on your academic progress as you approach graduation.

General Class Updates

We are approaching our second quiz in each class. Please remember to bring the scantron from the first quiz as we will be using the back of it (as well as a pencil).

The following is a schedule of when the second quizzes will be given:

Psy 215, Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30am- Thursday, March 8th
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 11:00am- Thursday March 8th
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30pm- Thursday March 8th
Psy 201H, Monday/Wednesday, 8:00am- Monday March 12th\
Psy 215H, Monday/Wednesday, 9:30am- Monday March 12th

ALSO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND DUE DATE FOR FIRST EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY (for those who are eligible) is March 15th.

Finally, just a reminder, classes will be cancelled next Tuesday, March 13th.

Any questions or concerns please see me!

A deeper view of addiction...

As you may imagine, the issue of addiction is a complex one. While we live in a society that is always looking for that simple answer or  fix, the reality is it is rare that is actually the case. There has been an evolution of thought when it comes to addiction, with it originally thought of as a character flaw and more current thoughts revolving around a "disease" model. Some people feel the thought of addiction as a failure of the person still underlies the stigma associated with addiction and continues to influence the way our society approaches the current "Opioid Crisis". The following article, written by a Harvard trained philosopher, article takes a deeper look at this issue.....


https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/3/5/17080470/addiction-opioids-moral-blame-choices-medication-crutches-philosophy

Sports Psychology- When a sporitng career ends...

Psychologists can play a variety of roles in their professional careers. One specialty of Psychology is Sports Psychology. The following article is written by a sports psychologist (who happens to be a former Olympian) about the psychological impact of the Olympics ending on the athletes. He also touches on the more general topic of an athlete whom faces the issue of retirement.....

https://www.salon.com/2018/02/27/how-olympic-athletes-grapple-with-life-once-the-thrill-is-gone_partner/

Mental health and Shootings

As the debate rages on about the most effective ways to prevent the horrific tragedies that appear to be more common in our society now, it is important to understand there are no simple answers. One of these "simple" solutions that is often talked about is better "mental health" treatment. The following article which was written by an emergency room psychiatrist gives a realistic view of some of the challenges mental health professionals have in dealing with the issue......

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/opinion/mental-health-stopping-mass-shooters.html

SOME BASIC REMINDERS

Just wanted to take a moment to remind everyone to keep the following things in mind as the semester progresses:

1) For those of you allowed to submit the paper early: Make sure you go to the writing center and have them edit it before you submit it- ask for something as proof that you did so and submit it with paper! This will ensure you are eligible for re-submission

2) For those of you offered extra credit- make sure you have it complete and submitted by the mid-term

3) Make sure to do the reading, watch the videos and read the blog articles

4) Stay in touch: Please come and ask if you have any questions/concerns!!!!

1st Quizzes:

Psy 215H, Monday/Wednesday, 8:00am- Wednesday, February 21st
Psy 101, Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30am & 11:00am- Thursday, February 22nd
Psy 215, Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30am- Thursday, February 22nd
Psy 201H, Monday/Wednesday, 8:00am- Monday, February 26th

Psy 101- Extra Help for Quiz 1

Throughout the semester, SCCC offers extra help sessions specific to certain topics. The first one will be offered tomorrow, Wednesday, February 14th, during common hour (11:00am-12:00pm) in the Southampton Building Room 225. The topic will be Research Methods In Psychology.

This will be a major topic on our first quiz and the Midterm. Anyone whom attends from Psy 101 will be given 3 points extra credit on the Quiz. In order to receive the extra credit you must make sure you sign the sign-in sheet that will be sent around.

If you have any questions, please see me!

SMART PHONE ADDICTION

Recently, there has been growing discussion regarding the issue of addiction to technology and the possible negative impact it may have on our lives. The current article is an excellent introduction to some of the available research about this area and offers some suggestions on how to begin to deal with it.....

https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/30/health/smartphone-addiction-study/index.html

STUDENT LOANS

There is great debate about how much student loan debt is appropriate. The following article is a cautionary tale about making sure you understand what you are getting into when making a decision about student debt....

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/student-loans-survive-emotions.html

C.T.E

A major concern in today's athletes is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (C.T.E). This is a degenerative disorder resulting from multiple concussions. Research on this disease has dramatically impacted the way athletes whom suffer a concussion are managed. The following article offers excellent insight into the personal plight of the individuals and families impacted by CTE........

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/opinion/sunday/nfl-cte-brain-damage.html

Mental Health Education

Because of the stigma associated with mental illness, many people avoid acknowledging or discussion issues related to mental health. Recently, New York became the first state to begin the process of educating children about their own mental health. Such education could lead to early identification and intervention of mental illness, which dramatically improves prognosis. The following article talks about the recently passed regulation  which the mental health community advocated for....

 

https://themighty.com/2018/02/new-york-state-requiring-mental-health-education-schools/

PSY 215 TEXTBOOK

Attention all Psy 215 students: 

I placed a copy of the textbook for the class on reserve at the Ammerman Library. Thus, if you want to try and keep up with the reading until the books come in, you can at least access the text there.

Transfer Day

Get off to a good semester!

It is important to get off to a good start early in the semester. The following article gives 4 basic suggestions on how to do so!

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/01/07/4-simple-ways-to-start-your-semester-off-right/

PSY 215 TEXTBOOK

I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE BOOKSTORE THAT THE TEXTBOOK FOR PSY215 IS ON BACKORDER UNTIL 2/12/2018. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED WITH ANY UPDATES.

WELCOME SPRING 2018 STUDENTS

I      I am hoping we have a stimulating and enjoyable semester as you experience the world of Psychology. My goal is to offer students who are willing to work hard an opportunity to be immersed in the world of Psychology, explore topics of interest in more detail, and earn a good grade in the course.  I also am hoping you will pick up the necessary skills for writing a good academic research paper. On that note, I would like to share a few areas to focus on to both enhance your course experience and give yourself a chance to obtain the best grade possible:

Homework: Success at college depends as much on what you do outside the classroom as what you do inside of it. It will be important to consistently complete your standing homework assignments. If you do, they will provide you valuable context and reinforcement of class lectures. 

Your standing homework assignments are:

1. Keep up with the reading: It is a general assumption you will be doing a reading to accompany the class lectures. This will help enhance your understanding of the material and give you a deeper knowledge of the subject matter. The assigned reading for the topics we are covering in class can be found on the syllabus. 

2. Watch the assignment videos: The videos associated with the lectures were designed to provide you more details about different topics as well as reinforce material covered in class. Watching them is an excellent way to enhance your understanding and assist with the process of committing the material to memory for test preparation.

       3. Make sure you are aware of the due dates and requirements for all writing assignments and follow them!!!

4. Stay in touch: Many issues can be resolved earlier in the semester and can make the rest of the semester go much smoother. Make sure you are familiar enough with course expectations to ask the questions early in the semester. Feel free to ask during class time so everyone can get the benefit of the information. Office hours are listed on the syllabus and other times are available by appointment. 

       5.Check the Psychology blog on a regular basis for updates on the class, additional reading assignments, and extra credit opportunities, if/when they are offered.  

6. Class Participation: Please feel free to share thoughts, ideas, and questions during class. I find class discussion an integral part  of a stimulating learning experience and hope you will be an active participant in the class. 

       YOUR FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT is to familiarize yourself with the website which will be an invaluable resource throughout the semester!