This paper introduces students to a wide range of research, findings, and principles in psychology. It focusses first on lifespan development, social psychology, mental illness and forensic psychology, paying particular attention to the processes which influence individual, interpersonal and group wellbeing. Second, it examines closely the interaction between individuals and their environments. It will draw on models, theories and approaches both Western, and Indigenous to Aotearoa, Asia and the Pacific.

Students should be aware that this paper, by its nature, includes topics that some might find challenging, such as racism and other forms of anti-social behaviour.

Lectures: This year, lectures will be replaced by video recordings, which will be available on Moodle at the usual lecture times. Students should watch all of these and compete related activities.

Labs: Laboratory classes (sometimes referred to as 'labs', 'tutorials', or 'tutes') will begin in the second week of the semester and run every week except:

• the teaching recess (the weeks commencing the 24th and 31st August)
• the week after the recess (the week commencing 7th September)

Students are strongly encouraged to attend lab classes in person, but some of the scheduled 'in person' labs will be replaced by Zoom, for students who are not able or do not wish to attend in person. Students should enrol for their preferred lab time on Moodle in the first week of the trimester (whether in person or via Zoom), and attend one lab per week, for these 10 weeks.

Please note that the labs in the first week will be in computer rooms; all other labs (the remaining 9 weeks that labs are run) will be as listed on Moodle.

Classes that commence in the morning start on the hour and finish at ten minutes to; classes that commence in the afternoon, from 1.00, actually begin at ten minutes past, for example, 2.10pm. This means that 'hour'-long classes actually run for 50 minutes, allowing students time to get to their next class (or Zoom session).

There is a required textbook for this paper, and other required readings - these will be included in assessment and students are strongly advised to keep up with this material. Further information on readings is provided below.

Course Credits for Research Participation

Students in PSYCH101 have the option of earning up to 3% towards their final mark by participating in research that is based at the University or completing alternative research summaries. You can mix and match these options. These research projects are usually experiments or surveys conducted by our staff and post-graduate students. These course credits cannot be used to change your overall grade from a fail to a pass, but may be used to increase your grade, for example, from a B to a B+. Typically you will be offered 1% course credit for participating, but this varies according to the time involved. You can only participate in each project once. Relevant projects are advertised on Moodle, on Psych Café (under Research Participation) - but please note that not all research projects include this possibility, it is the student's responsibility to check the research information sheet.

Please note that the final test is compulsory. This means that if you do not sit it, you cannot pass the paper.

If you are unable to sit the test due to reasons beyond your control, you must contact the teaching assistant as soon as possible.

Please make sure to read the paper outline, as it contains the answers to all common questions.

Additional resources, such as access to additional readings, lab enrolment, assignment submission and lecture materials, will be available on the Moodle page for this paper.

If students have questions about the paper in general they should contact the teaching assistants using the 'Ask the Teaching Assistants' forum on Moodle, not via email. Questions that are already answered by the paper outline may take several days to be answered.

Usually lectures will be recorded and these will be made available within 24 hours. Lecture notes will also usually be available within 24 hours. However, students should note that some staff prefer not to record lectures or provide notes and ocassionally technical problems occur. Students are very strongly advised to attend every lecture and write their own notes.

Students should expect to spend approximately 10 hours a week on this course, including:

• Lecture materials: 4 hrs
• Laboratories: 2 hrs
• Reading, revision, test preparation, assignments: 4 hrs.

Please note, however, that this is a guide only. Students vary in the amount of time they wish, or need, to dedicate to achieve the marks they want.

This paper, along with its companion paper PSYCH100, are required for students majoring in psychology and together they provide students with a general understanding of the main areas of psychology. It is a pre-requisite for several higher papers in psychology. Either can be taken as an elective by students in other areas of university study. PSYCH101 is also required or strongly recommended for several other disciplines.