67011101 Introduction to Psychology A

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 67011101 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name 心理学概論A[1教心]

Subject Name
（Katakana）シンリガクガイロンA

Subject Name in
English Introduction to Psychology A

Instructor KASHIHARA JUN

Instructor
(Katakana) カシハラ　ジュン

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, First Semester, 1Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1T) Mon1-4：IAS L102

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Lecture-oriented. Partly using mutual learning methods, such as group discussion.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 06 : Psychology

Eligible Students 1st-Year

Keywords SDG_03, social psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, personality

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Psychology
Expected Outcome 1. To be able to explain the formation and development processes and contemporary issues of each academic discipline.
2. To be able to explain historical and contemporary issues that span multiple academic disciplines from multifaceted perspectives.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline Course Objectives:
1. To be able to explain the history and structure of psychology.
2. To be able to explain mechanisms and functions of the human mind.
3. Understand the major research topics and methodologies in each subfield of psychology.

Course Outline:
This is an introductory psychology course to overview traditional theories and empirical studies underlying the modern psychological science. It covers the following subfields of psychological science: social, developmental, clinical, and personality psychology. It is recommended to take the Introduction to Psychology B course as well, to obtain an overview of the entire field.

Class Schedule Lesson 1. Introduction: History, structure, and current directions of psychology
Lesson 2. Developmental psychology (1): Development of the human mind and underlying biophysiological mechanisms
Lesson 3. Developmental psychology (2): Multi-layered development of cognitions and interpersonal processes
Lesson 4. Developmental psychology (3): Life-long development and life-cycle theories
Lesson 5. Developmental psychology (4): Developmental disorders and clinical care
Lesson 6. Personality (1): Theories and measurements of personality
Lesson 7. Personality (2): Malleability of personality and longitudinal data analysis
Lesson 8. Personality (3): Personality disorders and dark personality
Lesson 9. Social psychology (1): Evolution of the human as a social animal
Lesson 10. Social psychology (2): Social cognitions
Lesson 11. Social psychology (3): Self in a social context
Lesson 12. Social psychology (4): Interpersonal relationships
Lesson 13. Social psychology (5): Understanding Mental health problems from social psychological viewpoint
Lesson 14. Clinical psychology as a hub-science
Lesson 15. Conclusion: How to pursue ‘psychological science’

Final report

As the lecturer has a plan to attend an international conference in the first term, some classes possibly be delivered as video-lectures. Further details will be announced in classes.

In each class, you will have some group discussion. In addition, recent findings and issues related to the class content will be introduced. After each class, you need to hand in a short report to summarize what you have learnt. Finally, you must hand in a final report to review the entire course and to try further applications of the basic knowledge (e.g., thinking over how you can bridge psychology and other disciplines).

Text/Reference
Books,etc. We will use a textbook written in Japanese. See the Japanese syllabus for details. Several reference books will be introduced during the classes.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Visual Materials, moodle

(More Details) PowerPoint slides and short report assignments for each class will be delivered via Moodle. Although you do not have to bring the textbook to the lecture room, you need to read corresponding chapters before/after the classes. In some classes, visual materials including YouTube videos will be used.

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Lesson 1. Overview the subfields of psychology and think over which subfields seem most interesting to you.
Lesson 2. Discuss how the developments of bodies and brains contribute to those of minds in babies and infants.
Lesson 3. Overview the classic research findings about theory-of-mind and describe the processes in which theory-of-mind is developed in infants.
Lesson 4. Overview the Erikson’s theory of developmental stages and identify developmental tasks that are especially important in our modern society.
Lesson 5. Pick up one developmental disorder and clarify similarities and differences with your own personality.
Lesson 6. Answer a short version of big-five questionnaire and clarify strengths and weaknesses regarding your personality.
Lesson 7. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the longitudinal measurement designs to capture temporal changes in personality.
Lesson 8. Pick up one personality disorder and clarify similarities and differences with your own personality.
Lesson 9. Identify adaptive functions of negative psychological processes, including depression and anxiety.
Lesson 10. Pick up some domestic and international news to discuss why social activities against discrimination and inequity often lead to backlash effects.
Lesson 11. Pick up your experience to illustrate how our self-concepts are affected by others.
Lesson 12. Understand why and how contrasting behaviors occur in human relationships, including inclusion vs exclusion and helping behavior vs bullying.
Lesson 13. Overview some studies of social and clinical psychology to think over how social groups influence individuals’ mental health and why mental illness stigma persists in our modern society.
Lesson 14. Understand why and how modern clinical psychological science is developing as a hub science to connect various academic disciplines. Overview the psychological network approach as an example of cutting-edge clinical research.
Lesson 15. Overview the open science practices to increase reproducibility of the psychological science.

Requirements Regular attendance is required. In case you have no choice but to skip some classes due to unavoidable reasons, please follow the student handbook and hand in the official absence form.
Requests for deadline extensions, as well as re-submission after the deadline, will never be accepted. Please do your homework early and be sure to check the file content before submission.

Grading Method Your grade will be based on short reports for each class (20%) and the final report (80%). Inactive attitudes during the classes will reduce your marks.

Practical Experience Experienced

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it My training experience as a certified clinical psychologist will be reflected in the lectures about mechanisms of human minds.

Message Don’t hesitate to ask questions during lectures. Your questions will help the other students and encourage the instructor greatly.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	67011101	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	心理学概論A[1教心]
Subject Name （Katakana）	シンリガクガイロンA
Subject Name in English	Introduction to Psychology A
Instructor	KASHIHARA JUN
Instructor (Katakana)	カシハラ　ジュン
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, 1Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1T) Mon1-4：IAS L102
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Lecture-oriented. Partly using mutual learning methods, such as group discussion.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	06 : Psychology
Eligible Students	1st-Year
Keywords	SDG_03, social psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, personality
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Liberal Arts Education	Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Psychology
Expected Outcome	1. To be able to explain the formation and development processes and contemporary issues of each academic discipline. 2. To be able to explain historical and contemporary issues that span multiple academic disciplines from multifaceted perspectives.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	Course Objectives: 1. To be able to explain the history and structure of psychology. 2. To be able to explain mechanisms and functions of the human mind. 3. Understand the major research topics and methodologies in each subfield of psychology. Course Outline: This is an introductory psychology course to overview traditional theories and empirical studies underlying the modern psychological science. It covers the following subfields of psychological science: social, developmental, clinical, and personality psychology. It is recommended to take the Introduction to Psychology B course as well, to obtain an overview of the entire field.
Class Schedule	Lesson 1. Introduction: History, structure, and current directions of psychology Lesson 2. Developmental psychology (1): Development of the human mind and underlying biophysiological mechanisms Lesson 3. Developmental psychology (2): Multi-layered development of cognitions and interpersonal processes Lesson 4. Developmental psychology (3): Life-long development and life-cycle theories Lesson 5. Developmental psychology (4): Developmental disorders and clinical care Lesson 6. Personality (1): Theories and measurements of personality Lesson 7. Personality (2): Malleability of personality and longitudinal data analysis Lesson 8. Personality (3): Personality disorders and dark personality Lesson 9. Social psychology (1): Evolution of the human as a social animal Lesson 10. Social psychology (2): Social cognitions Lesson 11. Social psychology (3): Self in a social context Lesson 12. Social psychology (4): Interpersonal relationships Lesson 13. Social psychology (5): Understanding Mental health problems from social psychological viewpoint Lesson 14. Clinical psychology as a hub-science Lesson 15. Conclusion: How to pursue ‘psychological science’ Final report As the lecturer has a plan to attend an international conference in the first term, some classes possibly be delivered as video-lectures. Further details will be announced in classes. In each class, you will have some group discussion. In addition, recent findings and issues related to the class content will be introduced. After each class, you need to hand in a short report to summarize what you have learnt. Finally, you must hand in a final report to review the entire course and to try further applications of the basic knowledge (e.g., thinking over how you can bridge psychology and other disciplines).
Text/Reference Books,etc.	We will use a textbook written in Japanese. See the Japanese syllabus for details. Several reference books will be introduced during the classes.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Visual Materials, moodle
(More Details)	PowerPoint slides and short report assignments for each class will be delivered via Moodle. Although you do not have to bring the textbook to the lecture room, you need to read corresponding chapters before/after the classes. In some classes, visual materials including YouTube videos will be used.
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Lesson 1. Overview the subfields of psychology and think over which subfields seem most interesting to you. Lesson 2. Discuss how the developments of bodies and brains contribute to those of minds in babies and infants. Lesson 3. Overview the classic research findings about theory-of-mind and describe the processes in which theory-of-mind is developed in infants. Lesson 4. Overview the Erikson’s theory of developmental stages and identify developmental tasks that are especially important in our modern society. Lesson 5. Pick up one developmental disorder and clarify similarities and differences with your own personality. Lesson 6. Answer a short version of big-five questionnaire and clarify strengths and weaknesses regarding your personality. Lesson 7. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the longitudinal measurement designs to capture temporal changes in personality. Lesson 8. Pick up one personality disorder and clarify similarities and differences with your own personality. Lesson 9. Identify adaptive functions of negative psychological processes, including depression and anxiety. Lesson 10. Pick up some domestic and international news to discuss why social activities against discrimination and inequity often lead to backlash effects. Lesson 11. Pick up your experience to illustrate how our self-concepts are affected by others. Lesson 12. Understand why and how contrasting behaviors occur in human relationships, including inclusion vs exclusion and helping behavior vs bullying. Lesson 13. Overview some studies of social and clinical psychology to think over how social groups influence individuals’ mental health and why mental illness stigma persists in our modern society. Lesson 14. Understand why and how modern clinical psychological science is developing as a hub science to connect various academic disciplines. Overview the psychological network approach as an example of cutting-edge clinical research. Lesson 15. Overview the open science practices to increase reproducibility of the psychological science.
Requirements	Regular attendance is required. In case you have no choice but to skip some classes due to unavoidable reasons, please follow the student handbook and hand in the official absence form. Requests for deadline extensions, as well as re-submission after the deadline, will never be accepted. Please do your homework early and be sure to check the file content before submission.
Grading Method	Your grade will be based on short reports for each class (20%) and the final report (80%). Inactive attitudes during the classes will reduce your marks.
Practical Experience	Experienced
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it	My training experience as a certified clinical psychologist will be reflected in the lectures about mechanisms of human minds.
Message	Don’t hesitate to ask questions during lectures. Your questions will help the other students and encourage the instructor greatly.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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