2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PSYC1629 Biological Psychology of Human Behaviour

20 creditsClass Size: 300

Module manager: Joe Blount
Email: J.Blount@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology, or BSs Psychology with Education programme entry requirements.

This module is mutually exclusive with

PSYC1628

Biological Psychology of Human Behaviour

Module replaces

PSYC1626 – The Biological Psychology of Sex, Drugs and Politics

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Brain functioning underlies human behaviour, and so is critical to our understanding of psychological phenomena. This module will outline the biological basis of human behaviour. This will be applied to different psychology topics, such as intelligence, reproductive behaviour, and psychopharmacology. Complementary research perspectives, such as neuroscience, neuropsychology, evolutionary and comparative approaches will be discussed. In particular, this module will pay close attention to the ethical and historical aspects of Biological Psychology.

Objectives

This module aims to introduce students to biological psychology theory, its application to real world questions, and relevant evolutionary, ethical, historical, and political perspectives. The module draws upon complementary evidence from psychological research and applies this to contemporary issues and important questions in society.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the biological bases of behaviour
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between biological psychology and psychopharmacology
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of biological psychology for peoples lived experience, society, and our evolutionary, and cultural history
4. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the research methods of biological psychology

Skills outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Creative communication of the biological processes of behaviour through collaborative and individual work
2. Presentation skills targeted to a specific audience
3. Critical thinking applied to both research methods in biological psychology, and their application in society

Syllabus

Foundations in biological psychology
1. Introduction to the module / Intro to the brain
2. Intro to Bio Psyc (including neurons, action potentials)
3. Psychopharmacology

Societal Issues: Applied aspects of Biological Psychology
4. Drug addiction
5. Drugs in society
6. Violence in the brain
7. Violent crime in society
8. Theories of Intelligence
9. Bias in Intelligence testing

Reproduction
10. Hormonal and neuronal influences of reproduction
11. Including comparisons with animal models
12. Evolutionary approach

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
seminars	6	1.50	9.00
Lecture	12	1.00	12.00
Independent online learning hours			39.00
Private study hours			140.00
Total Contact hours			21.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will have the opportunity to submit a formative piece of work in order to help students to prepare for the essay. This will be a 500 word essay plan, to assess students understanding of the topic. Students will also be provided with feedback in the group-based teaching sessions. Group-based teaching sessions will be an opportunity for students to work on their group assignments and so staff members can provide formative feedback during these sessions. Students will also work on tasks during the group teaching sessions, staff will be able to provide students with feedback during these sessions which will help students to clarify their understanding of the module content. This will be helpful for the completion of their group assignments and essay coursework. Students will have group based teaching sessions where they practise presenting material to each other, receiving both feedback from peers and also staff who are observing.
The final group-based teaching session will include a team quiz comprised of practise MCQ questions to allow students to grasp the style of questions and evaluate their knowledge in preparation for the MCQ exam.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	2000 word essay submitted week 8	40.00
Group Project	1 x Group Poster Presentation submitted week 10/11	25.00
Assignment	Formative essay plan - 550 word plan for students to receive feedback to help them prepare for the essay	0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		65.00

There is no compensation between summative components of assessment, all components must be passed. In the event of failure of one or more component(s), the module mark will be capped at 40 on successful resit of the failed component(s).

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online MCQ	1 hr	35.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		35.00

There is no compensation between summative components of assessment, all components must be passed. In the event of failure of one or more component(s), the module mark will be capped at 40 on successful resit of the failed component(s).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/09/2024

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