IIn the certificate, you will gain useful insights into human behaviour in different situations. An understanding of psychology is especially beneficial to counsellors, teachers, managers and those working in the fields of health and community services. It is also relevant to sports and child care. This course allows you to choose modules that best meet your particular career or study needs. It is useful as a first step to further study, for increasing your employabilty in various areas such a social or community services or human resources, and as a complement to your existing qualifications qualifications. This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.

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Course Code	VPS002
Fee Code	CT
Number of Modules	6
Duration (approx)	600 hours

Psychology is a fascinating area of study that can be appllied in all areas of our lives and at work. This course introduces you to many well-documented psychological phenomena, and can improve your  understanding of human behaviour in different situations.


COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is made up of 6 modules/subjects:

(Each Module = 100 hours)

- 2 core (compulsory) modules::

Introduction to Psychology
Aims include:

• Explain the nature and scope of psychology.
• Explain characteristics of the neurological basis of behaviour.
• Explain environmental effects on behaviour.
• Explain the differences between consciousness and perception.
• Explain the effect of personality on behaviour.
• Explain psychological development.
• Apply different techniques to motivate people.

Psychology and Counselling
Aims include:

• Identify the nature of conflict and stress and why this issue affects so many people today.
• Identify and examine behaviours that are characterised as abnormal and compare and contrast these with behaviours characterised as healthy.
• Explain social influence on individual behaviour.
• Explain social influence on group behaviour.
• Describe alternative methods of dealing with psychological problems
• Develop skills for resolving conflict.
• Develop communication skills for counselling individuals.

plus 4 additional (elective) modules: 
(Choose any four of the following) 

Industrial Psychology

Educational Psychology

Sports Psychology

Child Psychology

Biopsychology I

Marketing Psychology

Conflict Management

Counselling Skills I

Counselling Techniques

Professional Practice in Counselling 

 

Some Sample Notes from Our Sports Psychology Course -

STEPS IN BUILDING A TEAM

Most psychologists agree that there are 4 steps in building a team:

1. Forming

2. Storming

3. Norming

4. Performing

FORMING

This is a process that involves familiarising individual team members with each other. Through interactions (e.g. training, playing together, meetings, socialising, etc) they can test and discover one another’s weaknesses and strengths, and those discoveries contribute towards forming the individuals into a unified group. Social get-togethers for a club helps build a team.

STORMING

This involves negative interaction (e.g. conflict, fighting, rebellion, polarisation, aggression) surfacing and then being dealt with so they are eliminated from the team.

Commonly conflict within a team is social conflict (though it may not be obvious that it is social conflict). Storming is dealing with issues such as competition between individuals for status or attention from other members, or the coach. When the storm subsides, the issues should be resolved. Be careful that the underlying issue is not simply buried…it should be resolved.

NORMING

This involves getting organised. The tendency for individuals to go in different directions has been largely overcome, and the collective as well as individual desire, has been to go in the same direction. Each member of the team will be developing a growing respect for each other

PERFORMING

At this stage the group’s energies are focused most strongly on achieving the group goals. The team members have a close and mature rapport for each other. Relationships are secure and stable in such a team. This stage is achieved by avoiding rather than promoting interpersonal aggression or intra-team aggression; and by all members (including the coach) being positive and supportive towards ALL other members (and never negative).

CORE MODULE OUTLINES

Introduction to Psychology

This course covers basic principles of human psychology. There are seven lessons in this course, as follows:

The nature & scope of Psychology

Neurological basis of behaviour

Environmental effects on behaviour

Consciousness and perception

Personality

Psychological development

Needs, drives and motivation

Psychology and Counselling

Successful completion of this module will develop the learner’s ability to analyse psychological processes and apply that knowledge in counselling or advisory situations. There are seven lessons in this module, as follows:

Stress

Abnormal Behaviour

Individual Behaviour

Group Behaviour

Methods of Dealing with Abnormalities

Conflict Resolution

Interpersonal Communication Skills

ELECTIVE MODULES (selected outlines)

Child Psychology

This module is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the cognitive, behavioural and emotional development of children. There are twelve lessons in this module, as follows:

Introduction to Child Psychology

The Newborn Infant

States & Senses of the Infant

Learning

Emotions and Socialisation

Cognitive Development

Language Development

Intelligence

Socialisation – Part A

Morality

Sexuality

Socialisation – Part B

Industrial Psychology

This module will develop your understanding of how the psychological state of employees in the workplace affects both their work and their overall well being. There are ten lessons in this course, as follows:

Introduction

Understanding the Employees Thinking

Personality & Temperament

Psychological Testing

Management & Managers

The Work Environment

Motivation and Incentives

Recruitment

Social Considerations

Abnormalities and Disorders

Sports Psychology

Successful completion of this module will develop your skills and understanding of the psychological dimensions of sports performance and coaching. There are ten lessons in this module as follows:

Introduction

Psychological Traits of Successful Athletes        

Anxiety & Arousal

Motivation

Aggression

Leadership & Coaching

Team Dynamics

Special Groups.

Educational Psychology

Successful completion of this module will develop an understanding of the psychological processes that influence learning. There are eight lessons in this module as follows:

Introduction –Development & Learning Theory

Behavioural Learning

Information Processing

Memory Retention & Loss

Individual Needs

Constructivist Learning

Motivation

Conflict Management

This course gives the student insight into conflict and into different techniques for managing conflict to product positive outcomes. There are eight lessons in this course, as follows:

Conflict Management and Anger

Listening

Negotiation

Mediation

Facilitation

Balance of Power 

Discussion and Group Work

Crisis Analysis and Responses

Biopsychology

Successful completion of this module will develop your understanding of physiological influences on human behaviour and the influence of thoughts, feelings, perception and other psychological processes on the  physiology of the body. There are seven lessons in this module as follows:

Introduction

The Senses

The Nervous System

The Endocrine System

Stress

Emotions

Consciousness

Marketing Psychology

Successful completion of this module will develop your understanding of the psychological influences on  consumers, and your ability to  apply  psychology to marketing. There are eight lessons in this module as follows:

People as Consumers

Market Segmentation

Internal Influences –Perception & Personality

Internal Influences –Motivation and Awareness

Social Influences –Small groups and family; social class, culture etc

Consumerism

Communication and Persuasion

Deciding to Buy