Psychology (PS-UY)

This course looks at how people interact with their environments: how settings affect behavior; how people change environments to fit their needs; and how people can become an active part of the environmental-design process. The course discusses how people use space and the way environmental design meets (or fails to meet) human needs. These concerns are valid for very-small-scale design problems (as in human-factors engineering); mid-size spaces (architecture and interior design); large-scale spaces (communities, urban areas). | Prerequisites: Completion of first year writing requirements . Co-requisites: None. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with basic concepts, research findings and theories related to the way in which human characteristics, capabilities and limitations, including physiology and psychology, affect system design and performance. Students will develop a basic understanding of methods for studying and assessing human behavior and for analyzing human performance. It will introduce aspects of system, interface, organizational design and physical setting as they influence operators and performance. Satisfies an HuSS Elective. | Prerequisites: Completion of first year writing requirements.

This course is designed to acquaint students Health psychology as a field concerned with how to promote and maintain health through examination of causes and correlates of health, and prevention, intervention and treatment of illness. The course will 1) provide a thorough examination of health beliefs, illness cognitions and psychological aspects of health care (such as factors affecting service utilization, the role of health care provider and of patient) all of which are of vital importance in the prevention and treatment of illnesses; 2) focus on changing specific health related behaviors through prevention and intervention programs, and the role of stress, coping and social support in maintaining one’s physical and emotional well-being and in the etiology of diseases; and 3) explore the management of chronic and terminal illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and HIV. It is expected that by the end of the semester, students will have a deep understanding of the relationship among biological, psychological and social factors in predicting individuals’ health status. | Prerequisites: Completion of first year writing requirements. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS Elective.

Focus on a special topic in psychology completed under the guidance of faculty member. May be repeated for credit on a different topic. Agreement of instructor required before registration.

Humor is considered one of the most pleasurable positive emotions. The questions asked will include What makes something funny? Why do people find someone falling down funny in one culture and tragic in another? What are the cross-cultural implications of humor and how have they been affected by a global worldview? How has the Internet changed our view of humor, now that technologies like YouTube make it possible for anyone to be a director or cinematographer with a worldwide audience? Topics will include psychoanalysis; superiority; reversal theories of humor; the psychology and psychobiology of humor; and humor, laughter and mental health. | Prerequisites: Completion of first year writing requirements. Co-requisites: None. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

This course addresses the psychological bases of environmental problems, investigates theories of behavior change as they relate to environmental issues and introduces practical strategies to foster behavior change. Topics include the ways in which the fit (or lack of it) of design to human behavior can affect environmentally relevant behaviors, such as energy use and recycling. Course issues include designing green buildings and creating sustainable communities. | Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

This course considers issues, research and theory in relation to creating human habitats in extreme space, undersea and polar regions. The course reviews firsthand experiences and formal studies of life in these settings, and extrapolates from work in other, less extreme human settings. Psychological issues include privacy, territoriality, isolation and crowding, light and views of nature, as well as personality and organizational issues. Students complete a research paper and engage in a team-design project. | Prerequisites: Completion of first year writing requirements. Co-requisites: None. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

This course considers issues, research and theory in relation to creating human habitats in extreme space, undersea and polar regions. The course reviews firsthand experiences and formal studies of life in these settings, and extrapolates from work in other, less extreme human settings. Psychological issues include privacy, territoriality, isolation and crowding, light and views of nature, as well as personality and organizational issues. Students complete a research paper and engage in a team-design project. | Prerequisites: Completion of first year writing requirements. Co-requisites: None. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

This course discusses selected topics and issues in psychology at the 3000 level. | Prerequisites: One Level 2 PS course and completion of first year writing requirements. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

This course discusses selected topics and issues in psychology at the 3000 level. | Prerequisites: One Level 2 PS course and completion of first year writing requirements. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

This course discusses new or experimental topics in psychology offered by current or visiting faculty. | Prerequisites: One Level 2 PS course. Co-requisites: None. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

This course discusses selected topics and issues in psychology at the 3000 level. | Prerequisites: One Level 2 PS course and completion of first year writing requirements. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.

The course focuses on selected problems in psychology. Faculty members supervise students in pre-arranged individual or group studies/projects involving guided reading or research. This course is for mature students who undertake specialized independent study under tutorial guidance. | Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Co-requisites: None. Notes: Satisfies a HuSS elective.