Psychology (PSYC1-UC)

The field of psychology encompasses scientific research on the mind and behavior, as well as applications of psychological research to the promotion of health and well-being and to the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of psychological disorders. Its topics range from the level of molecules in the brain to the level of individual, cultural, and national differences. This course provides an overview of the theoretical underpinnings of psychology and the results of classic studies and current research in the major areas of this discipline: physiological psychology, learning and motivation, sensation and perception, cognition, emotion, development, social psychology, personality, and abnormal and clinical psychology. Students gain an understanding of major issues addressed in psychological research today, such as the complex interactions between nature and nurture, rationality vs. irrationality in decision making, and the neural bases of human behavior.

This course focuses on the psychological, medical, and social issues relating to life-threatening and terminal illness. Students are introduced to a developmental framework for understanding grief, mourning, bereavement, and resilience in the face of loss, and ethnic, cultural, and gender differences in bereavement expressions and practices are considered. The role of supportive resources in dealing with terminal illness and bereavement are also covered. The diverse ways in which people cope with issues relating to death, dying, and bereavement are explored through readings, discussion, and written assignments.

In this course, students gain an understanding of the methods psychologists use to study the mind and behavior. It prepares students for advanced courses and independent research projects. It covers research ethics, basic concepts of measurement and sampling, and research designs. This includes experimental and quasi-experimental designs, naturalistic observation, questionnaires, case studies, and structured interviews. As part of their work in the course, students write and present a research proposal on a topic of interest.

This course introduces the basic concepts and techniques of statistical methods. Students learn to evaluate experimental and non-experimental research designs as well as how to use statistics to describe data and to formulate and test hypotheses. Students gain a working knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics. Lectures and readings are supplemented by classes in the computer laboratory, where students develop practical experience using statistical packages such as SPSS to analyze data from sample data sets or data collected by students.

This course examines the nature and development of gender roles and the lifelong impact of gender on women's experiences. The course introduces students to differing theoretical perspectives, from Freud to feminist psychologists and contemporary writers, and covers recent empirical research on the development of gender roles and gender differences. Topics include the influences of biology, family, culture, and society in shaping gender identity and expectations; and the differential treatment of males and females in school, the workplace, and the media. This is an in-depth review of topics of special concern to women, such as sexuality, friendships and family, intimate relationships, the experience of parenting, and exploitation and violence.

This course explores the application of psychological science to individuals and groups in organizational settings. Students gain familiarity with ethical and legal issues in the selection, training, appraisal, and termination of workers, and with approaches to improving employees' performance and satisfaction. They also explore research on management styles and leadership, organizational socialization and commitment, the performance of work groups, and the effectiveness of strategies that jointly optimize employee and organizational effectiveness. The role of industrial-organizational psychologists in different kinds of work settings is illustrated with case studies.

This course presents current research on the nature, causes, and treatment of psychological disorders. The manifestations of major forms of psychopathology (schizophrenia, depressive and anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, personality disorders) are described and illustrated with case studies, and different theoretical approaches to understanding psychopathology are reviewed. Systems for classifying and diagnosing mental disorders are presented, as well as research involving neuropsychological tests and brain imaging. Differences relating to culture and ethnicity and emerging research on genetic, epigenetic, and environmental contributions to psychopathology are also covered.

In this course students explore the diverse social, cultural, and societal influences and contexts that shape human behavior. Students examine the many facets of human social interactions, including our perception and understanding of others; the communication and understanding of emotion; attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination; gender and ethnic identity; love and close relationships; conformity and obedience; altruism, aggression, and social deviance; group behavior; and leadership. Readings cover social psychological research in experimental and real life settings, and students are encouraged to relate the course material covered to current events and policy debates.

This course traces the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children from birth through adolescence. Emphasis is placed on the complex ways in which biological predispositions, the family, and broader cultural and socioeconomic influences interact in shaping the child's character and psychological adjustment at successive stages of development. Students gain familiarity with traditional and contemporary theories of human development and the research methods used by developmental psychologists. Special attention is given to recent findings on the importance of early attachment relationships and to the emerging field of developmental psychopathology. Course readings are supplemented by video, classroom demonstrations, and individual research projects.

This course concerns the study of individual differences in personality. It examines how biological predispositions, early experience, social and cultural context, and the way people perceive themselves shapes personality. Historical and contemporary theoretical perspectives on the nature and origins of personality differences are reviewed. Students gain familiarity with the diverse empirical research methods used to assess individual differences in personality and with the findings of contemporary empirical research.

This course acquaints students with the practice of clinical psychology through a survey of the principal approaches to assessing and treating mental disorders, including psycho pharmaceutical and other biological interventions and the diverse forms of psychotherapy. The history of psychotherapy will be traced, from classical Freudian psychoanalysis to contemporary schools, and the theoretical premises underlying different forms of therapy will be discussed. The use of structured diagnostic interviews, questionnaires, neuropsychological testing, and other techniques in the assessment and treatment of mental disorders will be examined, and evidence for the efficacy of different approaches will be discussed.

This course explores diverse approaches to studying emotions. It discusses the evolutionary origins and biological bases of emotions and emotional expressions; the universal and culturally variable aspects of emotion; emotional development in infants, children, and adults; the role of emotion in attachment relationships and social interactions; emotion-cognition relations; and applications of emotion research in clinical psychology, the health professions, education, and the business world. Students gain firsthand experience with research findings and methods through classroom demonstrations and video illustrations, personal diaries, and team projects.

Forensic psychology lies at the interface of the legal and mental health systems. The course reviews principles of psychiatric evaluation and diagnosis, legal terminology, the court system, and constitutional amendments. Specific issues include competency (to stand trial, to waive rights, to represent oneself, to be sentenced and to be executed); legal insanity; mental status at the time of an offense; sentencing and alternatives to incarceration; and treatment and services available to special criminal justice populations. The class also examines juvenile delinquency, sexual offenders, and aspects of family law and civil forensics such as child custody, competence for making a will, and refusing medication. Course readings and case summaries may be supplemented by guest lectures and visits to courts to provide first-hand exposure to the operation of the legal system.

This course presents the methods and findings of recent research on language. Topics include universal properties of human languages; language structure, speech production and comprehension; language development in infants and children; bilingualism and dialects; perceptual and cognitive processes underlying reading; properties of discourse; effects of severe environmental deprivation; language acquisition in deaf individuals; the neuropsychology of language; and the question of language in nonhuman primates.

This course provides an overview of the anatomical and neurophysiological underpinnings of mental processes and behavior, focusing on the organization and functioning of the nervous system. Students gain familiarity with traditional methods of studying brain structures and functions as well as with the increasingly powerful brain imaging tools of modern neuroscience. The course covers recent advances in research on the neurochemical, neuroanatomical, and neurophysiological bases of cognition, language, motivation and emotion, stress and coping, and social behavior.

This course covers the physiological and psychological mechanisms that allow people to process environmental information. Students learn how the sensory systems transmit information to the brain, and how this sensory information is organized and integrated with existing knowledge, allowing the perception of objects, people, and events in the world. Students also gain familiarity with the experimental methods used to study sensory and perceptual processes.

Cognitive psychologists study how organisms acquire, remember, categorize, and use knowledge. Cognitive psychology is concerned with attention, perception, conscious and nonconscious information processing, learning and memory, concept formation, symbolic representation and language, thinking and problem solving, and reasoning and decision making. This course familiarizes students with the methods used by cognitive psychologists and with current theories and research on cognitive processes. Students gain an appreciation for the diverse sources of errors in our reasoning and decision making and the need for critical thinking in real life as well as in academic studies.

Health psychologists seek to understand how health and illness are affected by biological, psychosocial, cultural, and socioeconomic factors, and how chronic illness and pain can affect psychological well-being. Course readings examine the influences of genetic predispositions and risk factors such as stress, depression, hostility, and abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Equally important are factors that play a role in maintaining health and well-being, such as positive attitudes, exercise, supportive family relationships, and social support. The course familiarizes students with the diverse settings in which health psychologists work and with the scientific methods used in this field, including behavioral research and research in neuropsychology and psychoneuroimmunology on the effects of stress on the brain and immune system. Approaches to treating stress and stress-related health problems and implications for community and public health are also addressed.

Special Topics courses provide students with the opportunity for in-depth study of new areas of research within psychology. Each course focuses on a different theme or topic. Recent courses include psychology and social issues, psychology and public health, psychology and spirituality, positive psychology, reading faces, meditation and the brain, and the psychology of addiction. The specific topic and any additional prerequisites are listed in each semester's schedule.

Traditional psychology emerged in a European milieu that reflected the cultural traditions and values of Western society. The field of cross-cultural psychology applies the theories and methods of contemporary psychological science to research on the characteristics and behavior of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. This course familiarizes students with methods used in cross-cultural research and with differing theoretical perspectives on the role of culture, race, and ethnicity in shaping thinking, attitudes, emotions, personality, and behavior. Course readings include topics such as similarities and differences across cultures in the expression and regulation of emotion, the concept of the self, mate selection, parenting practices, family and friendship ties, and inter-group relationships. The course also examines cultural variations in the development and manifestations of psychological disorders and cultural beliefs and practices concerning health and psychological well-being.