300

A systematic presentation of concepts related to the etiology, symptoms and treatment of psychological disorders.

Prejudice, a biased attitude toward people due to their group membership, continues to pose a serious threat to society. It can exist at both an explicit and/or implicit (hidden) level and seems to serve several fundamental psychological functions, making it difficult to eradicate. In this course, we will explore prejudice using a scientific lens and attempt to answer some crucial questions. Why does prejudice exist? Where does it come from? What forms does it take? How has it evolved throughout history? What functions does it serve? And what can we do to eradicate it?

Focuses on the application of the principles of psychology to consumer behavior.

This course explores the developmental changes that take place during a newly documented developmental period, emerging adulthood, which spans the ages of 18 to the late 20s. Over the course of the semester, we will investigate several questions about this developmental period by turning to the psychological literature, including: (1) What does it mean to be an adult? (2) What developmental changes are taking place during the college-age years? (3) Does being an emerging adult give one a “free pass” on deviant behaviors? (4) How does the current generation of college students differ from previous generations?

Examines theory and research in evolutionary psychology. The course is structured around ultimate explanations, descriptions that focus on the survival and reproductive consequences of (sometimes difficult to explain) human behaviors, and how they could have been shaped by natural selection. Comparative examples from pertinent animal literature are provided where appropriate.

Extension of elementary statistical and experimental methodological topics begun in PSY 211. Statistical coverage includes correlation, regression, and one-way and two-way analyses of variance. Methodological coverage includes a review of ethics, hypothesis testing, various experimental designs and control in experimentation.

Examines current and possible future drug treatments for psychopathological symptoms. Addictive drugs of abuse and their biological mechanisms are covered, as are controversies involving the possible overdiagnosis and overmedication of disorders that also respond well to behavioral and other therapeutic interventions. Critical interactions between "talk therapy" and the client's medicated or unmedicated state are addressed.

The course focuses on the growth, decline, and stability of psychological functioning in adulthood and aging. Some topics to be covered include physical and cognitive development, perception, memory, language, intelligence, thinking, knowledge, and moral reasoning. (Service learning may be required.)

Explores the sensory and physiological bases of perception and how people process relevant information in their environments. All five senses are covered, with primary emphasis on vision. Focal topics include the perceptual process, neural processing, perceiving objects, color, depth, size, movement, sound, speech, touch, flavor and odor.

Examines current theory and research in the field of relationships. Primary approach is social psychological, but other major theories of relationships are examined.

The various roles of the mind are examined in this course. Central topics investigated may include neurocognition, pattern recognition, selective and divided attention, sensory memory, working memory, long-term memory, acquisition and retrieval processes, memory errors, models of long-term memory, language, visual knowledge, and conscious versus unconscious thinking.

A course involving special topics in psychology. Provides students with the opportunity to explore subject matter in psychology more thoroughly than is possible in a formal class.