PSYC-Psychology

Explores contemporary theories, findings, and social issues regarding the psychology of women. Emphasis is placed on understanding how gender role socialization influences women's beliefs and behaviors across the lifespan. Topics include achievement, intimate relationships, motherhood, mental health, violence against women, and empowerment. Students cannot receive credit for this course and course 140G.

A study of human sexuality emphasizing its psychological aspects. Sexual development, sexual orientations, biological influences, sexual attitudes and behavior, gender and gender roles, sex therapy, sexual coercion and abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and the development of sexual relationships.

Explores how gender is negotiated and defined through verbal and nonverbal forms of communication. Topics include sexism in language, images of gender in the media, the socialization of gender through language, gender bias in schools, gender-related variations in communication, and dominance and equality in relationships.

Students gain familiarity with transcription and analysis of child language data. Concurrent enrollment in course 103 is required.

Examines current issues of diversity from the perspective of theory and current empirical research in developmental psychology and related fields. Emphasis is on understanding children and families from increasingly diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, both rural and urban, by examining social, cultural, and psychological processes underlying their development. (Formerly course 100G.)

Examines theory, research, and methods of studying the inherent cultural basis of human development and variations and similarities in human lives and activities in different communities worldwide. The approach draws on ideas and observations from psychology, anthropology, linguistics, sociology, and history. Course includes lab exercises using interview and observation methodologies and presentations of library research. (Formerly course 113.)

Critically analyzes relations among culture, ethnicity, identity, and the nation-state in a world characterized by globalization, migration, and social change. Examines the relevance of these features for the development of children and youth through examples from both Western and non-Western cultures. Satisfies the seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement.

Focuses on the contribution of cultural and social relationships (e.g., parent-child, peers, siblings) to cognitive development. Special emphasis on the mechanisms through which relationships influence cognition and the features of social interactions that promote and inhibit development. Satisfies the senior seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement (Formerly course 100C.)

Explores the dynamic interface between thought and language throughout development. Focuses on early expression and understanding of meaning in infants and young children and on analysis of everyday conversations and activities of children as a window on developing understandings of the world. Satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies senior comprehensive requirement.

Examines a special topic of current interest in personality and/or developmental psychology, such as attachment, self-images, self-narratives, motivation, longitudinal studies, systematic descriptions of contexts, and special topics in adolescence. Emphasizes conceptual and methodological issues. Satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies senior comprehensive requirement. (Formerly course 115.)

The application of the principles of cognitive experimental psychology to human performance in everyday situations. Focuses on perceptual problems, attention, motor behavior, studying for learning and memory, decision strategies, reading, multimedia, communication, and creative behavior.

How do mental processes arise from the structures and mechanisms of the brain? This question will be addressed from a neuropsychological perspective--what types of cognitive impairment can arise from injuries, diseases, and developmental disorders of the brain.

Students carry out exercises and experiments demonstrating basic sensory processes in visual, auditory, and skin systems. Discussion of relationships between laboratory observations and lecture material of course 121. Concurrent enrollment in course 121 is optional.

Introduction to computer-based approaches in studying the reading process. Discussion of relationships between laboratory exercises and demonstrations and lecture material of course 124. Concurrent enrollment in course 124 is required.

Affords students the opportunity to work in teams to design and conduct small, independent research projects on human memory. Students present the results in class, and write an APA-style report. One two-hour session per week. Concurrent enrollment in course 129 is required.

Students achieve an understanding of language and its acquisition. The course evaluates nativist and empiricist views, language comprehension and production, speech and reading, and technological influences in language acquisition and its use. Prerequisite(s): upper-division coursework in psychology, cognitive psychology, linguistics, engineering, or computer science.

Course goal is to support the development of reflective thought to provide students with a more complete set of skills (psychological literacy). Various problem-solving and decision-making scenarios will be presented and analyzed within the context of cognitive psychology. (Formerly course 139.)

Advanced laboratory experience with research methods and phenomena in cognitive psychology. Satisfies the seminar requirement. Satisfies the comprehensive requirement.

Provides link between course 140G and community organizations that work with women. Students complete internships with relevant agencies and participate in seminar meetings.

An introduction to psychological theories of human motivation, including both those focused on the self and those highlighting the effects of social settings. Applications of these theories to domains such as politics or sports will be discussed.

An exploration of the history and foundation of contemporary Chicano psychology. Examines Chicano psychology from its roots as a social movement to its present status as a sub-discipline of psychology. Major topics covered are identity, family, gender issues, language issues, education, and the media.

Introduces the study of conflict and intergroup relations. Examines historical and cultural foundations of group psychology and social psychological theory and research on conflict between groups, cultures, and nations. Surveys work on multiculturalism, race relations, and global political conflict. Applies social psychological theories to cases of intergroup conflict.

Advanced seminar designed to provide a rigorous, in-depth analysis of basic issues in experimental social psychology. Topics include attitudes, social cognition, cognitive dissonance, person perception, and information integration. Course satisfies seminar requirement.

Introduces students to all aspects of conducting survey research and exposes students to the most current issues involved in interview surveys. Covers survey design, questionnaire construction, sampling, coding, interviewing, analysis, and report writing. Students develop a survey to integrate their learning into practical application.

Provides a link between course 153 and community organizations with an antipoverty mission. Students complete internships with nonprofit agencies and participate in seminar meetings.

Students are introduced to the writings of Chicana feminists to identify the gender issues that produce conflict and cooperation in their communities. The course also makes linkages to gender issues in other U.S. communities of color and Latin America.

Introduces portrayals of Latinos in the U.S. media including magazines, film, and television. Covers the most recent social psychological research on media representations and implications for identity.

Introduces examples of portrayals of Latinos in the media, and students are taught how to conduct research using these materials. Concurrent enrollment in course 158 is required.

Empirically examines several aspects of the criminal justice system (in particular, jury decision making and media effects on juror fairness and impartiality). In addition to extensive reading, students participate in research projects. Satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies senior comprehensive requirement.

Reviews contemporary social issues research. Emphasizes understanding how researchers study social problems and how theory and research can contribute to social change. Examines intersections of psychology and social policy. Satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies senior comprehensive requirement.

Considers the relationship between culture and identity in the local context of multiculturalism in the United Sates and the global context of conflict and identity politics. Examines concept of culture, ethnicity, race, and identity in social science literature. Considers issues of power, social justice, and identity pluralism in both domestic and international contexts. Satisfies the senior seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement.

Course is a continuation of course 151A which introduces students to the writings of Chicana feminists to identify the gender issues that cause conflict and cooperation in their communities. The seminar format allows students an opportunity for extensive discussion.

Reviews and discusses scholarship that takes into account women's role in development and how access to resources impacts the structures that perpetuate gender inequalities. Uses a transnational gendered lens to evaluate the impacts of globalization on women's well-being and ways alternative development can alter structural inequities and transform the conditions in which women can confront aspects of their subordination, thereby impacting their psychological well-being. Satisfies senior seminar and senior comprehensive requirements.

Course strives toward three goals of varying specificity: knowledge of the psychological literature on small groups, aspects of group functioning, and what theorists have found in group studies; effectiveness in group settings; and behavior in group settings. Students required to set aside one weekend for lab work. Satisfies the seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement.

Selected cognitive and personality processes associated with creativity by means of systematic observations, interviews, and/or controlled studies undertaken on a group or individual basis.

Examines theories, research, and practices that suggest ways creativity can be fostered in the arts and sciences as well as in business, education, social action, and everyday life. Focuses on special topics of personal interest to students. Satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies senior comprehensive requirement.

The study of creative people, processes, and places in the arts, literature, science, business, and education. Examines theories, systematic research, and case studies. Social roles, economic factors, child-rearing practices, and educational methods which may influence creativity are also studied. (Formerly course 162A.)

Examines selected topics in creativity which are of particular interest to seminar members. Topics will be explored in greater depth and from more perspectives than in course 162A. Satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies senior comprehensive requirement.

Students have opportunities to examine, explore and experience a variety of assessment techniques and research methods used in the study of creative people, processes, and environments. Course meets one hour per week to accompany course 162. Enrollment is optional and limited to students who are concurrently enrolled in course 162,

Explores a single topic of current interest in personality psychology, such as resilience, attachment, motivation, self-narratives, self-concept, longitudinal studies, or cross-cultural perspectives. Examines relevant theories, research, and practical applications. Active student participation is required. Satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies senior comprehensive requirement.

Students are placed in a community service agency which offers the opportunity for applying theory and research from course 169. Practicum includes supervision, discussion, problem-solving, and further understanding of community issues reflected in human care services. (Formerly a 2 credit course; now a 5 credit course.)

An intensive exploration of the nature of conflict in human interactions and of the various approaches developed for managing and resolving it. Particular focus upon mediation as a most promising approach.

Examines theories of human motivation from perspectives provided by personality, developmental, educational, organizational, cross-cultural and evolutionary psychology. Also examines methods used to measure and study motivational tendencies and processes. Active seminar participation is required. Course satisfies seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior seminar requirement. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement. (Formerly course 174.)

A study of the discovery of unconscious motives and symbols which opened up new avenues of understanding artists and their art; a review of empirical methods for testing hypotheses derived from theory. Examination of case studies of individual artists.

Focuses on the process of quantitative research synthesis (meta-analysis). Topics include: literature search; coding; effect-size calculation; fixed- and mixed- and random-effects models for effecting size; special problems in meta-analysis.

Statistical methods for challenging problems in psychological research. Topic changes each time the course is offered. Topics include: item response theory, hierarchical modeling, longitudinal analysis, analysis of categorical data.

Investigates how people think about the social world. Topics include social categorization, person perception and memory, and social judgment. Offered in alternate academic years.

Goal is to understand how people interact with the natural world and how technology benefits this interaction.

An information-processing analysis of speech perception and reading. The stages of information processing in understanding language are studied, with particular emphasis on pattern recognition processes, memory processes, and utilization of context and knowledge in speech perception and reading.

Special topics in psychology and cognitive science are examined in a seminar format. Focus is on global issues of methodological and theoretical approaches.

Deals with second-language research; reviews the recent history of the field and discusses current literature. Focus is on research design and methodology, as well as on the theories that have evolved in this field.

A detailed consideration of selected topics on the visual system.

Integrative seminar on the relationship between individual psychological experience and its social, cultural, and institutional context. Explores various paradigms of culture in social science literature, including psychoanalytic theory, culture and personality, cultural psychology, Marxism, symbolic interactionism, poststructuralism, postcolonial theory, narrative, and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. (Formerly Person, Culture, Society.)

The application of clinical and social psychological concepts and assessment techniques to the criminal justice system. Topics include insanity, competency, dangerousness, sentencing, incarceration, recidivism, and the role of psychologists in legal decision-making. Offered in alternate academic years.

Throughout the history of social psychology, attitude has been one of social psychology's major theoretical constructs, and persuasion has been one of it's perennial high-activity areas of empirical research. Discusses a range of contemporary issues in the study of attitudes and attitude change.

A survey of contemporary and historical developmental theories, with special attention to their assumptions, philosophical roots, empirical underpinnings, and positions on major developmental issues.

Looks at theories of distributive, procedural, and retributive justice; seeks universal justice norms (e.g., reciprocity); and critically examines the rules of evidence and inference guiding psychological findings. Emphasis on student participation and research.

An examination of enduring and contemporary issues in the study of personality development over the lifespan. Emphasis on issues involved in conceptualizing and measuring individual differences and in understanding their sources and significance.

Examines human creativity from a variety of perspectives, including those of developmental, social, cognitive, personality, organizational, and educational psychology. Explores multiple disciplinary perspectives and their possible integration.

An analysis of the development of the main approaches in contemporary psychology, with an emphasis on the history of ideas.

The psychological underpinnings of schooling. Applies fundamental psychological principles and findings to the educational process. Relevant topics include the psychology of learning, memory, attention, thinking, problem solving, computer-assisted instruction, and motivation, as well as specific domains of application of these areas.

Reviews the 20th-century history of social research on American black-white relations. Provides an overview of current theory and research. Focuses on social psychological contributions. Features extensive readings, seminar discussions and presentations, and a final substantive paper.

Explores the philosophy and pragmatics of teaching psychology at a college/university level. Students read various articles on contemporary teaching methods in psychology and engage in various exercises to develop their teaching skills.