Psychology

The course provides students with core knowledge of current discussions about theories of how cognitive processes are shaped by more broad bodily processes, specially those of the motor system. It focuses on the influence of bottom-up processes in the formation of emotions, and the relation to theories of the self. The course encourages cross sectional discussions about the relationship between our three main overarching topics: embodiment, emotions, and the self, as well as the implications for cognition, behavior, and decision making. Students learn the relevance of these topics for psychology by examining some specific clinical disorders in both psychological and medical research. Similarly, examples for the relevance of this intersection in everyday-life as well as for areas outside psychology are highlighted.

In this course, students are introduced to the innovative and mind-blowing field of developmental neuropsychology. The anatomy of the brain and relevant brain functions are introduced at the beginning of the module. Through case studies, students explore the fundamental research and the most recent advances in the field. Students endeavor to find solutions to the questions presented by researching various articles and group discussion. For example, why is there a change in the ability to discriminate between human faces and monkey faces in babies of 12 months? And why is this difference not present at 6 months? Cognitive development is typically measured by changes or improvements in cognitive processes. In this course, processes such as language, reasoning, and memory etc. are explored in terms of their developmental trajectory and how this trajectory relates to changes in the maturing brain. It examines how these developmental changes can be measured by various neurological methods (e.g. fMRI and EEG). The field trip included in the course focuses on the importance of neuroscientific research methods and forms a unique and practical insight into the subject matter. Midway through the course the students construct a research proposal regarding developmental neuropsychology in subgroups and present this proposal.

This is a special studies course with projects arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific topics of study vary each term and are described on a special study project form for each student. The number of units varies with the student's project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student's special study project form.

This course introduces a variety of topics relevant to normal cognitive functioning as well as psychopathology. While one-half of the course takes a neuroscientific approach, the other half of the course draws on psychological, sociocultural, cognitive, and biological perspectives. Assessment: coursework (70%), final exam (30%).

The course introduces the main concepts of human resource management, practical use, and research discoveries. Topics include recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management and evaluation, compensation management, and workplace health management, lending understanding to the role and function of human resource management, as well as how the field of psychology is involved within the organizations. Text: G. Dessler, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT; and various references. Assessment: group project (40%), participation (20%), final exam (40%).

This course provides a comprehensive overview of drug use and the problem of addiction. It provides a framework for further independent study of the key issues and current research. The course helps students to understand the process of addiction from initiation of drug use through to treatment of addiction and relapse. It addresses psychological, biological, and social factors that influence this process and explore how and why individuals differ in their propensity to take drugs and develop addiction. The course introduces current theories of addiction and approaches to treatment, including current research and theory on behavior change. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of different classes of drugs of abuse are considered in order to understand how and why patterns of drug use differ and why drugs have different abuse liabilities and associated harms. The course also presents and discusses several critical issues in drug use and addiction, including drug-related policy (such as drug legalization and harms classification) and social stigma. Students develop a deeper understanding of the complexity of drug use and addiction from both a biological and social perspective, and the challenges of developing effective treatment strategies.

This course covers the basic theories and research methods of abnormal psychology. It examines the causes, course, coping strategies, and intervention methods of the main types of mental illnesses, as well as analyzes the diagnoses of major psychological diseases, the establishment of treatment guidelines, and intervention techniques.

This course discusses topics including a general framework and short historical overview of affective neuroscience; features and functions of some fundamental brain areas/structures involved in emotional processing; research methods in affective neuroscience: strengths and limitations of animal models and neuroimaging techniques; the neural basis of fear, reward, and aggression; and the neural networks implicated in anxiety disorders, depression, and psychopathy. This course requires knowledge of the structure and functions of central and peripheral nervous system, and on general psychopathology, as a prerequisite.