Psychology

This course investigates the cognitive correlates (information processing) and neurobiological mechanisms of declarative, or explicit memory. It discusses several cognitive models, including Baddeley's Working Memory model, the Modal model, and the interference theory in forgetting. In addition, the role of long-term potentiation (LTP) in memory is discussed, as well as how different brain areas contribute to memory. Throughout the course, relevant methodological issues regarding memory research are covered. Importantly, brain anatomy and function are an important part of this course; an interest in and understanding of these fields at the level of Introduction to Psychology or higher is highly recommended. In addition to the tutorial meetings, students complete a practical and paper assignment in which the memory performance of real subjects is assessed. Prerequisites for this course are an Introduction to Psychology course; a course on Brain and Action is highly recommended.

This course introduces the newly emerging field within neuroscience named social neuroscience. The lectures includes key topics such as self, face processing, facial impression, stereotypes, empathy, social emotion, morality, fairness, and altruism. This course also includes discussions on how advances in neuroscience will change various aspects of our future society.

This course is situated on the interplay between social, clinical, and forensic psychology. Next to the major models on the existence and maintenance of aggression, and both nature and nurture-related causes, the course focuses on the main expression forms, cultural influences, and pathological disorders related to aggression. The course addresses how aggression can be measured adequately and what the treatment options are. The course examines topics including reactive and proactive aggression; anger and hostility; pathological disorders related to aggression; the main models on aggression such as GAM and I-cubed model; nature and nurture related origins of aggression; treatment models available for aggression including like cognitive therapy, stop-think-do approaches, schema therapy, and EMDR; and assessment methods used to measure aggression.

This course introduces psychology as a science that integrates the two fields of natural science and social science. Students are exposed to a variety of topics, including biological, perceptual, cognitive, developmental, social, and clinical orientations. Students learn about the workings of the mental process, which is the result of the simultaneous interaction of the above-mentioned orientations. The class also explores how to apply the theories of psychology to everyday life. The first part introduces the history of psychology, explaining the evolution of psychology from the basis of philosophy and physiology; the second part discusses the initial mental process of external information processing, including sensation, perception and consciousness, and the third part details high-level cognitive mental processes, including learning (theory of constraints), memory, and language. Part IV explores the mental processes of individual differences, including intelligence, development, and motivational emotions; Part V describes the mental processes of social groups, including Social Psychology and Personality Theory, Part VI explores the clinical applications of psychology, including mental illness, psychotherapy, and health psychology. Each chapter topic is taught on a weekly basis as much as possible.

This course provides students with an overview of prevalent developmental disorders present in childhood. The class covers issues related to diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of specific disorders (autism, ADHD, sensory disorders, behavior disorders, and anxiety and mood disorders), as well as more general theoretical issues related to causes of disorders in development and the implications of various disorders for the understanding of normal development.

This course discusses research addressing questions related to morality, typically relying on experimental approaches. It covers modern theories of moral behavior, as well as quantitative lab and field studies on individual and situational factors related to moral and immoral behaviors such as altruism, cheating, and cooperativeness. The course focuses on a broad range of topics including individual and situational predictors of moral judgments and decision making.