Psychology

Mental disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, are prevalent across the globe, significantly impacting individuals and communities. This course explores both the understanding of mental disorders and the psychological treatments used to address them. The first half of the course introduces students to the clinical presentation, etiology, and diagnostic frameworks of various mental disorders, and these disorders are examined through multiple perspectives, including developmental, sociocultural, neurobiological, and psychodynamic approaches. The second half of the course explores a range of psychological treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and other therapeutic approaches, focusing on their application to specific mental health conditions. Importantly, this course involves research methods in psychology, mental health, and psychotherapy. 

This course traces the main developments in the history of psychology and conceptual issues introduced when one studies human behavior. Psychology's origins in philosophy and physiology are discussed and particular attention is paid to the emergence of the autonomous, experimentally-based discipline of psychology in the late 19th century and the rise of schools of psychology in the early 20th century.

This course familiarizes students with the various theoretical aspects, research issues and professional practices which define contemporary forensic psychology. It introduces students to three prominent and interrelated areas of psychology: forensic, abnormal, and clinical psychology.  The course provides students with a systematic framework through which selected major psychological disorders are examined in detail. Students explore contemporary clinical approaches to mental health problems with a particular emphasis on evidence based psychiatric and psychological treatments. At the end of the course, students present their key research findings which have practical relevance to prominent areas of professional forensic psychology, and distinguish between major psychological disorders using internationally recognized diagnostic systems. 

This course introduces students to organizational psychology and wellbeing (brief history). It provides a definition and understanding of models and constructs of wellbeing. The course stresses the importance of workplace wellbeing for both the organization and the individual employee, a psychological perspective. 

Other topics that are included in this course are: Organizational process and procedures that enhance wellbeing are covered in this course, Leadership styles and wellbeing, Vertical and horizontal organizational communication and its impact on wellbeing, theoretical overlap of Social psychology and organizational psychology in wellbeing theory,  Organizational culture and wellbeing, Social norms within the organizational culture that enhance wellbeing, Individual psychology and wellbeing, and Measurements of employee wellbeing 

This course introduces students to the study of child health and wellbeing through the presentation and critical examination of some contemporary topics in the field. These topics are based around two key themes: (i) risk and resilience and (ii) children’s perspectives on health & illness. Lectures provide a stimulating, interactive context in which to consider theoretical, research-based, and applied perspectives from psychology and related disciplines.

Humanity is facing an unprecedented ecological crisis for which it is the main driving force. Although globally, people report high levels of concern for climate change and a high willingness to act, this concern is often not reflected in people's actual behavior. What can explain this gap between people's reported desire to protect the environment and the lack of collective action around the environmental crises? This course explores the many factors that can act as barriers to climate action, such as people's tendency to favor short-term outcomes over long-term outcomes, the tension between seeking a high social status and reducing one's carbon footprint, the feeling that it may be too late to act, or the feeling that taking action is only worth it if others are also taking action.

This course introduces students to global mental health from a critical perspective, with a particular focus on contextual constructions of mental illness, mental health programming in low resource and humanitarian settings, and for marginalized populations. The course covers global differences in definitions and incidence of psychiatric disorders, the validity and effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions, and the wider role of power and inequity in shaping national mental health policies and international guidelines.