Psychology

This course offers a study of quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques and data analysis computer programs. Topics include: statistical inference; statistical estimation; statistical decision; conformance testing; relationship tests for categorical variables; tests based on the comparison of two population means; analysis of variance (ANOVA); non-parametric tests for comparing two or more distributions; relationship tests based on correlations; linear regression models; nonlinear regression models.

This course surveys the basic content and methodology of contemporary psychology. While psychology as a scientific and humanistic enterprise is the underlying theme of the course, the field of psychology is approached from the perspective of its contribution to solving many problems facing society at large.  

This course provides an in-depth analysis of a central area of psychology known variously as individual differences or differential psychology. Students build on several key areas of psychology that show substantial individual differences including personality, psychopathology, intelligence, and cognition. Students then explore the proposed causes and effects of these individual differences drawing from research using approaches from psycho-dynamics to behavioral genetics. Finally, they explore the evidence behind several key controversies in individual differences including the continuum between personality and mental health, the nature vs nurture debate, race differences in intelligence, and genetic determinism.

This course focuses on a research-based approach to promoting personal recovery and meaning making among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia disorders. It studies a metacognition-based approach to the treatment of schizophrenia and discusses the unique dilemmas, challenges, and opportunities in the treatment of those diagnosed with schizophrenia. The first part of the course focuses on the theoretical and clinical definition of metacognition. It trains the coding of open interviews of clients with severe mental illness using the metacognition assessment scale developed by Paul Lysaker. The second part focuses on psychotherapy with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It studies the values and the core elements of metacognition reflection and insight therapy. Subsequently, it analyzes case material and practices therapeutic interventions based on the metacognitive approach. In the third part of the course, students choose an issue in the field of psychotherapy with clients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and present the issue in the class. The presentations include an integration between theory, qualitative, and quantitative studies and other relevant sources such as an interview conducted with a professional or an individual who was diagnosed with a severe disorder or media materials that enrich the subject.

This course explores debates around collective intelligence and follow the evolution of the group-mind from past to present and into the future. It looks at how the act of thinking together can go wrong in paranoid conspiracy theories, information bubbles and market panics and how, perhaps, it might be done better.

This course introduces students, without a background in sport psychology, to the basic concepts needed to understand sport psychology and its application. Topics include Psychological Skills Training, Peak Performance, Performance Profiling, Goal Setting, Performance Review, Motivation, Psychophysiology, Relaxation, Activation, Imagery, Self‐Talk, Concentration, Team Building, and, Competition Routines. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course is focused on recent developments in Nutrition Behavior Research including the physiological and psychological determinants of food choice and eating behavior. The course includes lectures, group assignments, and a computer practical. Prerequisites course in Nutrition Behavior.

This course examines current issues in the study of psychological disorders. It presents an introduction to a range of psychological disorders of childhood and adulthood and highlights the scientist-practitioner approach that is applied in clinical psychology.

This clinical psychology course is divided into five thematic blocks: Clinical psychology-- general and professional aspects; Emotional intervention in clinical psychology; Cognitive intervention in clinical psychology; Behavior intervention in clinical psychology; Integration of skills and resources in clinical psychology.