Psychology

This course covers Social Psychology and the scientific study of individuals and groups. Students explore the key approaches and methodologies in Social Psychology, evaluating different perspectives on studying individual differences. The course may draw from areas such as motivation, emotion, health and well-being, personality, and intergroup behavior.

This course studies diverse social psychological phenomena that have been examined in the context of neuroscience, with particular attention to decision-making, aggressive behavior, status, dominance, and racial bias/discrimination. In doing so the course (1) studies diverse systems that are involved in the study of social neuroscience (structural/anatomical, neuroendocrinological,); (2) critically considers the methodological approaches used to study the associations between neurological systems and social behaviors/attitudes; and (3) evaluates the theoretical contributions of these approaches and studies. Students are expected to develop critical scientific reasoning skills, in addition to a knowledge base in this area. Students are required to have completed at least one social psychology course, and at least one course in neuroscience and neuroscience methodology, as prerequisites.

This course offers a study of the psychosocial bases of behavior. Topics include: social cognition; perception and social attribution; self and social identity; attitudes and attitude change; psychosocial bases of emotions; interaction and communication; attraction and love; prosocial behavior.

This course examines psychopathology theories, research, and clinical implications of abnormal psychology. It also explores the multicultural, sociocultural, and diversity aspects of abnormal psychology. Topics include major ethical issues, impact of mental health stigma, and using the Multipath Model of Mental Disorders to explain how four essential factors-biological, psychological, social, and sociocultural-interact to cause mental disorders.
 

This course includes an introduction to cognitive neuropsychology and foundations of neuroanatomy, neurology, and neuroradiology; a discussion of cognitive neuropsychology of the agnosias, aphasias, alexias, agraphias, apraxias, and amnesias; and an over view of cognitive neuropsychology of the executive functions. The course covers the normal cognitive architecture, by means of the study of brain-damaged patients. The course requires a basic knowledge of psychobiology and cognitive psychology as a prerequisite.

The course discusses topics including existing definitions of risk versus uncertainty and different probability concepts; history of existing probability concepts; ideas of man (Homo oeconomicus vs. Homo heuristicus); models of decision making under risk and uncertainty; analysis and design or decision processes and support; principles of risk communication and perception; and intervention under risk and uncertainty (“nudging” vs. “boosting”).

This course looks at emotion and life from a psychological perspective. 

In this course students learn about various aspects of group dynamics. The course discusses the ways in which individuals' actions, thoughts, and emotions are influenced by the groups they belong to and how group processes shape performance and decision making. Also considered are the quality of relations in and between groups that can have a tremendous impact on people and society. Lectures demonstrate and deepen the understanding of group phenomena. In tutorial meetings, students facilitate exercises that promote a deeper processing of the materials and improve group-analysis and group-management skills. Finally, students work together on a paper analyzing group behavior in a realistic setting of choice as well as their own group's development throughout the course. This should improve students' ability to understand and manage groups and their dynamics.