Psychology Courses and Related Information

Section 001
Joyce Furfaro
HEALTHY BRAIN / HAPPY BRAIN

This capstone seminar will explore current research on maintaining a healthy brain through healthy behaviors, coping better with stress, as well as strengthening your neuronal connections through meditation and continued learning. Students will be encouraged to practice healthy brain activities, and report their experience to their classmates. Your critical thinking skills will be tested as we also find and discuss current research and related news items from popular press sources. Some core topics will include cognitive reserve, mindfulness, dementia, and the effects of stress on the brain. This course is best suited for psychology majors who have taken courses relating to the neurobiological aspects of psychology. Objectives include: Honing our critical thinking skills; Becoming more comfortable with reading, digesting, and discussing current research literature; and learning ways to incorporate healthy-brain behaviors into our everyday life.

Section 002
Terri Vescio
Intersections of gender, race, and violence

Given the persistent and striking gender inequalities worldwide, the goal of this senior undergraduate seminar is to elaborate relations of gendered embodiments and power to the maintenance of the status quo. To fully understand this relation, analysis must occur at varied levels of analysis – intrapersonal, interpersonal, intergroup, and cultural – and considering contributions across discipline. Across psychological theories, masculinity theories, and feminist theories scholars have examined how people respond to, internalize, and consensually engage in racialized gendered roles and relations defined by culturally valued and idealized notions of gender. In this seminar we will examine pressures to embody culturally valued forms as facilitated by threats of subtle and open acts of violence. Discussions will focus on what we learn about the importance of gender roles by examining how “bad” women and “bad” men are perceived and (mis)treated. To do so we will read popular press materials, social critiques, watch movies, and read empirical articles.

Section 003
Suzy Scherf
Debunking Myths of The Brain

The brain is a mysterious organ to the general public. Overwhelmingly people embrace beliefs about the brain and how it works that are complete myths! In this class, we will examine these myths, debunk them, and think about the socio-cultural factors that lead people to endorse the myths. To do so we will read popular press materials and watch movies that feature or defend these myths. We will use empirical evidence to debunk the myths.

Section 004
Katharine Adams
Psychology of Reading

Reading is a human invention that allows us to share thoughts and ideas across time and space. What makes these squiggles on a page meaningful? Is it necessary for humans to read? In this seminar, we will explore the psychology of reading by examining the current research and controversies in the field of reading science. We will look at the visual, cognitive, and linguistic systems necessary for fluent reading. Topics include the neuroscience of reading, reading development, reading across languages, dyslexia, and what it means to be literate.

Section 005
Beth Gerace
Mindfulness and Meaning

The first half of this capstone seminar will explore applications of mindfulness in psychology. This course will explore the metacognitive process of mindfulness and how applications of mindfulness can be used to process negative thoughts and emotions, treat psychological disorders, and enhance social relationships. Topics will include mindfulness-based therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, non-attachment, and cognitive reframing. The second half of this course will explore theories of meaning such as Terror Management Theory and Mindfulness to Meaning Theory and how meaning in life changes across the lifespan. Topics will include developmental theories of adulthood and aging. Students will be asked to read and reflect on scholarly work in these topic areas, work individually and in groups to present ideas/summaries to the class, and hone writing skills.

Section 008
Maria Vinca
The art and science of psychotherapy.

An introduction to the person of the therapist including the qualities and skills required for effective therapeutic change. This course will cover empirically validated common factors and skills that contribute to positive client outcomes. Beyond merely reading material, students will implement what they are learning through practicing elements of psychotherapy skills on one another through mini mock therapy sessions.

Section 009
Rick Gilmore
The Reproducibility Crisis in Science

Much attention has focused on the reproducibility of research in psychology, but the challenges of producing robust and reliable knowledge extend to all scientific disciplines. In this seminar, we will discuss whether there is or is not a reproducibility crisis in psychology and in science more broadly. We will discuss how initiatives to make scientific research more open and transparent can also make it more reproducible and robust.

Section 10
Reg Adams
The Laughing Animal: The Psychology of Humor and Laughter

Humor and laughter are vital to human functioning, promoting physical and emotional well-being, social harmony, learning, and creativity. Humor and laughter can also be used as weapons against others and can transmit and perpetuate stereotypes and prejudice. This course is designed to explore these phenomena and to apply insights gained to broader research themes such as creativity, social cognition, attribution theory, and emotion theory.