PSYC 105 - Introduction to Psychological Science

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

This course is designed to introduce the student to fundamental psychological processes, their nature and development, and contemporary methods for their study through a survey of the major research areas in the field. Areas covered include the biological and evolutionary bases of thought and behavior, motivation and emotion, learning, memory, thinking, personality, developmental, and social psychology. Some sections of this course are taught as a traditional introductory survey. Other sections may take a more topical focus to their survey. In all sections, students are expected to participate in three hours of psychological research during the semester. The Department.

Topic for 2021/22a: Social Beings: This course introduces the science of psychology through the lens of social psychology. Our discussions of evolution, development, learning, cognition, physiology, and individual differences will highlight interpersonal and situational forces. Jannay Morrow.

Topic for 2021/22b: Psychological Science and Environmental Sustainability. This topical Introduction to Psychological Science focuses on climate change. It covers all of the topics of an introductory survey course, examining many of them through the lens of humans’ relationships with their environments, broadly construed. We apply the tools of evidence-based reasoning to identify facts and misinformation in climate change narratives. As we consider the genetic and physiological scaffolding of human and non-human behavior, we focus on organisms’ adaptations to and effects on their environments. We examine the role of the natural environment in physical and mental health and consider how insights from Psychological Science may inform individual and collective behaviors that support a sustainable environment. Sue Trumbetta.

Open to all classes.

Enrollment limited.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS