PSYC 375 - Topical Applications in Psychological Science

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)

Individual or group studies with prior approval of the adviser and of the instructor who supervises the work. This course focuses on topical applications of psychological science.

Topic for 2021/22a: Topical Application in Clinical Psychology. Students read and discuss a current topic in clinical psychology and contribute to a collaborative research/writing project. Interested students should contact the instructor during preregistration with a list of their specific interests, as this information will help in the selection of the specific topic for fall 2021. Sue Trumbetta.

Topic for 2021/22b: Topical Application in Psychological Science. Students read and discuss research and theory on parasocial relationships—the seeming intimacy we develop with media characters or personalities as we “get to know” them (from fictional characters to politicians to podcasters). We also focus on the phenomenon of transportation into media narratives—the extent to which we feel cognitively and emotionally immersed in a story. We design a collaborative research project to be conducted, analyzed, and written up in the second half of the semester. Dara Greenwood.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor; each instructor sets content-specific prerequisites.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: INT