Fall 2008 Courses

* Please note that the printed Emory College Fall 2007 Atlas is INCORRECT. Correct course information is available below.

Please Note: The information given in the Course Atlas is subject to change.

For final schedule information, please refer to OPUS or the professor of the course.

Spring 2008 Course Offerings

Summer 2008 Course Offerings

PSYC 110: Introduction to Psychology I: Psychobiology and Cognition

Edwards, MWF 10:40-11:30, MAX: 120

Content: This is onehalf of a two-semester introduction to the field of contemporary psychology. The course has to do with the organization and operation of the nervous system as it pertains to behavior and its cognitive underpinnings. Topics receiving special attention include the development of sexual identity, sensation and perception, learning and memory, love, fear, and other emotions. The course fulfills one-half of the introductory course requirement for psychology majors.

Text: None.

Particulars: Two mid-term examinations and an optional comprehensive final exam. All students enrolled in the course are required to participate in psychology department human subject research studies. Students have the option of substituting a special project, details to be arranged with Professor Edwards, for this participation.

PSYC 110: Introduction to Psychology I: Psychobiology and Cognition

Rodman, Tues Thurs 1:00-2:15, MAX: 100

PSYC 111: Introduction to Psychology II: Social, Developmental, Personality and Abnormal Psychology

Lilienfeld, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 120

Content: This second semester of introductory psychology will cover in broad brushstrokes the major areas of experimental design, social psychology, social and emotional development, personality measurement and theory, psychopathology, and therapeutic interventions. Emphasis will be on the empirical foundations of psychological knowledge, and on fostering students' critical thinking about behavior. Texts: There will be one primary textbook and supplemental readings. Particulars: Exams will include a mixture of multiple choice and short essay questions. Participation in research projects or equivalent is required.

PSYC 190S: Freshman Seminar: Psychology From a Novel Perspective: What Can Fictional Works Tell Us About Non-Fictional Human Behavior?

Duke, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 16

Content: This seminar will begin with a basic grounding in three areas of psychology: 1) psychoanalytic, behavioral, and interactional approaches to personality; 2) family dynamics; and 3) psychological and social development from childhood to old age. Using this information about real people, five current works of fiction will be read and analyzed. Emphasis will be on the manner in which psychological knowledge can be applied not only to the characters and plots in the novels, but to their writers as well. Further focus will be on the ways in which knowledge gained from fictional characters can be applied to the understanding of real-life people and situations. Students will be required to prepare three term papers and to participate actively in class discussions.

Particulars: Freshmen only.

PSYC 190S: Freshman Seminar: Mysteries and Myths of Memory

Hamann, W 1:00-4:00, MAX: 15

Content: Everyday, we are bombarded by efforts from other people to change our attitudes or behavior; vote for this candidate, buy this product, follow these rules. Sometimes, the pressure to change is subtle and indirect and sometimes, it is blatant and direct. Why are these attempts to change our attitudes and behavior so often successful? This seminar will begin with a consideration of the three main types of social influence: compliance, conformity and obedience. We will then examine their role in shaping our attitudes and behavior as we go about the business of daily life. We will be looking at these questions primarily from the perspective of social psychological research, but will also incorporate material from books, movies and other types of popular media.

Particulars: Students will be required to write two term papers and to participate actively in class discussions. Freshmen only.

PSYC 190S: Freshman Seminar: Social Influence

Strock, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 15

Content: Everyday, we are bombarded by efforts from other people to change our attitudes or behavior; vote for this candidate, buy this product, follow these rules. Sometimes, the pressure to change is subtle and indirect and sometimes, it is blatant and direct. Why are these attempts to change our attitudes and behavior so often successful? This seminar will begin with a consideration of the three main types of social influence: compliance, conformity and obedience. We will then examine their role in shaping our attitudes and behavior as we go about the business of daily life. We will be looking at these questions primarily from the perspective of social psychological research, but will also incorporate material from books, movies and other types of popular media.

Particulars: Students will be required to write two term papers and to participate actively in class discussions. Freshmen only.

PSYC 200WR: Experimental Methods (Lecture)

Bliwise, Tues Thurs 1:00-2:15, MAX: 70

Labs:

• Pathman, M 1:00-2:15, MAX: 14, Psych Building Room 127
• Berg, M 2:30–3:45, MAX: 14, Psych Building Room 127
• Ortigo, W 1:00-2:15, MAX: 14, Psych Building Room 127
• Krysiak, W 2:30-3:45, MAX: 14, Psych Building Room 127
• Wheeler, W 4:00-5:15, MAX: 14, Psych Building Room 127

Content: Introduction to research design and scientific thought in psychology, including observational, survey, and experimental approaches. Lectures and laboratory exercises provide students with a basis for (a) understanding and evaluating published research; (b) planning, executing, and reporting the results of research studies, and (c) communicating research findings clearly and concisely with APA style.

Texts: Two textbooks are required: McBurney & White Research Methods (current edition) Szuchman Writing with Style (current edition). We will also be using the radio frequency personal response system (clickers) manufactured by GTCO. Students who do not already own a clicker will need to purchase one. Physics, Biology, and Chemistry all use the same clicker; if you have one, save it.

Particulars: The class lectures meet on Tuesday and Thursdays.  Students should sign up for a 75-minute lab on Monday or Wednesday.  Course requirements include three small research projects, written evaluations of published research, and interactive classroom activities.

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of PSYC 230.

PSYC 205: Child Development

Strock, MWF 9:35-10:25 , MAX:60

Content: The ways individuals interact with the world and with each other change dramatically from birth to adolescence. The first goal of Child Development is to trace changes during infancy, the preschool years, middle childhood, and adolescence in the domains of cognition, language, social behavior, and self concept. The second goal of the course is to examine the factors that influence the course of development, including heredity and the social, cultural, family, and physical environment.

Particulars: Three exams, each covering approximately 1/3 of the course, and a series of short papers.

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of Psyc 100, 110 or 111.

PSYC 209: Perception and Action

Pokorny, Tues Thurs 2:30-3:45, MAX: 30

Content: The purpose of this course is to examine how perceivers take in, gather, organize, and act on information experienced through the senses. Topics covered will include: 1) visual, auditory, and somatosensory perception; 2) behavioral and neurological research methods for uncovering sensory and perceptual processes; and 3) motor control perception-action links. The format of the course will be primarily lecture with some discussion. Students will read a primary introductory text along with supplemental readings from a selection of books and journals. Both theoretical and methodological issues will be covered.

PSYC 210: Abnormal Psychology

Nowicki, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 90

Content: Coverage of all major adult psychological disorders in terms of their etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Particular emphasis will be placed on: (1) exposing students to the major theoretical and conceptual models of abnormal behavior, and (2) providing students with the skills to become more critical consumers of the burgeoning literature on psychopathology.

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of PSYC 111.

PSYC 211: Childhood Psychopathology

Brennan, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 60

Content: The format of the course is lecture and discussion, and focuses on abnormal behaviors occurring in children from infancy through adolescence. Topics will include the assessment classification, and treatment of abnormal behavior, as well as the clinical description of the psychiatric syndromes. Theory and research on the causes of childhood disorders will be emphasized as well as the relation between normal and abnormal development.

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of PSYC 111 or 110.

PSYC 230: Applied Statistics for Psychology (Lecture)

Bliwise, MWF 3:00-3:50, MAX: 110

Labs:

• TA1 , TH 1:00-1:50, MAX:13, Dental Building 123
• TA2, TH 2:00-2:50, MAX:13, Dental Building 123
• TA3, TH 3:00-3:50, MAX:13, Dental Building 123
• TA4, TH 4:00-4:50, MAX:13, Dental Building 123
• TA5, TH 5:00-5:50, MAX:13, Dental Building 123
• TA6, F 10:40-11:30, MAX:13, Dental Building 123
• TA7, F 11:45-12:35, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• TA8, F 12:50-1:40, MAX:13, Dental Building 123

Content: This course provides an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics commonly used in psychological research. Descriptive statistics include measures of central tendency, variability, and correlation. The logic of statistical inference is addressed and students learn to calculate and interpret a range of univariate statistics. Examples are taken largely from psychological research. This course emphasizes the application of statistics to specific research problems. Students will learn to select appropriate statistics, perform calculations, and interpret the results of statistical tests.

Texts: Two texts are required: Hurlburt Comprehending Behavioral Statistics (current edition) and Kirkpatrick and Feeney SPSS Guide (current edition). We will also be using the radio frequency personal response system (clickers) manufactured by GTCO. Students who do not already own a clicker will need to purchase one. Physics, Biology, and Chemistry all use the same clicker; if you have one, save it.

Particulars: The class lectures will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Students should enroll in a one-hour lab that meets on Thursday or Friday.

PSYC 240: Psychology and Law

Shapiro, T TH 11:30-12:45, MAX: 30

Content: The course reviews the professional practice of psychology and the legal regulations governing the practice as well as topic related to legal capacity of criminal defendants and involuntary civil commitment. Topics include confidentiality, privilege, child abuse, fiduciary duty, insanity and competency to stand trial.

Texts: Statutes and court decisions are downloaded from internet.

Particulars: Two mid-term exams and final exam each count one-third of course grade. Exams are in short-answer question format.

PSYC 315: Psychology of Family Relationships

Goodman, Tues Thurs 1:00-2:15, MAX: 40

Content: The application of psychological methods to the study of families from a developmental perspective. This course has the following goals for students:
1. To gain a comprehensive understanding of selected topics within the psychology of family relationships.
2. To gain experience in critically evaluating the research on psychology of the family.
3. To develop skills in critically thinking about topics within psychology of the family.

Particulars: Four tests, mostly multiple choice. active participation in class discussions in encouraged. it is recommended, but not required, that students have taken both Intro to Psychology courses and Child Development, prior to this course.

Textbook: One textbook is required, the current edition of Olson and deFrain's Marriages and Families. Additional readings will be made available through ereserves.

PSYC 320: Animal Behavior (Same as BIO 320)

Gouzoules, Tues Thurs 2:30-3:45 , MAX: 86: PSYC=43, BIOL=43,

Content: This course provides an overview of major research areas in the field of animal behavior. The behavior of animals will be analyzed from an evolutionary and comparative perspective. Specific topics include orientation and migration, genetic and environmental influences on behavior, aggression, courtship and mating strategies, parental behavior, foraging, predator-prey relationships, and social organization.

Particulars: Two one hour exams and a final. The three exams are weighted so that your best score represents 40% of the course grade, the lowest score 25%, and the middle score 35%.

PSYC 322: Neural Basis of Learning and Memory

Manns, Tues Thurs 2:30-3:45, MAX: 30

Content: This course will cover the biological basis of memory and will move from a description of the fundamental cellular processes of memory to an exploration of the various memory systems of the mammalian brain.  The discussion of the memory systems of the mammalian brain will attempt to integrate work from experimental animals with work from humans. 

Particulars: Overview of the biological basis of memory, including the molecular and cellular basis of memory as well as a discussion of the memory systems of the mammalian brain

Textbook: TBA

PSYC 323: Drugs and Behavior

Neill, MWF 10:40-11:30, MAX: 180

Content: This course is a survey of the neurobehavioral effects of the various classes of psychoactive drugs, e.g., stimulants, tranquilizers, hallucinogens, etc. Although human experience is taken as the starting point of each drug effect covered, most of the experimental data presented are concerned with attempts to understand behavioral drug effects using nonhuman animal models. A fundamental idea is that by understanding the brain mechanisms through which psychoactive drugs exert their effects, we can understand the brain mechanisms of pain, perception, anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, etc.

Particulars: First year students CANNOT take this course.

PSYC 330: Personality Theories

Kleinman, Tues Thurs 11:30-12:45, MAX: 30

Content:This is a survey course covering psychological theory, history, and research in the area of personality. Topics such as controversies in the field of personality assessment, cognitive and biological influences on personality, genetics and personality and gender differences in personality will be covered

Pre-requisite: Prior completion of Psyc 100, 110, or 111.

PSYC 385R: Political Psychology (Same as Soc 389 and Pols 385)

Shultziner, MWF 2:00-2:50, MAX: 25

Content: This is an introduction to Political Psychology, the study of political phenomena with tools from psychology and evolutionary psychology. We will explore various theories and ways of thinking in political psychology. We will often compare these to traditional theories and models within the social sciences. We will cover a wide range of topics including the philosophy of science behind political psychology; rational and irrational behavior; election campaigning, personality and decision making; social attitudes; political communication and media affects; group identity and dynamics; persuasion and attitude change; obedience and resistance to authority; and the psychological causes of democratization.

Texts: Sears, David O., Leonie Huddy, and Robert Jervis. 2003. Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Particulars: Students will have a mid-term exam (25%), short assignment(s) (15%), and write a final examination (60%). Class participation in encouraged and may count up to an additional 10% bonus of the final grade. Students will also send weekly reflection paragraphs on the subjects and readings discussed in class.

PSYC 475S: Spatial Development

Lourenco, Tues Thurs 2:30-3:45, MAX: 15

Content: This course concerns the development of spatial perception and cognition.  Topics include the representation of distance and direction cues, navigational computation, symbolic representations of space such as maps, sex differences in spatial reasoning, the relation between space and number, and spatial language.  Although there is an emphasis on origins and early changes associated with these abilities, some discussion will also be devoted to the spatial skills of adults and nonhuman animals.  The research presented will span a range of theoretical perspectives, and will represent different methodological approaches, including behavioral and neuropsychological techniques.

Particulars: Evaluation will be based on written assignments and a final paper.  Readings will be placed on reserve. 

PSYC 475S: The Origins of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Walker, Tues 9:00-12:00, MAX: 15

Content: This advanced seminar will deal with the nature and origins of psychotic disorders. We will examine the manifest symptoms of psychotic disorders and their developmental course across the life span. Students will also study key findings on etiology and neural mechanisms responsible for psychotic symptoms.

Particulars: A research paper will be required.

Prerequisite: Psychology and NBB majors only.

PSYC 476S: Forensic Psychology

Shapiro, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 12

 Content: Grade based upon seminar participation and term paper. Potential topics are: 1) Risk assessment of future violence, 2) trustworthiness of eye-witness testimony, 3) jury selection, 4) profiling, 5) selection, training, and evaluation of police officers, 6) lie detection, 7) confessions.