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Psychology Course Overview

Aug 17, 2024

Introduction to Psychology - Lecture Notes

Course Introduction

  • Instructor: Dr. Paul Bloom
  • Course Overview: Comprehensive study of the human mind.
  • Topics Covered:
    • Brains
    • Child development
    • Language
    • Sex
    • Memory
    • Mental illness
    • Disgust
    • Racism
    • Love
    • Other related topics

Course Logistics

  • Lectures: Two per week
  • Course Readings: Essential to complement lectures
    • Textbook: Peter Gray’s Psychology, 5th edition
    • Supplemental Reading: The Norton Reader, edited by Gary Marcus
  • Attendance: Mandatory to attend lectures and do readings.
    • Slides available online for reference
    • Missing a class requires getting notes from peers
  • Evaluation:
    • Midterm and Final (last day of class)
    • Exams: Multiple choice, short answer
    • Weekly Questions: Submitted to Teaching Fellow, marked pass/fail
    • Book Review: Details provided later
    • Experimental Participation: Experience psychological research

How to Succeed in the Course

  • Attend all classes and keep up with readings
  • Form study groups
  • Engage with instructor and teaching fellows
  • Office hours available for discussion

Course Content and Goals

  • Goal: Provide a state-of-the-art understanding of human psychology
  • Subfields of Psychology:
    • Neuroscience: Study of the brain
    • Developmental Psychology: Focus on growth and learning
    • Cognitive Psychology: Mind functions, analogy with a computer
    • Social Psychology: Group behavior
    • Clinical Psychology: Mental health and illness
  • Related Disciplines: Economics, Game theory, Philosophy, Computer Science

Sample Topics

  1. The Brain

    • Case study: Terri Schiavo
    • Relationship between physical brain and mental life
  2. Child Development

    • Example: Dr. Bloom's son, Zachary
    • Innate knowledge vs cultural influence
    • Continuity and change in personality
    • Differences in human attributes
  3. Attractiveness

    • Computer-generated faces study
    • Cultural and cross-cultural standards
  4. Morality

    • Examples of good and evil
    • Nature vs nurture in moral behavior
  5. Mental Illness

    • Common disorders: Depression, Anxiety
    • Unique disorders: Memory disorders, Multiple Personality Disorder, Capgras Syndrome
    • Insight into normal life by studying extremes

Guest Lectures

  • Dr. Marvin Chun: Cognitive neuroscience
  • Dr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema: Depression
  • Kelly Brownell: Psychology of food
  • Dr. Peter Salovey: Mysteries of love

Conclusion

  • Engage with the course material and faculty
  • Next class will cover the human brain