Introduction to Psychology - Lecture 1

Course Overview and Aim

• Professor: Dr. Paul Bloom
• Course Objective: Comprehensive introduction to the study of the human mind.
• Topics Covered:
  • Brains
  • Children
  • Language
  • Sex
  • Memory
  • Madness
  • Disgust
  • Racism
  • Love

Lecture and Reading Structure

• Two lectures per week
• Course readings
• Must attend lectures and complete readings (will feature unique and overlapping content)
• Makeup for missed classes: Get notes from peers as lectures may not be repeated in readings
• Slides: Available online (format: black and white, printable)
• Textbooks:
  1. Peter Gray's Psychology, 5th Edition
  2. The Norton Reader edited by Gary Marcus
  • Available at Labyrinth Bookstore on York St. or online
  • Used copies may also be available

Evaluation

• Exams:
  • Midterm
  • Final Exam (held on the last day of class)
• Exam Format: Multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blank
• Review material: Online previous exams
• Weekly Questions:
  • Starting from the third week
  • Submit answers to the assigned teaching fellows
  • Pass/fail grading
• Book Review: Details provided later in the semester
• Experimental Participation Requirement:
  • Experience psychological research
  • More details next week

Tips for Success

• Attend all classes
• Keep up with readings (preferably before class)
• Form study groups
• Utilize teaching fellows and professor’s office hours
• Don’t remain anonymous; engage with classmates and faculty

Study of Human Behavior and Mind

• Psychology's practical relevance to improving real-world problems
• Main goal: Understanding the human mind (how we think, what makes us who we are)
• Traditionally spilt into five sub-areas:
  1. Neuroscience: Study of the mind through the brain
  2. Developmental Psychology: Growth and learning
  3. Cognitive Psychology: Computational approach to the mind
  4. Social Psychology: Behavior in groups
  5. Clinical Psychology: Mental health and illnesses

Cross-Disciplinary Connections

• Psychology interacts with fields such as:
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Economics and game theory
  • Philosophy
  • Computer science
  • Anthropology
  • Literature
  • Theology

Sample Topics in the Course

The Brain

• Physical basis of mental life (e.g., Terri Schiavo's case)

Child Development

• Questions of innate vs. learned knowledge
• Continuity and change from childhood to adulthood
• Influence of genes vs. environment
• Role of parents in shaping personalities and behaviors

Attraction

• Elements making a face attractive
• Cultural congruence in attractiveness

Morality and Evil

• Institutional evil, mass murderers, and psychopathy
• Examples: Osama bin Laden, Ted Bundy
• Goodness and heroism (e.g., Oskar Schindler, Paul Rusesabagina)
• Role of nature vs. nurture in moral development

Mental Illness

• Discussion of major disorders like depression and anxiety
• Unique cases (e.g., Phineas Gage, multiple personality disorder, Capgras syndrome, Cotard's syndrome)
• Extreme cases enhancing understanding of normal mental processes

Guest Lectures

• Dr. Marvin Chun: Cognitive Neuroscience, especially faces
• Dr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema: Depression, sex differences
• Kelly Brownell: Psychology of food
• Dr. Peter Salovey: Love (Valentine's Day lecture)

End of Lecture: Encouragement to ask questions and engage with the content.