DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY March 2010

Student Services Office

SUMMER 2010 UNDERGRADUATE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Psychology 1: General Psychology [3 units]

Session A:
Instructor: Afshin Gharib
This course is an introduction to the basic methods and concepts of psychology,
focusing on theories and research findings. We will consider the historical
development of this field and overview a variety of psychological approaches to
understanding behavior including biological, evolutionary, developmental,
cognitive, psychodynamic and social models. We will cover research findings
and theoretical developments in the areas of learning and memory, personality
and personality disorders, social behavior, sensation and perception, language
and intelligence, and other related fields. Students will learn to think critically
about how the field of psychology applies to the understanding of human
diversity. Students will develop towards becoming smart consumers of
psychological information and become familiar with some enduring debates in
the field including issues such as the relationship between mind and body and
the interaction of nature and nurture in determining mental and behavioral
change.

Session D:
Instructor: Emiliana Simon-Thomas
In Psychology 1: General Psychology we will survey the historical background,
study methods, biological mechanisms, theoretical foundations and research
findings that pertain to the field of psychological science. By the end of this course,
you will have gained insight into the many factors that give rise to peoples’
experiences, thoughts, and behavior. You will also know how to critically evaluate
media relevant to psychology, and to identify original research articles from peer-
reviewed science journals. This course is: prerequisite for admission into most
upper division courses in the Department of Psychology, required for students
majoring in Psychology, and intended for lower-division students.

Session C: (Web Based Lecture)

Instructor: Prof. John Kihlstrom
Introduction to the principal areas, problems, and concepts of psychology. This
course is required for the major; students not considering a psychology major
are directed to 2.
Psychology 101: Research and Data Analysis in Psychology [4 units]

Session C:
Instructor: Michelle Shiota
The course will concentrate on hypothesis formulation and testing, tests of
significance, analysis of variance (one-way analysis), simple correlation, simple
regression, and nonparametric statistics such as chi-square and Mann-Whitney
U tests. Majors intending to be in the honors program must complete 101 by the
end of their junior year.

Psychology 110: Introduction to Biological Psychology [3 units]

Session D:
Instructor: Rachel Shoup
Today virtually all branches of psychology are strongly influenced by what we
know about human physiology. As such, your understanding of the nervous
system, hormones, and the evolution of behavior is an essential component of your
ability to comprehend current research on a wide variety of psychological
phenomena. Biological Psychology is a prerequisite for many upper level courses
in psychology, including courses on sensation (e.g., vision and/or hearing),
biological clocks, learning, comparative psychology, animal behavior,
neuroethology, hormones & behavior, drugs & behavior, cognitive neuroscience, as
well as a variety of seminars. My goal as an instructor is to teach you the basic
fundamentals needed to prepare you for these more advanced courses, and to
help you determine which research areas interest you the most.

Psychology C120: Basic Issues in Cognition [3 units]

Session A:
Instructor: Timothy Justus
The study of cognitive psychology explores how the human mind is able to
perceive and understand information as well as use knowledge and language to
reason, form decisions and learn new information. This course will serve as an
introduction to basic issues, applications and methods in Cognitive Psychology.
After taking this course, students should have a basic understanding of topics
such as perception, attention, memory, learning and decision-making.

Session D:
Instructor: Nikki Pratt
The study of cognitive psychology explores how the human mind is able to
perceive and understand information as well as use knowledge and language to
reason, form decisions and learn new information. This course will serve as an
introduction to basic issues, applications and methods in Cognitive Psychology.
After taking this course, students should have a basic understanding of topics
such as perception, attention, memory, learning and decision-making.
Psychology 117: Human Neuropsychology [3 units]
Session A:
Instructor: Michael Souza
A survey of contemporary psychological approaches to problems of human
disabilities including mental disorders, behavior changes following human brain
injury and disease, and mental subnormality. Emphasis on nervous system
models of these problems and areas of potential application of basic research
development.

Psychology 130: Clinical Psychology [3 units]

Session A:
Instructor: Jamie McHale
Psychology 130 provides a broad introduction to the field of clinical psychology,
and includes coverage of psychopathology, its causes, and what is known about
preventing and alleviating it. The scientific basis of clinical psychology is
emphasized, with a principal focus on psychological problems in adulthood. A
related course offered in Berkeley’s Psychology Department, Developmental
Psychopathology, covers clinical problems during childhood and adolescence.

This offering of Psychology 130 is divided into two "parts". The first "part"
(weeks one through three of the semester) is concerned with the foundations of
clinical psychology. We begin by examining students' own background
knowledge and understanding of abnormal behavior, and discuss how clinical
psychologists think about concepts of normality and abnormality. We then
cover major paradigms for understanding psychopathology; the field's current
system for diagnosing and categorizing disorders; approaches to psychological
assessment and questions important to answer in such assessments; ways of
intervening; and ethical and legal issues for the profession. In part two of the
course (weeks four through six), we apply principles learned during the first part
of the course in examining several major problems of concern to clinical
psychologists, including schizophrenia, mood disorders and suicide, anxiety
disorders, and personality disorders.

Psychology 131: Developmental Psychopathology [3 units]

Session D:
Instructor: Parijat Deshpande
This course will discuss linkages between developmental processes and child
psychopathology. Included will be discussion of cognitive impairments in
children, including learning disabilities and mental retardation; internalizing
disorders, such as anxiety, withdrawal, and depression; externalizing disorders,
such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder; and child
abuse and neglect. Psychobiological, familial, legal, and societal factors will be
emphasized.
Psychology 136: Human Sexuality [3 units]

Session A:
Instructor: Jamie McHale
Psychology 136 provides a basic foundational introduction to the study of
human sexuality, a field concerned with how men and women experience and
express themselves as sexual beings. The class has been designed for students
who have never before taken a college-level class in Human Sexuality. Those
with prior college courses in human sexuality or with vocational background in
human sexuality fields will find the material quite basic and are advised against
enrolling in this class. If you do decide to enroll, you do so with the
understanding that the mission of this course is to provide a basic, broad
overview, and not advanced, in-depth coverage of the various topics we will
address over the next six weeks.

This offering of Psychology 136 is divided into two "parts." The first part is more
focally concerned with biology and behavior; the second, with psychological and
social issues. Part one of the course begins by examining students' own
knowledge and views about sexuality; the inter-play between culture and
sexuality; research approaches central to the field; basics of male and female
anatomy and sexual response; and processes of procreation and birth. We then
discuss issues central to gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women. After the
midterm, we will discuss gender similarities and differences and trace sexuality
through the life cycle; explore relationship issues, including common
relationship difficulties and patterns of communication; examine sexual
harassment and acquaintance rape; go over the basics of sex therapy; discuss
controversies surrounding pornography; and cover fundamentals of safe sex
and sexually transmitted diseases.

Psychology 140: Developmental Psychology [3 units]

Session A:
Instructor: Amy Strage
Lectures draw upon both seminal work and more recent research in areas of
Child Development. Throughout the course, we will consider cross-cultural and
multicultural perspectives that mitigate the appropriateness of 'universal'
statements about the course of development in any one of these domains. We
discuss research conducted in non-Western cultures, and with families
reflecting macrosystem-values and microsystem characteristics
(Bronfenbrenner) other than those found in the middle class families upon
whom much of the current knowledge base in child development is based (for
example, we will consider the work of Stevenson and his colleagues on
academic achievement, and the work of Dornbusch and Steinberg and their
colleagues on parenting). We begin the course with an illustration of the
implications of differences in societies' perspectives on children's roles in the
culture, as treated in the work of Schieffelin and Ochs.
Our focus on cognitive development is based on a Piagetian perspective (and
his Neo-Piagetian followers), as well as on the work of Vygotsky and his
American followers (eg, Wertsch). Our focus on social and emotional
development considers the major theories and contributions of Freud and
Erikson, as well as work on Attachment theory (Ainsworth, Bowlby, Main,
Brethertom, Waters and Vaughn). Our focus on personality development
includes the seminal studies of Thomas and Chess, along with research that has
built on their contributions (eg, Lewis), and also the work of J. Block. Our focus
on moral development begins by considering the contributions of Piaget and
Kohlberg, and moves to a critique of his work including the perspectives of
Gilligan and others. And finally, our focus on socialization includes the work of
Baumrind (parenting), and of Block, Bem and Gilligan (sex roles).

This course explores the development of children from birth to adolescence, in

a wide range of areas including biological, cognitive, linguistic, social, and
personality development. It also covers the effects of genes, experience, and
social context on children's development.

Session D:
Instructor: Jennifer Arter
In this course, we will examine the central questions and research findings in
the field of developmental psychology, including the theories and research
methods that psychologists use to study these issues. We will explore questions
such as: What knowledge do infants have at birth? When and how do infants
learn about their physical and social world? What happens when children learn
two languages? What do children understand about their own and others’
emotions? What do school-age children learn from their peers, instead of their
parents? Understanding how children develop can help parents raise their
children more effectively, lead to wiser child welfare policies, and answer
intriguing questions about human nature.

Psychology 150: Psychology of Personality [3 units]

Session A:
Instructor: Anda Gershon
A consideration of general and systematic issues in the study of personality and
an evaluation of major theories and points of view.

Session D:
Instructor: Laura Naumann
Personality refers to the patterns in individuals’ ways of behaving, thinking, and
feeling, and the psychological mechanisms that drive these patterns. This
course will examine methods of personality research, various approaches and
theories (specifically: psychoanalytic, humanistic, trait, biological, learning, and
cognitive approaches), as well as contemporary research in personality (e.g.,
personality change, personality judgment, and self-perception).

Psychology 160: Social Psychology [3 units]

Session A:
Instructor: Emiliana Simon-Thomas
In Psychology 160: Social Psychology we will study the perspectives, research
methods and empirical findings in social psychology. Social Psychology is the
scientific study of how people think about, feel, and behave in social situations.
We will try to understand how people influence and are influenced by the
people around them. We will cover topics including impression formation,
conformity, prosocial behavior, interpersonal attraction, persuasion,
stereotyping and prejudice. By the end of this course, you will have developed
skills for analyzing the social situations and events you encounter in your
everyday lives, as well as critical and integrative ways of thinking about theory
and research in social psychology.

Session D:
Instructor: Sara Gorchoff
Social psychology is the scientific study of the way in which our thoughts,
feelings, motives, and behavior are influenced by the social situations we
encounter, including how we influence, and are influenced by others around us.
There are three important goals in this course:
1. Build a foundation: Guide you though an introduction to the major
perspectives, theories, methods, and empirical findings of social psychology,
and some exciting new developments in the field.
2. Develop scientific thinking: Help you to think critically about information
presented to you (e.g., theories, empirical findings) and to integrate
different perspectives.
3. Application: Stimulate your interest in social psychology, and give you the
tools to recognize and appreciate the social aspects of everyday life.

Psychology 166AC: Cultural Psychology [3 units]

Session D:
Instructor: Sita Patel
The course will review research on culture, race, and ethnicity and will consider
the implications of these findings for our understanding of race, culture, and
ethnicity in American society. Mounting evidence suggests that psychological
processes are culture-specific, theory-driven, and context-dependent. This
course will focus on the effects that theories of mind, person, self, and social
institutions have on human cognition, motivation, emotion, and social
interactions in American society. Students will gain a better appreciation of the
ways that cultural traditions and social practices regulate and transform
psychological functioning. Simply, the course is about how culture affects
psyche and how psyche affects culture.

Psychology 192: Special Topics in Psychology [3 units]

Session D:
Instructor: Lonnele Ball
Seminar Title: “Sex and the Brain”

Differences between the sexes are a subject of enduring fascination and intense
research. Ongoing studies have revealed extraordinary variations in the
physiology and psychology between male and female brains. This course
explores various biological influences on the behavior of males and females,
emphasizing how circulating sex hormones guide intellectual, social and sexual
behaviors. Special focus will be given to the role these hormones play in
attraction, reproduction and orientation. A basic foundation in general
endocrinology will be presented followed by a comprehensive overview of the
psychobiology of gender and human reproduction. By the end of this course,
students will be able to identify the organizational effects of estrogen and
androgen exposure in the prenatal environment and their influence on brain
development, gender identity, sexual orientation and social behavior as well as
the subsequent activational affects these hormones exert on behavioral and
cognitive functions within the adult nervous system.