Department of Psychology

Undergraduate Courses - Spring 2008

Psychology 001 is the prerequisite for all other Psychology courses 100-level and above

All seminars and research experience courses are listed below.

A department permit is required for all 200 and 300-level courses.

The College of General Studies (CGS) offers the courses below. Please visit the CGS website for detailed course descriptions. You can register for CGS courses through PennInTouch; usually no permit required.

Psyc 001-601: Introduction to Experimental Psychology, W, 5:30-8:30 (Simmons)

Psyc 117-601: Visual Neuroscience, T, 6-9 (McLean)

Psyc 162-601: Abnormal Psychology, TR, 5-6:30 (Siev)

Psyc 170-601: Social Psychology, T 6-9 (Royzman)

Psyc 270-601: Special Topics in Social Psychology: Culture and Psychology, R, 5:30-8:30 (Mason), meets in Room C41, Solomon Lab Bldg.

Psyc 449-640: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience, R, 6-8:40 (Osman)

Psyc 460-640: Body Image: Etiology, Psychopathology, and Treatment, M, 5:30-8:30 (Sarwer)

Special note - The following CGS course will count towards the Psych major and minor:

ASAM 150-601. The Psychology of being Asian and American in America (Asian American Psychology), Instructor: Dr. June Y. Chu
Course description: A new generation of researchers in Asian American psychology has identified variables that are pertinent in the psychological adjustment of non-White groups. This course is intended to (1) provide knowledge of Asian American personality, identity, and mental health and the cultural and societal influences that shape personality and mental health, (2) analyze contemporary psychosocial research pertinent to Asian Americans, and (3) develop critical thinking skills on Asian American issues. 

Location: LOGN 204
Day/Time: Thursday 5:30pm-8:30pm

Exploration of the major topics in psychology, including how we receive and interpret information from the world, learning and motivation, the relationship between brain and behavior, development, personality (both normal and abnormal), and the social aspects of our behavior. The major controversies in psychology provide the binding themes in the course, such as nature versus nurture and theories about the relationship between mind and body. We will examine some of the ‘grand’ questions that psychologists have posed and investigated – what forces shape our behavior, who do we love and why, what is prejudice and who conforms, and do we think and behave rationally. These issues are examined at several levels of explanation, from neurotransmitter functioning, through conditioning, and the influence of the group. We will delve into the history of psychology, from the Greeks to the neuropsychological and pharmaceutical revolutions of today.

Cross-listed with BIBB109 and BIOL 219. Introduction to the structure and function of the vertebrate nervous system, including the physiological bases of sensory activity,  perception, drive, motor control, and higher mental processes.  This course is intended for students interested in the neurobiology of behavior.  Additional information about background needed can be obtained from BIBB, Biology or Psychology advisors.  Prerequisite: Psychology 001, or Biology 101, or permission of the instructor

Cross-listed with VLST 211. How the individual acquires and is guided by knowledge about objects and events in their environment. Prerequisite: Psychology 001, or COGS 001, or BIBB 109, or VLST 101.

Cross-listed with BIBB 370. The course will begin with a review of basic concepts in pharmacology including: routes of drug administration, drug metabolism, the dose response curve,  tolerance and sensitization.  Following a brief overview of cellular foundations of neuropharmacology (cell biology, synaptic and receptor function), the course will focus on various classes of drugs used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders including, among others, depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety.  We will additionally consider mechanisms mediating the mind-altering, addictive, and neurotoxic effects of abused drugs. Prerequisite: Psychology 001 and PSYC 109

Cross-listed with BIBB 231 and BIOL 231. The evolution of social behavior in animals, with emphasis on group formation, cooperation among kin, mating systems, territoriality, and communication. Prerequisite: Psychology 001

Cross-listed with BIBB 249. The study of neural systems that underlie hunan perception, memory, and language; and of the pathological syndromes that result from damage to these systems. Prerequisite: Psychology 001 or BIBB 109

Cross-listed with PPE 153. Thinking, judgment, and personal and societal decision making, with emphasis on fallacies and biases. Note: Psychology 001 is not a prerequisite for this course.

An introduction to the scientific study of human memory, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between theory and experiment.  Topics will include dual store models and the debate over short-term memory, recognition memory for items and associations, the role of time and context in memory formation and retrieval, theories of association, memory for sequences, the influence of prior knowledge on new learning, spatial and navigational memory, perceptual learning, classification and function learning, memory disorders, and developmental changes in memory function. Prerequisite: Psychology 001

The concepts of normality, abnormality, and psychopathology; symptom syndromes; theory and research in psychopathology and psychotherapy. Prerequisite: Psychology 001

This course will cover topics ranging from the anatomy and physiology of the human reproductive system to the cognitive systems that underpin human sexual behavior. Throughout, there will be an emphasis on the relationship between the features of these physical and cognitive mechanisms and the evolutionary functions these systems were designed to serve. Prerequisite: Psychology 001

An overview of theory and research in social psychology. Topics include social influence (e.g. conformity), effects of persuasive messages, aggression, altruism, prejudice, and interpersonal attraction. Prerequisite: Psychology 001

What infants and young children come to know about the world, and how they learn it. Topics include changes in children's thinking, perceptual development, language acquisition, and current theories of cognitive development. Prerequisite: Psychology 001

Psychophysical and physiological approaches to the study of  hearing, with an emphasis on the perception of complex sounds. Prerequisite: Psychology 111, or permission of instructor.

Community psychology can be described as an approach to the use of psychology rather than a separate sub-field or discipline. Whereas traditional psychology focuses on the individual as the subject of study and intervention, the community approach takes into consideration the interaction between the individual and the environment. Additionally, where traditional approaches to psychology typically deal with individuals’ existing problems (i.e., the medical model), community psychology allows for proactive strategies of treatment, such as programs for prevention and awareness. This course provides an overview of the methodology, theory, and application of the community psychology perspective with a focus on its application to the mental health field. Prerequisite: Psychology 162

Recent national and international events (terrorist attacks of 9-11, the 2004 tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq) as well as elevated rates of interpersonal and community violence, have increased public awareness of psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Great strides have been made in terms of defining trauma and PTSD, identifying risk and resiliency factors, and developing evidence-based treatments. Nevertheless, the field continues to be challenged ny evolving diagnostic criteria and controversy (e.g., the repressed memory debate, multiple personality, and false disability claims). This course explores the meaning of psychological trauma and it impact on the individual and society. Social, psychological, and biological theories will be considered. In addition, we will examine past and current definitions of trauma and PTSD, risk and resiliency factors, various treatment approaches, and current controversies in the field.. Prerequisite: Psychology 162

The goals of the seminar are to familiarize you with the different systems of psychotherapy, to ask you to formulate the underlying assumptions involved in each system of psychotherapy, to ask you to come up with an understanding of the mechanisms of change and treatment interventions implicit and explicit in these different systems, and to provide you with the opportunity to critically review relevant papers and chapters and to write critical reviews of topics of interest to you.  This is a work intensive seminar which will require extensive readings and writings and even sometimes to stay beyond the end of class.  Prerequisite: Psychology 162

This course examines behavioral and computational methods used to study auditory perception.  Exercises examining stimulus and response measures, replications of classic perceptual experiments, and computational models of auditory perception will be assigned. Prerequisites: Psychology 111 and one semester of statistics, or permission of instructor.

Students conduct hands-on supervised experiments with animals throughout the week.  Class also meets weekly to consider progress in the laboratory and to discuss assigned readings.  Research topics come from current issues in the neurology and  pharmacology of food and nutrient intake. Prerequisites: Psychology  127 and one semester of statistics, or permission of the instructor.

Students will learn how to study scientifically the behavior of animals. We will take an evolutionary and ecological approach to studying several different types of behavior across different species in both laboratory and field environments. Students will gain experience designing and conducting animal behavior experiments as well as analyzing results and presenting their findings.  Prerequisites: Psychology 131 and one semester of statistics, or permission of the instructor.

In this course you will gain experience in the designing and running of behavioral studies having to do with language, memory, attention, and perception. We will accomplish this by studying how humans rapidly understand and produce spoken language.   One of the central themes of this course will be the examination of language use in natural situations, using experimental  techniques like the monitoring of eye movements during listening.  Prerequisites:  Psychology 107 or 135 or 149 or 151, and one semester of statistics, or permission of the instructor.

In this course, students will, in consultation with the instructor, design, carry out, and write up original research on topics in judgment and decision making.  The emphasis will be on describing systematic deviations of human behavior from theories of rational choice (decision theory and game theory).  Topics include heuristics and biases in probability judgment, choice under uncertainty, and intertemporal choice. Prerequisites: Statistics 111 (or its equivalent) and one of the following: Psychology 153, or Psychology 165, or instructor permission.

This is a continuation of Psyc 362-301 taught in Fall 2007 and is only available to students who were enrolled in that course. Junior and Senior Psychology majors only: Are you interested in expanding our understanding of anxiety and affective disorders?  If you'd like to work hard for nine months, qualify for honors and have a publishable paper at the end of the year, this may be the course for you.  Offering more support and structure than an independent study, this course will still allow you to make an original contribution to one of several research areas, including phobias, depression, panic disorder, and PTSD.  By Instructor permission only.  E-mail application essay to Julia Hormes jhormes@sas.upenn.edu including your experiences in psychology, why you are interested in the course, and how the course fits in to your overall career planning. 

Students will design, analyze, and write up original research related to clinical/community psychology and mental health services using available survey and interview data. The focus of the course is not psychopathology itself, but how research into the treatment of mental illness can improve access to quality mental health care. Topics that may be explored include the treatment of psychopathology by primary care doctors, the use of informal community care by people with mental illness, and the assessment of mental health services coverage and quality. Students will also be encouraged to develop their own topics of interest and seek out appropriate data sources. The course will focus on developing students’ understanding of the methodology and analysis of community and services research, and will require students to develop proficiency in scientific writing. Prerequisites: Psychology 162 and one semester of statistics

This course will help you gain an understanding of the way social psychologists ask and attempt to answer questions about how we behave in relationships with others. We will generate research questions that are of interest to you, design and conduct an experiment to test them, and write up and present our findings. Class meetings will largely be discussions about your research question and your progress in between meetings. we will have some lectures to orient you to the methods and techniques psychologists use (and more importantly, why they use them). Prerequisites: Psychology 170 and one semester of statistics

This is a continuation of Psyc 400-301 taught in Fall 2007 and is only available to students who were enrolled in that course. Open only to senior Honors candidates in psychology. A two-semester sequence supporting the preparation of an honors thesis in psychology. Students will present their work in progress and develop skills in written and oral communication of scientific ideas. Permission of the instructor and admission to the Honors program required.

Comparative cognition, with special emphasis on social behavior. Prerequisite:  Psychology 131 or 133.

This advanced course is designed to examine the various roles played by the nervous and endocrine systems in controlling both physiological processes and behavior. First, the course will build a foundation in the concepts of neural and endocrine system function. Then, we will discuss how these mechanisms form the biological underpinnings of various behaviors and their relevant physiological correlates. We will focus on sexual and parental behaviors, stress, metabolism, neuroendocrine-immune interactions, and mental health. Prerequisite:  Psychology 109

The first half of the course treats Behavioral Genetics (e.g., genetic and environmental components of IQ, personality, and psychopathology, gene-environment interaction), and the second half deals with Evolutionary Psychology (e.g., evolution of altruistic, cooperative, and competitive behavior).  There are no prerequisites, but previous courses in Psychology, Biological Basis of Behavior, Anthropology, Biology, or Statistics would be helpful preparation.

Is there a “natural-born killer”? What makes a successful psychopath? And is it morally wrong for us to punish those who are biologically-wired for a life of crime? This course argues that answers to these inscrutable questions will ultimately be found in an interdisciplinary perspective that examines the interface between the social, clinical, and neuro-sciences. We will explore new biosocial treatments for violence, and analyze the controversial neuroethical, legal, and philosophical issues surrounding neurocriminology. The course presents perspectives from fields of psychology, neurobiology, sociology, neurochemistry, anthropology, law, neuroanatomy, cinema, public health, neuroendocrinology, criminology, forensics, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Only by integrating knowledge from multiple domains will we fully understand, predict, and prevent future criminal behavior. Prerequisite: Psychology 162. Cross-listed with CRIM 370

Do people exhibit true concern for the welfare of others, without the promise of personal gain? This advanced seminar draws on empirical research from economics and psychology on the nature of fairness and altruism. The impact of fairness concerns on microeconomic behavior will be examined, including individual choice behavior, possible market anomalies, and public policy. Prerequisites: Introductory Microeconomics, or Game Theory, or permission of instructor