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Psychology

PSYC E-15 Introduction to Psychology

Fall term (10232)

L. Dodge Fernald, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University.

Class times: Tuesdays beginning Sept. 1, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900.

Spring term (20205)

L. Dodge Fernald, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University.

Class times: Tuesdays beginning Jan. 26, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900.

This course is an introduction to some of the major sub-disciplines of psychology, such as developmental, social, clinical, biological, and personality psychology. Students explore various theoretical perspectives and research methods used by psychologists to study the origins and variations in human behavior. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1016 Trauma and Development

Fall term (13469)

*** PSYC E-1016 Fall term (13469) has been CANCELED. ***

Spring term (23359)

Manuel Sprung, PhD, Visiting Scholar in Psychology, Harvard University.

Class times: Wednesdays beginning Jan. 27, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course surveys literature on the impact of traumatic events, such as natural disaster and maltreatment, on psychological development, with a focus on cognitive aspects. It attends to questions about the nature of traumatic stress, potential risk and protective factors, cultural aspects, and psychological interventions following traumatic events. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1020 Cognition (22794)

Spring term

*** PSYC E-1020 has been CANCELED. ***

PSYC E-1034 Adult Development (23295)

Spring term

Robert Kegan, PhD, The William and Miriam Meehan Professor of Adult Learning and Professional Development, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Course tuition: noncredit and undergraduate credit $950, graduate credit $1,850.

Online only, beginning Jan. 26. Required sections to be arranged.

This course explores adulthood—the latter two-thirds to three-quarters of our lives—not as a single, last phase of human development but as itself an evolutionary expanse involving importantly different eras and transformations. We consider a variety of theoretical and practical questions, including the following: What are the implications of various theories of adulthood for how we define "development," "maturity," and "wisdom"? Are there common features of the adult trajectory that apply across the diversities of gender, class, and ethnicity? What are adults' actual developmental capacities, and how do they square with the mental demands of modern life? What do these theories mean for adults in the contexts of work, schooling, staff development, conflict resolution, and counseling? Can we, and should we, foster development in adulthood? The recorded lectures are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education course T-006. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1040 Personality Theory (22789)

Spring term

Stephanie Sogg, PhD, Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Thursdays beginning Jan. 28, 7:35-9:35 pm. Optional sections to be arranged.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course covers a brief history and methodology of the study of personality, then proceeds to a discussion of each of the following major schools of thought within the field of personality theory: psychoanalytic/Freudian, neo-Freudian, biological, humanistic, cognitive, and behavioral. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1050 Introduction to Social Psychology (23276)

Spring term

Holly Parker, PhD, Clinical Psychology Intern, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital.

Class times: Mondays beginning Jan. 25, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course provides an overview of the major concepts and questions in the field of social psychology. Students have the opportunity to discuss and think critically about a variety of exciting issues, such as the impact of social perceptions on individual behavior, factors that influence how people see themselves, romantic relationships, aggression, and the act of helping others. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1058 Social Development (23351)

Spring term

Craig Smith, EdD, Lecturer on Psychology, Harvard University.

Class times: Thursdays beginning Jan. 28, 7:35-9:35 pm. Optional sections to be arranged.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course takes a developmental approach to the following topics: attachment, early emerging social behavior, cooperation and competition, trust, theory of mind, social categorization, in/out group dynamics, friendship, distinct forms of aggression and victimization, social and moral reasoning, and parental, peer, and cultural influences on social behavior. Prerequisite: an introductory course in psychology is recommended. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1060 Emotion (12504)

Fall term

Matthew Leeds, PhD, Clinical Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Tuesdays beginning Sept. 1, 5:30-7:30 pm. Required sections to be arranged.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

Emotion is a fundamental, complex, and sometimes confusing part of human experience. This course surveys the current state of knowledge about human emotion. The questions addressed include the following: What is emotion? Do we find a set of universal basic emotions if we look across cultures? What are the functions of emotion? Can we control our emotions? Prerequisite: introductory psychology. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1091 The Cognitive Dog: Savant or Slacker (23279)

Spring term

Bruce Blumberg, PhD, Senior Scientist, Blue Fang Games.

Class times: Mondays beginning Jan. 25, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit and undergraduate credit $950, graduate credit $1,850.

Online option available.

The noted psychologist Paul Bloom commented recently that "for psychologists, dogs may be the next chimpanzees." Leaving aside the question of who is happier about this, the dogs or the chimps, the fact remains that the cognitive ability of dogs has been the focus of a great deal of work recently. This course is a review and analysis of the latest work on dog development, cognition, and learning, supplemented by some of the classics and guest appearances (canine or otherwise). Topics covered include evolution and development, perception, cue learning and use, imitation and social learning, emotion, temperament, and training. Prerequisite: experience with dogs or a background in animal behavior and learning is helpful. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1095 Interspecies Communication: Can We Really Talk with the Animals? (13308)

Fall term

Irene M. Pepperberg, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor in Psychology, Brandeis University.

Class times: Mondays beginning Aug. 31, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

Studies to teach animals elements of human language were once considered cutting-edge science, but are now viewed as worthy of little more than a chapter in comparative psychology textbooks. Why did such projects capture the interest of scientists and nonscientists alike, and why did this interest end? What was learned from these studies, and what could we learn if they were again in vogue? For example, researchers' arguments as to whether animals trained in American Sign Language had acquired real grammar forced us to examine human linguistic behavior in detail. Would renewed interest in animal language reenergize studies on similarities and differences in human and nonhuman communicative behavior? The course considers the rationale behind the original studies and examines their successes, failures, and reasons, both political and scientific, why most projects have ended. Prerequisites: introductory psychology recommended. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1240 Abnormal Psychology (10236)

Fall term

Shelley H. Carson, PhD, Lecturer on Psychology, Harvard University.

Class times: Wednesdays beginning Sept. 2, 7:35-9:35 pm. Required sections to be arranged.

Course tuition: noncredit and undergraduate credit $950, graduate credit $1,850.

Online option available. Lecture 1 video.

We examine a variety of mental disorders from several different theoretical perspectives. Focus is on diagnosis, epidemiology, causes, and treatments of each disorder. Prerequisite: introductory psychology. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1247 Self-Destructive Behaviors (12791)

Fall term

Matthew K. Nock, PhD, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences, Harvard University.

Class times: Mondays beginning Aug. 31, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: graduate credit $1,800.

Graduate seminar. Limited enrollment.

Why do some individuals intentionally engage in behaviors that cause them direct bodily harm, such as suicide and self-mutilation? This seminar explores past and current models for understanding self-harm behaviors. We consider the classification, etiology, assessment, and treatment of self-harm behaviors from psychological, developmental, contextual, and biological perspectives. Prerequisites: introductory and abnormal psychology. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1310 Cognitive Neuroscience (13400)

Fall term

George A. Alvarez, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Harvard University.

Class times: Tuesdays beginning Sept. 1, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

What is really true about how the human mind and brain work? What do future presidents, Supreme Court justices, legislators, policy makers, and informed citizens need to know about human cognition and brain function to make informed decisions? This course covers the state of the art understanding in the field of cognitive neuroscience, with an emphasis on how we obtain this understanding (methods of measuring minds and brains), and the implications of this understanding for society. Upon completion of this course, students are able to read primary sources or news articles (for example, "Neuroscientists Can Read Your Mind") and understand what the scientific facts are and how they were obtained (How do neuroscientists measure brain function?), whether the conclusions are justified (Can they really ready my mind using these methods?), and how the findings impact policies that affect everyone (Should we use this for interrogation, or to evaluate whether someone is lying?). While the course places an emphasis on connecting cognitive science to real world issues, the primary purpose is to provide students with a core understanding of how the mind and brain work, so they can make well-informed decisions. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1420 The Psychology of Addiction (22233)

Spring term

Gene M. Heyman, PhD, Lecturer on Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Thursdays beginning Jan. 28, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course provides a multifaceted, research-based account of addiction. Readings and lectures include epidemiological, biographical, ethnographic, and laboratory studies. The readings and lectures address such issues as whether addiction is really a chronic disorder, why alcohol is legal whereas marijuana and heroin are not, why addiction has been called a disease, why cigarette smoking was once so widespread and then decreased, and how it is possible for social setting and individual differences to influence drug effects. The course also touches on non-drug topics that help shed light on addiction, including recent advances in choice theory, genetic influences on choice, gene expression, and behavioral and environmental-induced changes in the brain. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1604b Neuropsychology II: Clinical Applications (23277)

Spring term

Mark S. Greenberg, PhD, Clinical Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Wednesdays beginning Jan. 27, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

Designed for human service professionals, students contemplating advanced study in psychology, and interested laypersons, this course offers in-depth discussions of how various neurological disorders impact cognition, affect, and behavior. We study head trauma, toxic exposures, stroke syndromes, and selected medical and developmental disorders. Prerequisite: physiological psychology or equivalent, or permission of the instructor. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1610 The Brain in Psychology (11393)

Fall term

William Milberg, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Thursdays beginning Sept. 3, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: graduate credit $1,800.

Graduate seminar. Limited enrollment.

This seminar is an introduction to the neuropsychological aspects of cognition, personality, and social behavior. Students are introduced to contemporary methods used in neuropsychological research and learn how these methods may be applied to the classical problems of psychology. Prerequisite: neuropsychology course. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1650/W Introduction to Psychoanalysis (22288)

Spring term

Wynn Schwartz, PhD, Clinical Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Tuesdays beginning Jan. 26, 7:35-9:35 pm. Optional sections to be arranged.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

Writing-intensive course.

The current fundamental concepts of psychoanalytic theory and practice are presented. The various psychoanalytic perspectives on the unconscious, dreams, personality development, psychopathology, and treatment are examined. Prerequisites: introduction to psychology, and personality or abnormal psychology courses. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1704 Creativity: Geniuses, Madmen, and Harvard Students (13327)

Fall term

Shelley H. Carson, PhD, Lecturer on Psychology, Harvard University.

Class times: Tuesdays beginning Sept. 1, 7:35-9:35 pm. Required sections to be arranged.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

Human creativity is essential to our ability to survive and thrive as a species. In addition, creativity in the arts enriches and adds breadth to our everyday experiences. Creativity in the sciences has extended our lifespan, made living conditions more comfortable, and opened the worlds of outer space and inner space to our scrutiny and amazement. This course provides an overview of the major theories, modern research, and current issues in the field of creativity. We examine creativity from different levels of analysis, including biological, psychological, and social levels. We use three different approaches in our examinations: first, we examine empirical research; second, we employ the case-study approach to learn from the lives of history's most eminent creative achievers; and finally, we use ourselves as subjects to arrive at valuable insights about the creative process. Some of the topics we cover include the definition and measurement of creativity, the nature of the creative process, the creative personality, the role of family life and culture in creativity, the relationship of creativity to IQ, and the relationship of creativity to psychopathology. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1855 Mood Disorders (23358)

Spring term

Diego A. Pizzagalli, PhD, John and Ruth Hazel Associate Professor of the Social Sciences, Harvard University.

Class times: Wednesdays beginning Jan. 27, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: graduate credit $1,800.

Graduate seminar. Limited enrollment.

This course examines current theory and research on the etiology, phenomenology, and treatment of mood disorders, particularly depressive disorders. Cognitive, behavioral, and biological approaches are emphasized. Prerequisites: PSYC E-15 and E-1240, or permission of the instructor. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1861/W Developmental Psychopathology (23176)

Spring term

Dante Spetter, PhD, Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University.

Class times: Tuesdays beginning Jan. 26, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit and undergraduate credit $950, graduate credit $1,850.

Online option available.

Writing-intensive course.

This course examines the overlap between normal and abnormal child development, exploring the relationship between atypical development and child or adult psychopathology. Emphasis is on risk and protective factors, characteristics of disorders first evident in childhood, and ways that caregivers can promote positive outcomes. Both categorical and dimensional approaches are considered. Prerequisites: human development and either abnormal or clinical psychology. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1870 Law and Psychology (20212)

Spring term

Ellsworth Lapham Fersch, PhD, JD, Lecturer on Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Mondays beginning Jan. 25, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course compares legal and psychological approaches to human behavior and considers their interaction. Topics include marriage, divorce, and custody; involuntary commitment to mental hospitals and substance abuse programs; the insanity defense; profiling; confessions; victimless crimes; and eyewitness testimony. The course discusses the roles of lawyers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, in theory and in practice. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1875 Psychology of Criminal Behavior (13456)

Fall term

Susan J. Lewis, PhD, JD, Clinical Psychologist.

Class times: Thursdays beginning Sept. 3, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course tackles the psychology of crime from multiple perspectives. The course begins by exploring the different theories behind criminal behavior, including the biological, the psychological, the sociological, and those that concern social learning. The course then moves beyond the theoretical to consider the relationship between mental illness and crime. Students look at perpetrators of serial murder, homicide, and infanticide. How does mental illness factor into the law? Topics such as substance abuse, psychopathy, white-collar crime, sexual crimes, and how neuropsychological and projective testing is used with a forensic population are also addressed. Prerequisite: PSYC E-15, or the equivalent. (4 credits)

PSYC E-1880 Clinical Psychology (10241)

Fall term

Nancy Hebben, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School.

Class times: Thursdays beginning Sept. 3, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: noncredit $600, undergraduate credit $900, graduate credit $1,800.

This course introduces and provides a broad overview of the field of clinical psychology with a focus on science and practice. Major topics include definition, training, and professional activities of clinical psychologists, along with history and current controversies, diagnosis according to the DSM-IV-TR, interviewing and psychological assessment methods, psychotherapy approaches, ethics and forensics. Prerequisites: coursework in psychology, preferably abnormal psychology. (4 credits)

PSYC E-2441 Clinical Neuroscience (13490)

Fall term

Diego A. Pizzagalli, PhD, John and Ruth Hazel Associate Professor of the Social Sciences, Harvard University.

Class times: Wednesdays beginning Sept. 2, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Course tuition: graduate credit $1,800.

Graduate seminar. Limited enrollment.

This seminar provides a comprehensive review of neuroscientific approaches to understanding key biological systems involved in various forms of psychopathology. Implications for treatment and diagnosis are emphasized. Prerequisites: PSYC E-15 and E-1240, or permission of the instructor. (4 credits)

PSYC E-2455 Psychotherapy Research (22622)

Spring term

Matthew K. Nock, PhD, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences, Harvard University.

Class times: Mondays beginning Jan. 25, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Course tuition: graduate credit $1,800.

Graduate seminar. Limited enrollment.

This seminar is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of basic concepts in psychotherapy research, including the history of psychotherapy, basic methodological issues in studying therapeutic change (group and single-case designs, measuring change, reviewing progress), major approaches to psychotherapy (for example, CBT, psychodynamic, experiential), and psychotherapy with special populations. Prerequisites: introductory psychology and abnormal psychology. (4 credits)



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