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	300 Steele Building CB# 3504 UNC-Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3504 email: fys@unc.edu phone: (919)843-7773

Psychology

PSYC 050 [006D]: Stress Management
Physical and Life Science (PL) [GC Natural Science - no lab, life]
Karen M. Gil
This course examines the physiological effects of exposure to stress, the basic role of the nervous, immunological, and endocrine systems in stress response, and how stress influences health and illness. We study a range of stress management skills: relaxation, distraction, imagery, and emotion-focused coping. We learn how to manage stress through exercise, time management, and assertive communication.

PSYC 051 [006D]: The Mind and the Computer
Physical and Life Science (PL) [GC Natural Science - no lab, life]
Peter C. Gordon
Is the human mind a machine? This question has intrigued philosophers and psychologists at least since the 17th century. During the last 50 years a new type of machine -- the computer -- has been developed which can perform many functions that previously could only be performed by the human mind. Major advances in computer technology occur on a regular basis and show no signs of slowing down. This course will examine the nature of human thought in relation to the operations of contemporary computers and will also consider how computers will likely develop in the future. Students will consider questions such as whether qualities of the mind (like consciousness and emotions) can be reduced to physical activities of a machine. They will also consider the implications that such a mechanistic reduction has for morality and ethics. Scientific readings will focus on the nature of human cognition and of machine intelligence.

PSYC 052 [006E]: Evolutionary Psychology
Physical and Life Science (PL) [GC Social Science]
Joseph Lowman
Students in this seminar will gain an in-depth understanding of evolutionary psychology, a current amalgam of evolutionary biology, psychology, and anthropology that aims to view complex social and personality feature of human behavior from an evolutionary perspective. Students will not only gain a full appreciation of the work of Charles Darwin but also be able to see how modern scientists working from different perspectives have extended his complex ideas to more illusive human behaviors. Topics to be covered include altruism, mate selection, patterns of marital and family relationships, and cross-cultural psychology. Students enrolled in this seminar will not only read original research studies, they will design and implement small studies designed to replicate others' work using interviews with other UNC students.

PSYC 053 [006E]: Talking About Numbers: Communicating Research Results to Others
Physical and Life Science (PL) [GC Social Science]
Abigail T. Panter
This seminar introduces the many ways that research results are reported to the public in our everyday lives-through advertising and mass media, the Internet, research-based policy statements, oral presentations, and scientific journal articles. Students learn how to use graphics programs, design computer presentations, and analyze data reporting in the media, in government forums, in the courtroom, and on the Internet. Emphasis is on developing a critical eye for how findings are disseminated and how computer use and the Internet landscape fit with issues of data access and reporting.

PSYC 054 [006E]: Families and Children
Social & Behavioral Science/Other (SS) [GC Social Science]
Beth Kurtz-Costes
In this First Year Seminar we will consider family as a context for children's development. Contemporary families are highly diverse, and topics covered in class reflect this diversity. We will examine characteristics of traditional, divorced and step families, single parents, gay and lesbian parents, and immigrant families. In addition to taking two examinations, students will interview a family member and write a five-page paper based on that interview. Each student will also give a class presentation on a family-related topic.

PSYC 055 [006E]: Children's Eyewitness Testimony
Social & Behavioral Science/Other (SS) [GC Social Science]
Peter A. Ornstein
With increasing frequency, young children are being called upon to provide evidence in legal proceedings, and often it is the testimony of children that is central to the outcome of a case being tried. Children's testimony is sought regularly in cases that range from divorce and custody disputes in family courts to allegations of sexual abuse in criminal cases. But what is known about the abilities of children to provide accurate information in these types of legal situations? To a great extent, children's testimony depends upon their abilities to remember previous experiences and to be able to resist the suggestions of others. In this seminar, we will discuss the relevant literature on children's memory and cognition in the context of a treatment of specific cases - most of which involve allegations of child sexual abuse - that have come to trial. Particular emphasis will be placed on two cases, the relatively recent Little Rascals Day Care case in North Carolina, and the 300-year old Salem Witch Trials.

PSYC 056 [006E]: Human Infancy
Social & Behavioral Science/Other (SS) [GC Social Science]
J. Steven Reznick
The goals of this course are to describe what we know about the psychological development of human infants, to evaluate the procedures that have given rise to that knowledge, and to explore the implications of the knowledge. We will use a multi-level approach that characterizes the infant's nervous system and muscular development, cognitive and emotional development, and place in the family community ecology. Methodology will be explored through classroom demonstrations, videotapes, and special projects. We will explore implications of infant development such as topics in the philosophy of mind, the legal status of infants, state and federal policy, and advice that is given to parents.

PSYC 057 [006E]: Conflict, Deviance, and Disasters
Social & Behavioral Science/Other (SS) [GC Social Science]
Vaida Thompson
The course will focus on how we attempt to understand and deal with unexpected and dire events in our lives over which we have no control. We will attempt to develop understanding of such things as terrorist attacks, mass killings - as at Columbine, and cultural anomalies - such as cults. The emergence of cross- and sub- cultural differences that lead to such events will be explored. We will also explore ways in which those affected by such events learn to deal with or come to terms with them. To accomplish course goals, we will attempt to cover, through course readings in books and articles, such major topics as the following: the nature of evil; the nature of prejudice; cross-cultural differences in socialization; the psychology of terrorist groups; how cults shape members to self-destruct; what we try to do to bring some order into our lives after such events; and leadership that may contribute to or may help heal after traumatic events. Grades will be based on participation, presentations, and analytical papers.

PSYC 058 [006E]: The Psychology of Mental States and Language Use
Social & Behavioral Science/Other (SS) [GC Social Science]
Jennifer Arnold
As adults we constantly make judgments about other people's beliefs, desires, goals, knowledge, and intentions, using evidence like eye gaze and inferences from their words and actions. These judgments together can be called mind reading, or theory of mind (where "theory" refers to the theory someone might hold about another's mental state, not a scientific theory). This information is known to guide some aspects of language use -- for example, you wouldn't ask someone to hand you "that book" if they don't know it exists. But some processes of language comprehension or production may proceed independently of complex inferences about mental states. This course examines mind reading abilities and how they affect the development of language, adult language use, and the language of autistic individuals, who are known to have difficulty reasoning about others' minds. This seminar will follow a discussion format.

PSYC 059 [006E]: Integrating Eastern and Western Psychology: A Study of Human Development
Social & Behavioral Science/Other (SS) [GC Social Science]
Robert Lawson
For 7000 years the Eastern wisdom traditions have consistently made use of the Chakra System as a metaphor for personal and spiritual development. In 1996, Anodea Judith, a clinical psychologist, published a comprehensive theory of human development in a work that successfully demonstrates the common ideas and parallels between Eastern thought and Western psychology. The course makes use of her text, with ample room for class discussion and argumentation, and will address sequentially the seven chakras including their psychological correlates found in Western research. In essence the course has been constructed to help the student understand self and others from a psychological perspective. The chakra system will be used as a blueprint to which we will apply our Western understanding of human development. Each chakra will be understood in terms of specific psychological issues, including survival and physical identity; emotions and emotional identity; the will and ego identity; relationships and social identity; communication and creative identity; imagination and archetypal identity; awareness and universal identity.

PSYC 061: Drug Addiction: Fact and Fiction
Physical and Life Science (PL); Communication Intensive (CI)
Rita F. Lokensgard
Illicit and legally available drugs, like cocaine or nicotine, make the user feel good but also promote the development of physical/psychological dependence. Are media depictions of drug addiction accurate? What are the beneficial and harmful psychological effects of abused drugs? What has scientific research, using human and animal subjects, revealed about the neurobiology of the "brain on drugs"? Are drug-associated objects and places important in the addiction process? Do most users become addicts? How does our conceptualization of addiction influence treatment and policy development? Has the "war on drugs" been successful? The course will tackle these questions through classroom discussions, lectures, movies, writing assignments, and a visit to a research lab and a treatment facility. Cocaine and heroin addiction will be used as primary model systems to introduce fundamental concepts in addiction research. Furthermore, the critical analysis of methodology used to advance our knowledge about drug addiction will be emphasized.

PSYC 062: Positive Psychology: The Science of Optimal Human Functioning
Social and Behavioral Sciences/Other (SS); Communication Intensive (CI)
Barbara Fredrickson
This course invites students to explore the opportunities presented by the vibrant and emerging field of Positive Psychology.
Positive psychology is a movement that challenges the field of psychology to reconsider the positive aspects of life. Instead of drawing exclusively from a "disease model," it encourages research on strengths as well as weaknesses, on building the best things in life as well as on repairing the worst, and on making the lives of normal people fulfilling as well as on healing pathology. Topics of study include happiness, positive emotions, resilience, creativity, finding meaning, and optimism. One basic premise of positive psychology is that human flourishing - a life rich in purpose, relationships, and enjoyment - will not result simply by curing pathology and eliminating behavioral and emotional problems. Rather, flourishing requires building and capitalizing on human strengths and capacities. Another basic premise is that human flourishing involves unlocking or building potential resources, capabilities and capacities at multiple levels -- in people, and also within groups and systems. A focus on generative dynamics leads researchers to consider the roles of positive emotions, positive relationships, and positive cognitions as keys to explaining human and collective flourishing.
This course will challenge students to engage with the core topics and foundational research and theories of positive psychology. Coursework will involve reading, group exercises, and personal reflections. My hope is that as you learn about positive psychology, you will also learn about how to enhance your own health and happiness and that of the communities and organizations around you.

PSYC 063: Persuasion, Passion, and Participation: The Psychology of Politics
Social and Behavioral Sciences/Other (SS); Communication Intensive (CI)
Melanie Green
How do political campaigns work? What kind of influence do the media have on political decisions? What do poll results really mean? We'll be exploring these questions and more in this seminar. Political psychology draws on psychological theory to enrich our understanding of phenomena in the political sphere, and at the same time, uses insights gained in the political domain to clarify our understanding of psychological theory. We'll explore this exciting subfield in the context of current political events, with a particular focus on campaigns and elections. Class assignments include debates, projects, and thought papers.

PSYC 065:  Judgment and Decision Making in Everyday Life
Social and Behavioral Sciences (SS)
Lawrence J. Sanna
This course focuses on understanding people’s judgment and decision making processes in everyday life.  Throughout our lives, we make decisions both big (e.g., choosing a career, ending a romantic relationship) and small (e.g., wondering whether we ordered pizza from the best place in town).  How do we make decisions such as these?  Why do many of our decisions produce very strong feelings and emotions within us?  What biases our decisions?  How can we make better decisions in the future?  What aspects of judgment and decision making are beyond our control and purview?  Social psychologists have become the vanguard in judgment and decision making research, borrowing many ideas from cognitive, personality, developmental, and clinical psychology.  Although we will examine judgment and decision making from a social psychological perspective, we will draw upon other areas of psychology and other interdisciplinary approaches (e.g., economics, decision sciences) as well.