Psychology
Courses at Bryn Mawr College
101, 102. Experimental Psychology
Psychology as a natural science. A survey of methods, facts and principles
relating to basic psychological processes. Major topic areas include
neural bases of behavior, learning and motivation, psychosocial development
and abnormal psychology, human cognition, cognitive development, individual
differences and social psychology. Lecture three hours, laboratory
four hours a week. The laboratory provides experience with contemporary
methods of research on both animals and humans. (staff, Division IIL)
201. Learning Theory and Behavior
This course covers the basic principles of behavior, most of which
were discovered through animal research, and their application to
the understanding of the human condition. Traditionally, learning has been described in terms of
operant and Pavlovian processes, with modeling treated as a special kind of operant
conditioning. The basic procedures and principles of operant and Pavlovian conditioning
are examined, and their relation to complex human functioning, such as
concept formation and awareness, is explored. An introduction to functional assessment
and functional analysis -- the benchmarks of applied behavior analysis -- will follow.
Lecture three hours, laboratory one to two hours a week. (Neuman, Dividion
IIL)
203. Educational Psychology
Topics in the psychology of human cognitive, social and affective
behavior are examined and related to educational practice. Issues covered include
learning theories, memory, attention, thinking, motivation, social/emotional
issues in adolescence, and assessment/learning disabilities. This course provides
a Praxis Level I opportunity. Classroom observation is required. (Cassidy,
Division I)
205. Experimental Methods and Statistics
An introduction to experimental design, general research methodology,
and the analysis and interpretation of data. Emphasis will be placed
on issues involved with conducting psychological research. Topics
include descriptive and inferential statistics, experimental design
and validity, analysis of variance, and correlation and regression.
Each statistical method will also be executed using computers. Lecture
three hours, laboratory 90 minutes a week. (Thapar, Division II or
Quantitative)
206. Developmental Psychology
A topical survey of psychological development from infancy through
adolescence, focusing on the interaction of personal and environmental
factors in the ontogeny of perception, language, cognition, and social
interactions within the family and with peers. Topics include: developmental
theories; infant perception; attachment; language development; theory
of mind; memory development; peer relations, schools and the family
as contexts of development; and identity and the adolescent transition.
(Wozniak, Division I)
208. Social Psychology
A survey of theories and data in the study of human social behavior.
Special attention to methodological issues of general importance in
the conduct and evaluation of research with human subjects. Topics
include: group dynamics (conformity, leadership, encounter groups,
crowd behavior, intergroup conflict); attitude change (consistency
theories, attitudes and behavior, mass media persuasion); and person
perception (stereotyping, attribution theory, implicit personality
theory). Participation in a research project is required. (McCauley,
Division I)
209. Abnormal Psychology
An examination of the main psychological disorders manifested by individuals
across the life span. It begins with a historical overview followed
by a review of the major models of psychopathology, including the
medical, psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioral and family systems.
Disorders covered include anorexia/bulimia, schizophrenia, substance
abuse, depression and anxiety disorders. Topics include symptomatology
and classification, theories of etiology, research on prognosis, treatment
approaches, and studies of treatment effectiveness. Two lectures,
one discussion section a week. (Schulz, Division I)
212. Human Cognition
A survey of the history, theories and data of cognitive psychology.
Emphasis is placed on those models and methods that fall within the
information-processing approach to human cognition. Topics include
perception, object recognition, attention and automaticity, memory,
mental representations and knowledge, language, and problem solving.
Data from laboratory experiments (including those conducted within
the course) and the performance of patients with brain damage are
reviewed. Participation in (self-administered) laboratory experiments
is mandatory. A research project or paper is also required. (Thapar,
Division IIL)
214. Behavior Modification
This course covers the basic principles of behavior and their relevance
and application to clinical problems. The theoretical approaches of
Pavlovian conditioning and operant conditioning (behavior analyses)
will be covered to help understand the methods used in clinical practice.
Topics may include eating disorders, anxiety disorders, addictive
behavior, autistic behavior, attention deficit hyper-activity disorder,
and oppositional/conduct disorder. Methods for recording, analyzing
and modifying behavior will be covered. This course provides a Praxis
Level I opportunity. It cannot be taken if you previously have taken
Psychology 104. (Neuman, Division I)
218. Behavioral Neuroscience
An interdisciplinary course on the neurobiological bases of experience
and behavior, emphasizing the contribution of the various neurosciences
to the understanding of basic problems of psychology. An introduction
to the fundamentals of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurochemistry,
with an emphasis upon synaptic transmission; followed by the application
of these principles to an analysis of sensory processes and perception,
emotion, motivation, learning and cognition. Lecture three hours a
week. (Thomas, Division II)
245. The Brain and
Mental Health
(Grobstein, Division II;
cross-listed as BIOL 245and GNST 245)
301. Advanced Research
Methods
This course deals with psychology
research and design methodology. An important purpose of the course
is to help students with their undergraduate thesis reaserch. Topics
include: internal and external validity, reliability, characteristics
of various methods (survey, case, observational and experimental),
data coding, levels of measurement, research ethics and publication.
(Myers)
310. Advanced Developmental
Psychology
This course details theory
and research relating to the development of children and adolescents
with family, school and cultural contexts. We examine topics including
(but not limited to): developmental theory, infant perception, language,
attachment, self-awareness, social cognition, symbolic thought, memory,
parent-child relations, peer relations and gender issues. (Myers)
312. History of Modern
American Psychology
An examination of major 20th-century trends in American psychology
and their 18th- and 19th-century social and intellectual roots. Topics
include: physiological and philosophical origins of scientific psychology;
growth of American developmental, comparative, social and clinical
psychology; and the cognitive revolution. Open only to juniors and
seniors majoring in psychology. (Wozniak)
323. Cognitive Neuroscience:
Biopsychology of Sex Differences
A survey and critical analysis
of research and theory regarding biological, psychological, social
and cultural determinants of sex differences in cognition. The
first half of the semester will examine the role that developmental
processes, cultural socialization and gender-role stereotypes play
in the creation of sex differences in cognition. The second
half will examine the role that sex chromosomes and hormones play
in creating sex differences in the brain and behavior. Class
time will involve discussion of theory and research as well as the
design and execution of original research. (Thapar)
326 From Channels
to Behavior
(Thomas, Brodfuehrer, Division
II; cross-listed as BIOL 326)
340. Women's Mental
Health
This course will provide
an overview of current research and theory related to women's mental
health. We will discuss psychological phenomena and disorders
that are particularly salient to and prevalent among women, why these
phenomena/disorders affect women disproportionately over men, and
how they may impact women's psychological and physical well-being.
Psychological disorders covered will include: depression, eating disorders,
dissociative identity disorder, borderline personality disorder and
chronic pain disorders. Other topics will include work-family
conflict for working mothers, the role of sociocultural influences
on women's mental health, and mental health issues particular to women
of color and to lesbian women. (Rosenfeld)
346. Pediatric Psychology
This course uses a developmental-ecological
perspective to understand the psychological challenges associated
with physical health issues in children. The course explores
how different environments support the development of children who
sustain illness or injury and will cover topics including: prevention,
coping, adherence to medical regimens and pain management. The course
will consider the ways in which cultural beliefs and values shape
medical experiences. Prerequisite: PSYC 206 highly recommended. (Rourke)
351. Developmental Psychopathology
An examination of research and theory addressing the origins, progression
and consequences of maladaptive functioning in children, adolescents
and families. The course will concentrate on several major forms of
psychopathology, such as depression and disruptive behavior syndromes,
and family-based risk factors for psychopathology, such as parenting
quality and marital conflict. An important focus of the course is
on the identification of risk and protective factors for psychopathology.
The course will also examine prevention efforts designed to reduce
risks and enhance protective factors. Prerequisite: Psychology 206
or 209 (Rescorla)
352. Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology
This course will provide in-depth study of a major area of developmental
psychology (i.e., theory of mind, language acquisition, memory). Class
time will involve discussion of theory and research in the topic of
focus. In addition, students will gain laboratory research experience
using developmental techniques by replicating pre-existing research
experiments with children and adults and by designing and implementing
original studies. Prerequisite: Psychology 206 (Myers, Division IIL)
358. Political Psychology
of Group Identification
This seminar will explore
the common interests of psychologists and political scientists in
the phenomena of group identification. The focus will be identification
with ethnic and national groups, with special attention to the ways
in which research on small-group dynamics can help us understand identification
and conflict for these larger groups. The seminar will review major
theories of group identity and examine several historical or current
cases of successful and unsuccessful development of national identity.
Prerequisite: PSYC 208 or two semesters of political science. (McCauley,
Ross; cross-listed as POLS 258)
364. Behavior
Analytic Theory
Although behavior analysis
is reputed to be a "tough minded" natural scientific approach
to psychology, it is also rich in theory. Behavior analysis
as is different in what is said and how it is said as in how research
is conducted. Readings will be theoretical in nature from behavior
analysis and other traditions that apply established principles
to everyday concerns such as roommate disagreements as well as to
why we are not acting to save the world. (Neuman, Division I)
395. Psychopharmacology
A study of the role of drugs in understanding basic brain-behavior
relations. Topics include: the pharmacological basis of motivation
and emotion; pharmacological models of psychopathology; the use of
drugs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression
and psychosis; and the psychology and pharmacology of drug addiction.
Prerequisite: Psychology 218. (Thomas)
396. Topics in Neural and Behavioral Science
(Thomas; cross listed as Biology 396)
398. Cognitive Issues in Personality
and Social Psychology
Topics course; course content varies (McCauley)
401. Supervised Research in Neural and Behavioral Sciences
(staff; cross listed as Biology 401)
403. Supervised Research in Psychology
Laboratory or field research on a wide variety of topics. Students
should consult with faculty members to determine their topic and faculty
supervisor. (staff)
Psychology
Courses at Haverford College
Haverford College Courses
Certain courses currently offered
at Haverford College may be substituted for the equivalent Bryn Mawr
courses for purposes of the Bryn Mawr psychology major.
Introductory psychology at
Haverford may be substituted for 101/102.
PSYC 200 at Haverford may
be substituted for PSYC 205.
The following courses at
Haverford will count as 200-level courses for the major:
PSYC 213 (Memory and Cognition)
PSYCH 215 (Introduction
to Personality Psychology)
PSYC 217 (Biological Psychology)
PSYC 224 (Social Psychology)
PSYC 238 (Psychology of
Language)
PSYC 260 (Cognitive Neuroscience).
The following Haverford courses
will count as 300-level courses for the major:
PSYC 214 (Psychology of
Adolescence)
PSYC 220 (The Psychology
of Time)
PSYC 221 (The Primate Origins
of Society)
PSYC 222 (Evolution and
Behavior)
PSYCH 225 (Self and Identity)
PSYC 240 (Psychology of
Pain and Pain Inhibition)
PSYC 250 (Biopsychology
of Emotion and Personality)
PSYC 311 (Advanced Personality
Psychology: Freud)
PSYC 325 (The Psychology
of Close Relationships)
PSYC 340 (Human Neuropsychology)
PSYC 350 (Biopsychology
of Stress)
Students who take Haverford
courses with the half credit laboratory attachments may count the
lab portion of the course toward fulfilling the advanced lab requirement
for the Bryn Mawr major.
