PSYC 4001: Special Topics in Psychology

PSYC 4001 A: Positive Organizational Scholarship

Course Description/Instructors Statement

While acknowledging the many negative events that happen at work, the aim of Positive Organizational Scholarship is to look at organizations through a constructive lens to address challenges in organizational life. In a world in which organizations are often characterized by greed and unethical behaviour, positive organizational scholarship applies the theory and research from Positive Psychology to study how organizations can help employees develop their strengths and work to their potential.

This seminar will provide the opportunity to read and discuss current research on how topics such as hope, optimism, creativity, curiosity, passion and callings, compassion, trust, humour, personal growth, and even positive deviance can be applied to the workplace. This course is aimed at students with an interest in Organizational Psychology or Positive Psychology, as well as those generally thinking about how paid work affects employees and what it might mean to them.

Evaluation

Still to be determined, but will likely include active participation in class discussions and a paper. It may also include a short presentation and facilitating discussion following the presentation.

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Readings will be assigned. All journal articles will be available through our library.

PSYC 4001 E : Special Topics in Psychology

Course Description/Instructors Statement

“If we are so irrational, how did we ever get to the moon?” Although this query was presented as a rhetorical device in Baron’s (2008, p.74) excellent introduction to thinking, the goal of this special topics class will be a modest attempt to answer the question. More specifically, we will try to understand how humans’ cognitive capabilities can lead to extraordinarily good or embarrassingly poor problem-solving, reasoning, and decision-making depending on the situation. From a methodological standpoint, the course will involve research stemming from cognitive psychology and the cognitive sciences more generally. Topics will include evolution; the emergence of key human cognitive capabilities, namely shared intentionality, language and executive functioning; problem-solving; expertise; rationality; logic; probability; decision-making; the relations among rationality, intelligence, and emotions; and two evolutionary perspectives on thinking and rationality: adaptive heuristics and dual-process models.

Evaluation

Two multiple-choice tests, one 4-page essay, one 10-page essay.

Text

There is no text for this class, but students will be expected to read multiple peer-reviewed journal articles as well as book chapters.

PSYC 4001 F / 5800 W: Gerontology

Course Description/Instructors Statement

Gerontology examines the aging process by understanding patterns of psychological, social, and biological change. This class will consider how individuals develop later in life through academic readings across the social and health sciences, with an ultimate focus on public policy implications. Lectures will focus on integrating perspectives on the aging process, and connecting the weekly readings to students’ personal research and interests.

Evaluation

Evaluation will be based on (a) class participation and attendance, (b) student in-class presentations, (c) thought papers on different topics across the semester, and (d) a summary paper integrating the research areas evaluated.

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Journal articles assigned for each week

Tuesday, June 2, 2015  |  Categories: News