Introduction to Psychology: General and Experimental Psychology PSY-121

An introduction to those topics in psychology emphasizing an experimental approach to the discipline. Major topics covered include an overview of the discipline’s history and research methodologies, the biological roots of behaviour, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, thinking and language, emotion, motivation, and social influences and relations.

Introduction to Psychology: Clinical and Developmental Psychology PSY-122

An introduction to clinical and developmental psychology. Topics covered include an overview of psychological research methods, child development, adolescent development, adult development, mental abilities, positive psychology, personality, psychological disorders and treatment, and health psychology.

Research Methods: Statistics PSY-201

An introduction to descriptive statistics and the logic of statistical inference. Statistical techniques common to behavioural sciences are covered. Includes a weekly one-hour lab.

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Developmental Psychology: Infant and Child PSY-223

A basic overview of normal development beginning at the prenatal stage and continuing through to the end of childhood. Topics include prenatal, intellectual, social, emotional, moral, and gender-role development. The influences of the family, peers, and television on development will also be explored.

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Developmental Psychology: Adolescent PSY-225

The course provides an overview of the developmental aspects of adolescence that are common to all adolescents, including physio-logical, cognitive, social, moral, spiritual, and sexual development. Issues facing some adolescents, such as eating disorders, cult member-ship, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug abuse will be discussed.

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Developmental Psychology: Adult PSY-229

This course will provide a summary of adult development. It will focus on aspects of development that are normal to all adults, such as cognitive, emotional, social, physical, sexual, vocational, and spiritual. In addition, aspects of development that are unique to some adults, such as addictions, cognitive disorders, forced retirement, and terminal illness will be explored.

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Research Methods: Experimental Design PSY-230

An overview of the methodologies employed in studying the major problem areas of psychology. Emphasis is placed on a general research design at both the conceptual and applied levels. Topics include the scientific study of human behaviour, formulation of research problems, research design, statistical inferences, decision-making, and writing of research reports. Includes a weekly 75 minute lab.

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Social Psychology PSY-255

An overview of research and theory in areas of social perception, interpersonal attractions and relationships, altruism, aggression, conformity, attitude development and change, and group processes. Practical applications of social psychology to law, medicine, and business will be explored.

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Personality PSY-315

An introduction to modern American and European theories of the psychological structure, dynamics, and development of human personality. In addition to major theories of personality, personality assessment and measurement will be discussed.

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Abnormal Psychology PSY-321

A review of the causes, symptoms, and treatments of several psychological disorders, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, dissociative disorders, substance-use disorders, psychophysiological disorders, and problems of sexual adaptation. Legal, ethical, and social issues pertaining to psychological disorders will be explored.

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The Psychology of Health and Well-Being PSY-327

An examination of the psychological aspects of health and illness. This course examines psychosocial, behavioural, and biomedical processes in the prevention of illness and the promotion of health and well-being (physical, psychological, and
spiritual). The emphasis will be on theory-based psychological research and on the practice of health psychology. Selected topics to be explored include: the psychophysiological disorders, attitudes and behaviours which promote good health, the relationship between stress and disease, coping with stress, understanding and coping with pain and illness, lifestyle and risk factors in various medical disorders.

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Cognitive Psychology PSY-332

This course examines human information processing. Major topics include pattern recognition, attention, memory processes, concept formation, knowledge acquisition, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, and psycholinguistics.

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Principles of Learning and Behaviour Modification PSY-334

A survey of fundamental conditioning processes based on experimental studies of human and animal behaviour. Topics covered include: habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, instrumental conditioning, and behaviour modification.
The importance of these principles will be illustrated using examples from clinical, vocational, and educational settings.

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Physiological Psychology PSY-336

This course will examine some of the global issues in psychology that touch on the relationship between neurological mechanisms and human personhood. Students will study introductory neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, concentrating on neural and synaptic transmission and basic subdivisions of the nervous system. Building on this foundation, various topics will be discussed including lateralization of functions, sensory systems, motivation and regulatory systems, emotional behaviour, learning and memory, and brain damage and related disorders.

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Forensic Psychology PSY-338

This course involves the application of scientific and professional aspects of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system. This field encompasses contributions made in a number of different areas, including research, clinical practice and public policy, from a variety of perspectives within the field of psychology. This course introduces students to the major theories and research areas found within forensic psychology, and their application to a wide range of legal topics such as the insanity defence, criminal profiling, eyewitness testimony, interrogations, jury selection, and victim services.

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Positive Psychology PSY-339

Positive psychology is the scientific study of human flourishing. Exploring topics such as virtue and character, happiness and gratitude, willpower and self-control, emotion and optimism, students will be challenged to grow in their understanding and experience of human flourishing. Connections to Scripture and the long tradition of Christian reflection on flourishing will be explored.

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History of Psychology PSY-341

Histories of psychology meet a real human need: the way we narrate psychology’s past will shape our vision of psychology’s future and how we might participate in that future. But it’s crucial that histories of psychology also be based on rigorous scholarship and not on wishful thinking. In this class we’ll explore the traditional “textbook” history of psychology narrative which emphasizes how psychology broke away from dogma, speculation, and ignorance so that it might become the science and practice it is today. We’ll also consider–in light of primary sources and recent historical scholarship–the degree to which this narrative corresponds with historical reality and what a more adequate narrative might look like. To meet the need of our students to reflect a distinctive worldview in any vocation or place they are called, an emphasis will be placed on Christianity’s (and Christians’) role in psychology’s past, present, and future.

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Theory and Methods of Counselling PSY-417

This course offers exposure to theories and methods of therapeutic counselling. Basic training in therapeutic communication and counselling techniques are also included.

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Will and Willpower PSY-428

In recent years, psychology has experienced an explosion of interest in the topic of willpower or self-control. Numerous empirical studies show that human beings have a capacity for self-control, that this capacity is linked to the brain, that willpower can be strengthened, and that new insights are available that can help us to overcome bad habits and achieve our goals in life. Students will be challenged to understand this research and apply it to their lives. But is willpower really “the greatest human strength” as some researchers contend? To answer this question, we will grapple with the deep historical connections between this new psychology of willpower and the traditional Christian idea of “will.” In the process, students will engage several foundational issues, such as the construction of psychological language, the role of metaphor in psychology, and the nature of “free will.”

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Topics in Psychoanalytic Psychology PSY-448

This seminar examines select issues in depth psychology, particularly classical drive theory (as developed by Sigmund Freud) and analytical psychology (as developed by Carl Jung). Based on student interest, developments in other psychoanalytic traditions, such as ego and self psychology, and object relations theory may receive some attention

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The Psychology of Spirituality PSY-458

An overview of the interface between the topics of psychology and spirituality viewpoints. The importance of these views for human development and the therapeutic process is examined. Topics include psychological perspectives on suffering, evil, forgiveness, prayer, spiritual assessment, and the psychological effects of spiritual practices.

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Topics in Experimental Psychology PSY-468

This seminar provides an in-depth examination of topics in experimental psychology with an advanced research component. Students will learn about, and evaluate, theoretical approaches used to direct research in the topic area and will need to critically examine recent empirical articles in the topic area.

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Internship PSY-480

A one-term training experience in applied or research psychology. These internships are intended to assist students in making career decisions and in preparing for post-graduate educational and employment opportunities. See page 61 of the Academic Calendar for information on internships.

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Honours Thesis I PSY-495

A weekly seminar course for students in the Honours program. Students select a topic and begin working on a major empirical research project in Psychology. Seminars will provide students with a variety of practical, technical, and intellectual skills that are central to scientific research and to the development of their Honours thesis.

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Honours Thesis II PSY-496

Students complete the major research project in Psychology that they began in PSY-495, which demonstrates their ability to formulate a research question, use existing theories and methodologies, gather and analyze data, and formulate responsible conclusions.

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