PS 261: Social Psychology

Explore the intriguing concept of altruism and its manifestations in the animal kingdom. Understand how Kin Selection, rooted in evolutionary biology, provides a compelling explanation for selfless behaviors that seemingly benefit others more than oneself.

Explore the nuances of Explicit and Implicit Memories. While Explicit Memory acts as our factual database and life's scrapbook, Implicit Memory operates subtly, influencing our actions through past experiences. Delve into their subtypes, from Episodic and Semantic to Procedural, Priming, and Conditioning.

Explore the rich tapestry of psychotherapy, rooted in Biological, Cognitive, and Behavioral perspectives. From Biomedical therapy's drug-based approach to Behavioral Modification's learning techniques, uncover the multifaceted ways therapy promotes mental wellbeing.

Explore the intriguing science behind superstitious behavior. Discover how accidental timing of rewards influences our beliefs and actions. From Pavlov's dogs to lucky shirts, uncover the psychology of coincidences and their effects on our actions.

Understand Freud's perspective on dreams as manifestations of unconscious desires and conflicts. Contrast this with the Neural Activation Theory, which links dreaming to random neural activity during REM sleep. Discuss the criticisms and nuances of both theories in modern psychology.

Uncover the philosophical origins of nerve pathways and reflexes. Discover how René Descartes shaped our understanding of the body's automatic responses. Differentiate his contributions from other famous thinkers.