Psychology

Chair: Walter T. Herbranson
Pavel Blagov
Melissa W. Clearfield (on Sabbatical, 2013-14)
Nobuko Mizoguchi
Erin Pahlke
Matthew W. Prull
S. Brooke Vick

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, and the application of that science to improve the quality of life.

A student who enters Whitman without any prior college-level preparation in psychology will complete 36 credits to fulfill the requirements for the psychology major. Courses completed in the psychology major apply to the social science distribution area and select courses in the psychology major additionally apply to the science, cultural pluralism, and quantitative analysis distribution areas.

Distribution: The courses listed below are designated for distribution credits in the following categories:
     Science: 360
     Quantitative Analysis: 210
     Cultural Pluralism: 239, 309, 311, 319, 336

The Psychology major: Psychology 110, 210, 210L, 220, 420, 495; 496 or 498; and other courses selected with the approval of the major adviser, including at least one at the 300 level and one at the 200 level, to make a total of 36 credits; three credits in philosophy, and three credits in biology. Students must complete Psychology 210, 210L and 220 by the end of their junior year. The senior assessment consists of a thesis paper, a one-hour oral defense of the senior thesis, and satisfactory performance on the MFT.

The Psychology minor:Psychology 110, 210; plus 10 additional credits for a total of 18 credits. The 10 additional credits must include at least one psychology course numbered 300 or higher that is at least three credits and excludes Psychology 407 and 408.

110 Introduction to Psychology
4, 4 Fall: Blagov, Mizoguchi, Prull; Spring: Herbranson, Mizoguchi

The science of psychology as intended for general and beginning students. Designed to introduce students to the technical vocabulary, methodology, and principal fields of research. Analysis of such topics as learning, development, personality, behavior pathology, emotions, and social behavior. All sections designed to introduce the student to the basic material of the introductory psychology course.

209 Adolescent Development
4, x Pahlke

This course provides an overview of adolescent development, focusing on physical, cognitive, social, and personality transitions. Students will explore central psychological issues of this developmental period (e.g., identity, autonomy, intimacy, and sexuality). Because development takes place in context, we will pay particular attention to the influences of family, peer group, school, and culture. Assignments will include short response papers related to observations and readings, exams, and a final project. Prerequisite: Psychology 110.

210 Psychological Statistics
3, 3 Fall: Prull; Spring: Herbranson

This course introduces students to descriptive, correlational, and inferential statistical methods as well as some of their applications in psychology. The final grade is based on completion of homework assignments and examinations. The material is at an intermediate level of complexity, and students are advised to take the course early in preparation for more advanced work. Psychology 210L also is required for the psychology major. Not available to senior psychology majors without department consent.

210L Statistics Lab
1, 1 Fall: Prull; Spring: Herbranson

This lab is an introduction to the use of automated statistical analysis tools appropriate for large data sets. The final grade is based on completion and interpretation of weekly data analysis assignments. Pre- or corequisites: Psychology 210.

217 Psychology and Law
3; not offered 2013-14

This course introduces the ways in which psychological research and practice influence the legal system and, to some extent, how law influences mental health practitioners. Topics that illustrate issues related to science vs. pseudoscience, improving measurement and decision making, mental health, and human diversity will receive emphasis. The general topics may include: investigation techniques, pretrial consulting, forensic assessment in criminal and civil cases, psychology of the trial and jury, punishment and correction, psychology of victims, discrimination, and civil rights. The specific topics may include psychological ethics, profiling, interrogation, lie detection, jury selection, competence to stand trial, eyewitness testimony accuracy, the insanity defense, jury decision-making, mental illness and retardation of the offender, psychopathy, battered spouse syndrome, and contributions of psychology to legal cases related to race, gender, and sexual orientation. Prerequisite: Psychology 110.

219 Educational Psychology
4; not offered 2013-14

In this course, we will investigate issues and research in educational psychology. The course will focus on theories within the field of child and adolescent development as they apply to educational theory and practice. We will read both theoretical and empirical literature, with an eye toward using psychological concepts to improve children’s and adolescents’ educational outcomes. Topics will include student development, evaluation techniques, tracking and ability groupings, teaching approaches, and motivation. Assignments will include short response papers related to observations and readings, exams, and a final project that requires students to apply their knowledge to an issue in education. Prerequisite: Psychology 110.

220 Research Methods
4, 4 Pahlke

This course will provide students with an understanding of the research methodology used by psychologists. Students will learn to read and critique psychological studies and learn the details of experimental design. Students will also design an empirical study, review the related literature, and learn to write a formal APA-style research report. Prerequisite: Psychology 110, 210 and 210L.

229 Cognitive Psychology
x, 4 Prull

This course examines the theories, issues, and research associated with the ways that people come to know and understand the world in which they live. Topics include pattern recognition, attention, memory, imagery, language, problem-solving, decision-making, and consciousness. Course meetings are twice weekly. At least two essay examinations and one research paper are required. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or consent of instructor. Credit not allowed if Psychology 349 has been taken.

230 Social Psychology
x, 4 Vick

This course provides students with a broad introduction to the field of social psychology, the study of how others influence our thoughts, feelings, and behavior in a social world. Course content will focus on both theoretical and empirical research to explore the ways in which social situations affect our cognition, emotion, and action, and the ways in which the self contributes to the social construction of human behavior. Specific topics include social judgment, group behavior, stereotyping and prejudice, conflict and war, liking and love, helping, and persuasion, among others. A laboratory weekend is required. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or consent of instructor.

232 Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Intergroup Relations
4; not offered 2013-14

How and why do group-based stereotypes form? Why do they persist despite evidence of their inaccuracy? Why are we prejudiced against one another and how can we reduce these tendencies? This course will introduce students to theory and research addressing the nature of social identities (race/ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, etc.) and their influence on intergroup behavior from a social psychological perspective. Topics will include theoretical origins of prejudice and intergroup conflict, biases in social perception and judgment, how prejudice affects its targets, and potential means of changing stereotypes and reducing prejudice. Students will be encouraged to examine their own social identities and social relations with the goal of understanding how to successfully negotiate interactions between members of different social groups. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or consent of instructor.

239 Psychology of Women and Gender
4; not offered 2013-14

This course will begin with an empirical and theoretical exploration of conceptions of sex and gender. We will then explore how gender differences manifest themselves in all aspects of women’s lives, including childhood, love and dating relationships, sex, marriage, the media’s influence, work, violence, and mental health. Although we will touch on men’s issues, the focus will be on women’s experiences. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or Gender Studies 100.

240 Child Development
4; not offered 2013-14

This course uses a problem-based student-centered approach to the development of infants and children. The goals of the course are to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills using reading, data, video, and group projects on issues in perceptual, motor, social, and cognitive development. Students will understand the major issues in developmental psychology and developmental processes through critical reading of research reports and popular press, evaluating conflicting data, interpreting data, and generating testable hypotheses. Prerequisite: Psychology 110.

247, 248 Special Topics
3-4

These courses focus on topics within psychology and/or research interests of psychology faculty. These courses are generally not offered regularly. Enrollments in 200-level special topics courses can be larger than the limited-enrollment 300-level seminars, and these courses may provide broad surveys of a certain domain within psychology. Prerequisite: Psychology 110. Any current offerings follow.

248 ST: Positive Psychology
x, 4 Mizoguchi

The course explores social psychological theories and research on well-being, happiness, and positive psychological states. It is designed to expose students to basic theories, important scientific findings, and major controversies on well-being research. Topics covered in this course include causes and consequences of well-being, the role of self-esteem, traits, and goals on psychological adjustment, as well as cultural variations in well-being. Not open to students who took PSYC 247B: Social Psychological Perspectives on Well-Being. Prerequisite: Psychology 110. Distribution area: social science.

257 Peer Counseling
2; not offered 2013-14

Designed to teach verbal/nonverbal attending and communication skills through instruction, role-play, and videotaped practice. Additional topics include crisis counseling, suicide, depression, counseling minority and gay students, and ethics of the helping relationship. One hour of class and two hours of laboratory per week. A paper/project and a weekly co-counseling session required. Graded credit/no credit.

260 Abnormal Psychology
4, x Blagov

This course is a broad overview of psychopathology. It covers the classification, symptoms, epidemiology and morbidity, and prominent etiological models of the major kinds of psychological disorders. It examines critically issues related to different approaches to diagnosis, the standard of treatment for different disorders, and several types of research. Prerequisite: Psychology 110.

270 Personality Theories
x, 4 Blagov

This course covers the science of individual differences (how people differ from each other) and personality structure (the organization of mental processes shared by most people). We will examine and critique theory and research examples from such paradigms as the trait, psychodynamic, phenomenological, learning, and social-cognitive approaches. We will address issues of pseudoscience, personality measurement, stability, change, culture, and pathology. The readings will include a textbook, a few empirical articles, and optional classic works. Assessment will consist of quizzes, write-ups of personality test results, and a comprehensive personality portfolio.  Prerequisite: Psychology 110.

301 Issues in Infancy: Walking, Talking and Imitating
4; not offered 2013-14

This seminar will investigate current thinking and research about selected aspects of early motor, cognitive and social development. We will look in depth at three selected topics, reading original research articles and theory papers on each and trying to weigh the evidence. The topics for this semester include learning to walk, early word learning, and imitation as a mechanism for early learning. Each of these topics is of long-standing interest in the field of infant development and raises a variety of issues which are currently being actively researched. Coursework will involve reading original source materials, and class sessions will include discussion, debate, videos, and student presentations. Prerequisite: at least nine credits completed in psychology, Psychology 240 recommended.

309 Science of Sexual Orientation
x, 4 Blagov

This advanced course explores critically the state of the psychological science of human homosexuality: the methods used to study it, the main findings and some of the theories that may account for them, and the gaps in our knowledge. The course emphasizes recent studies, reviews, and theories in the areas of the subjective experience, psychobiology, and developmental course of homosexuality, as well as issues related to same-sex relationships, societal attitudes, and oppression. Most class meetings will include examples from the media, from the arts, or from case studies, followed by structured discussion of assigned readings. In the beginning of the course, the instructor will model the presentation and discussion for the students. Later on, students will take responsibility for the class meetings with support from the instructor. Prerequisites: Psychology 110 and 210 or consent of instructor.

311 Development and Parenting Across Cultures
x, 4 Pahlke

This seminar explores development and parenting across cultures. The first half of the course will focus on theory and research on families in cultures outside the U.S. The second half of the course will focus on racial/ethnic groups within the U.S. Topics will include parental beliefs and expectations, parenting strategies, parental engagement, and children’s and adolescents’ academic and social outcomes. Weekly written responses, a theoretical paper, and class participation will form the basis of the course grade. Prerequisite: six credits in psychology.

319 Poverty and Child Development
4; not offered 2013-14

This course will review psychological research on the impact of persistent poverty on infant and child development. Major areas addressed in this class will include prenatal care; early neuromotor, cognitive, emotional, and social development; academic achievement; and the outcome of these regarding adolescent and adult achievement, attachment, and health. Prerequisite: eight credits in psychology.

320 Seminar: Psychology of Aging
x, 4 Prull

This course surveys basic knowledge in the psychology of aging. Models of successful aging, social changes in late life, age-related changes in cognitive and intellectual functioning, psycho-pathology and the consequences of age-related degenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases) are among the topics discussed. The course will likely motivate students to examine their preconceptions about older people and the aging process. Prerequisite: Psychology 110.

336 Social Stigma
x, 4 Vick

This course will examine research and theory on social stigma from a social psychological perspective. Topics will include the origins and functions of stigmatization, mechanisms and consequences of social stigma, and coping strategies of stigmatized individuals. Special attention will be paid to targets of stigma, including those stigmatized by their race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. The psychological effects of prejudice and discrimination for these targets will be discussed. This course is conducted primarily as an advanced seminar in psychology. Prerequisite: Six credits in Psychology excluding Psychology 210; Psychology 230 recommended but not required.

339 Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology
4; not offered 2013-14

This seminar explores psychological topics across a wide variety of species, with a particular emphasis on evolution as a determinant of behavior and cognition. Course content will include modern research on animal behavior and ethology, stressing the importance of an animal’s biological, ecological and social milieu. Specific topics may include dominance and social structure, foraging, mating, predation, communication, perception, conflict, and cooperation. Prerequisite: three credits in psychology or biology.

347, 348 Special Topics Seminars
3-4

These seminars focus on specific topics within psychology and/or research interests of psychology faculty. These courses are generally not offered regularly. Individual courses may be taught only once, and course offerings are likely to change substantially from year to year. Enrollments are generally limited to 12 students per class so that class discussion opportunities are maximized. Prerequisite: eight credits in psychology. Any current offerings follow.

347 ST: Cross-Cultural Psychology
4, x Mizoguchi

This course examines cultural diversity in behavior. Traditionally, psychology as a field has tended to focus on the behavior of members of North American and Western European countries. In recent years, however, cross-cultural research in psychology has demonstrated that many psychological processes once assumed to be universal are actually quite culture-bound. This course will focus on topics in social psychology and consider how sociocultural context influences psychological processes. Prerequisite: nine credits in psychology. Distribution area: social science or cultural pluralism.

349 Seminar in Human Memory
4; not offered 2013-14

Other than that which is genetically coded, everything that we know about the world represents some aspect of human memory. This seminar examines historical and contemporary accounts of human memory, with particular emphasis on reading and discussing primary research articles. Neurobiological as well as psychological perspectives to the study of human memory will be taken. Domains that are likely to be explored include memory processes (e.g., encoding, storage, and retrieval), distinctions (e.g., short-term/long-term, episodic/semantic, implicit/explicit) and systems (e.g., temporal and frontal lobe correlates of memory). Class presentations and an empirical project are required components of the course. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or equivalent. Credit not allowed if Psychology 229 has been taken.

353 Practicum in Psychology
1-3; not offered 2013-14

Practicum experiences allow students to integrate and apply issues they have learned in coursework. Placements vary by semester and may include school, hospital, community, or outpatient sites. Students engage in a minimum of three hours per week in off-campus placement, complete readings and assignments, and meet weekly with course instructor. Prerequisites: Psychology 110 and consent of instructor. Corequisites: Psychology 356 (if taking for the first time).

356 Applied Psychology
3; not offered 2013-14

This course focuses on the applications of psychology in community settings. Integrates theory, research, and treatment modalities to introduce the scientist practitioner model of psychology. Addresses professional issues and career possibilities in applied areas of psychology. Class sessions devoted to a discussion of the readings, exposure to basic therapeutic skills, and group supervision of practicum experiences. All students required to be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 353. Prerequisites: Psychology 260 and consent of instructor. Corequisite: Psychology 353.

358 Research Experience
3-4, 3-4 Staff

A supervised research experience in an ongoing lab project, arranged with the instructor, giving students the opportunity to recruit participants, collect, code, and analyze data, as well as read relevant literature and write lab reports. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

360 Physiology of Behavior
4, x Herbranson

Designed to introduce students to modern physiological approaches to the study of behavior. This course will cover the basic research methods and equipment used in modern neuroscience and the theoretical implications of a physiological approach to psychology. Specific topics will include the electrical and chemical basis of neural functioning: the structure and function of sensory and motor systems, the physiological basis and treatment of psychopathology; and the biology of central processes including but not limited to learning, memory and emotion. Two lectures and one three-hour lab per week. Prerequisites: four credits each of psychology and biology.

390 Psychology of Learning
4; not offered 2013-14

This course uses principles of conditioning and learning to explore how humans and animals adapt their behavior to meet changing environmental demands. Students will learn about historical and modern applications of Pavlovian and operant conditioning, and will apply those models to contemporary problems in psychology. In the associated lab, rats will be used as a model organism to demonstrate principles of learning as tools for the modification of behavior. Prerequisites: Psychology 110.

407, 408 Independent Study
1-3, 1-3 Staff

Independent study in an area of special interest selected by the student with direction of a staff member. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

410 Multivariate Statistics for Psychology
2, x Herbranson

This course covers advanced statistical procedures, with an emphasis on multivariate analyses.  Class meetings will involve analyzing and interpreting complex data sets.  We will also consider how the availability of advanced statistical analyses influences measurement, theory, and experimental design within the field of psychology.  Intended for students who already have an understanding of basic statistics and are familiar with IBM SPSS software. Prerequisites: Psychology 210 and 210L.

420 Contemporary and Historical Issues in Psychology
4, x Vick

This capstone course considers where psychology came from, what it is now, and what the field should be, through close reading of historical and current literature. Goals are: 1) to provide senior psychology majors a conceptual and historical background by which to consider contemporary matters of pressing concern; 2) to assist students in their integration of psychology as a discipline; and 3) to consider the wide range of ethical issues pertinent to the study and practice of psychology. Students are asked to write several position papers, complete a take-home exam, and lead a class discussion on a current debate. Prerequisites: restricted to senior psychology majors and minors; others by consent of instructor. Required of all senior psychology majors.

495 Thesis
3, x Staff

First semester of a yearlong thesis project, including weekly meetings with class, with adviser, and several drafts of a well-documented proposal due throughout the semester.

496 Thesis
x, 3 Staff

Second semester of a yearlong thesis project. Weekly meetings with class, with adviser, an oral presentation on the thesis project, and a polished final draft submitted before April 1.

498 Honors Thesis
x, 3 Staff

Second semester of a yearlong thesis project. Weekly meetings with class, with adviser, an oral presentation on the thesis project, and a polished final draft submitted before April 1. In addition, a public presentation, preferably at a professional or student conference, is required.