Psychology 222, Current Topics

PSYCH 222, Current Topics in Psychology, is a special topics course open to all students. Content changes from quarter to quarter and typically reflects the research and special interests of the faculty who teach the classes.

Does not fulfill graduation requirements for a Psychology major.

Spring 2024

PSYCH 222A: Neurobiology of Critical Thinking

Meets: 3:30-4:50PM | TTH
3 credits | SLN: 19239
Instructor: Ellen Covey

Prerequisite: PSYCH 101
Area of Inquiry: SSc

The goal of this survey course is to provide a diverse group of students with an introduction to the ways in which evolution of neural and cognitive mechanisms has shaped our perception of the world, and how these mechanisms operate to construct every individual’s own objective and subjective “reality”. We will discuss the question of how to define “reality” and explore ways to critically evaluate what we perceive.

PSYCH 222B: Introduction to Health Psychology

Meets: 1:30-3:20PM | TTH
4 credits | SLN: 19240
Instructor: Cynthia Levine

Prerequisite: PSYCH 101
Area of Inquiry:
SSc

This course will provide an introduction to health psychology, a field that focuses on the psychological influences on who gets sick, who stays healthy, and how people cope with illness. The course will address topics such as stress and coping, personality and health, social support and health, health behaviors, and adjustment to chronic illnesses. Students will be encouraged to think about how the course material connects to the world around them, and assignments will ask them to apply the course material to improve their own and others' health.

PSYCH 222C: Current Topics in Sleep

Meets: 11:30-12:50PM | TTH
3 credits | SLN: 19241
Instructor: Michael Passer

Prerequisite: PSYCH 101
Area of Inquiry: SSc

This course examines sleep and related phenomena, such as dreaming, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms, from diverse psychological perspectives. We will explore ancient and modern beliefs about sleep, scientific methods of studying sleep, basic patterns of typical human sleep, and sleep in other animal species. We will discuss how the brain and environment regulate sleep, changes in sleep as we age. individual differences and personality factors in sleep, sociocultural aspects of sleep and dreaming, and the nature and treatment of sleep disorders. The influence of typical sleep and sleep deprivation on memory and other cognitive processes, emotion, mental and physical health, and task performance will be addressed, as will debates about why we sleep and dream, whether dreams have meaning, and whether we can control our dreams while asleep. We will also discuss behavioral guidelines to enhance the quality of our own sleep.

Past Quarters

PSYCH 222A: Current Topics in Sleep

Meets: 11:30AM-12:50PM | TTH
3 credits | SLN: 20894
Instructor: Michael Passer

This course examines sleep and related phenomena, such as dreaming, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms, from diverse psychological perspectives. We will explore ancient and modern beliefs about sleep, scientific methods of studying sleep, basic patterns of typical human sleep, and sleep in other animal species. We will discuss how the brain and environment regulate sleep, changes in sleep as we age. individual differences and personality factors in sleep, sociocultural aspects of sleep and dreaming, and the nature and treatment of sleep disorders. The influence of typical sleep and sleep deprivation on memory and other cognitive processes, emotion, mental and physical health, and task performance will be addressed, as will debates about why we sleep and dream, whether dreams have meaning, and whether we can control our dreams while asleep. We will also discuss behavioral guidelines to enhance the quality of our own sleep.

PSYCH 222A: Neurobiology of Critical Thinking

Meets: 3:30-4:50 | TTH
3 credits | SLN: 19225
Instructor: Ellen Covey

The goal of this survey course is to provide a diverse group of students with an introduction to the ways in which evolution of neural and cognitive mechanisms has shaped our perception of the world, and how these mechanisms operate to construct every individual’s own objective and subjective “reality”. We will discuss the question of how to define “reality” and explore ways to critically evaluate what we perceive.

PSYCH 222B: Current Topics in Sleep

Meets: 12:30-1:20 | MWF
3 credits | SLN: 19226
Instructor: Michael Passer

This course examines sleep and related phenomena, such as dreaming, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms, from diverse psychological perspectives. We will explore ancient and modern beliefs about sleep, scientific methods of studying sleep, basic patterns of typical human sleep, and sleep in other animal species. We will discuss how the brain and environment regulate sleep, changes in sleep as we age. individual differences and personality factors in sleep, sociocultural aspects of sleep and dreaming, and the nature and treatment of sleep disorders. The influence of typical sleep and sleep deprivation on memory and other cognitive processes, emotion, mental and physical health, and task performance will be addressed, as will debates about why we sleep and dream, whether dreams have meaning, and whether we can control our dreams while asleep. We will also discuss behavioral guidelines to enhance the quality of our own sleep.

Introduction to Health Psychology

Meets: 2:30 PM - 4:20 | MW
4 credits | SLN: 19774
Instructor: Cynthia Levine

This course will provide an introduction to health psychology, a field that focuses on the psychological influences on who gets sick, who stays healthy, and how people cope with illness. The course will address topics such as stress and coping, personality and health, social support and health, health behaviors, and adjustment to chronic illnesses. Students will be encouraged to think about how the course material connects to the world around them, and assignments will ask them to apply the course material to improve their own and others' health.

PSYCH 222A: Current Topics in Sleep

Meets: 3:30-4:50 MW
3 credits | SLN: 20791
Instructor: Michael Passer

Prerequisite: Psych 101 (may contact instructor for an add code if you haven't completed Psych 101)
Areas of Knowledge: I&S

This course examines sleep and related phenomena, such as dreaming, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms, from diverse psychological perspectives. We will explore ancient and modern beliefs about sleep, scientific methods of studying sleep, basic patterns of typical human sleep, and sleep in other animal species. We will discuss how the brain and environment regulate sleep, changes in sleep as we age. individual differences and personality factors in sleep, sociocultural aspects of sleep and dreaming, and the nature and treatment of sleep disorders. The influence of typical sleep and sleep deprivation on memory and other cognitive processes, emotion, mental and physical health, and task performance will be addressed, as will debates about why we sleep and dream, whether dreams have meaning, and whether we can control our dreams while asleep. We will also discuss behavioral guidelines to enhance the quality of our own sleep.

PSYCH 222A: Neurobiology of Critical Thinking

Meets: 3:30-4:50 TTH
3 credits | SLN: 19286
Instructor: Ellen Covey

Prerequisite: Psych 101
Areas of Knowledge: I&S

The goal of this survey course is to provide a diverse group of students with an introduction to the ways in which evolution of neural and cognitive mechanisms has shaped our perception of the world, and how these mechanisms operate to construct every individual’s own objective and subjective “reality”. We will discuss the question of how to define “reality” and explore ways to critically evaluate what we perceive.

PSYCH 222B: Current Topics in Sleep

Meets: 11:30-12:50 TTH
3 credits | SLN: 19287
Instructor: Michael Passer

Prerequisite: Psych 101
Areas of Knowledge: I&S

This course examines sleep and related phenomena, such as dreaming, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms, from diverse psychological perspectives. We will explore ancient and modern beliefs about sleep, scientific methods of studying sleep, basic patterns of typical human sleep, and sleep in other animal species. We will discuss how the brain and environment regulate sleep, changes in sleep as we age. individual differences and personality factors in sleep, sociocultural aspects of sleep and dreaming, and the nature and treatment of sleep disorders. The influence of typical sleep and sleep deprivation on memory and other cognitive processes, emotion, mental and physical health, and task performance will be addressed, as will debates about why we sleep and dream, whether dreams have meaning, and whether we can control our dreams while asleep. We will also discuss behavioral guidelines to enhance the quality of our own sleep.

PSYCH 222A: Sleep

Meets: 11:30AM-12:50PM TTH
3 credits | SLN: 19501
Instructor: Michael Passer

This course examines sleep and related phenomena, such as dreaming, sleep disorders, and circadian rhythms, from diverse psychological perspectives. We will explore ancient and modern beliefs about sleep, scientific methods of studying sleep, basic patterns of typical human sleep, and sleep in other animal species. We will discuss how the brain and environment regulate sleep, changes in sleep as we age. individual differences and personality factors in sleep, sociocultural aspects of sleep and dreaming, and the nature and treatment of sleep disorders. The influence of typical sleep and sleep deprivation on memory and other cognitive processes, emotion, mental and physical health, and task performance will be addressed, as will debates about why we sleep and dream, whether dreams have meaning, and whether we can control our dreams while asleep. We will also discuss behavioral guidelines to enhance the quality of our own sleep.