Biography

What shapes who we become and why do people respond so differently to the same experiences? How do early relationships influence personality across the lifespan? Where should we draw the line between normal variation in behavior and psychological disorder, and who gets to decide?

This one-semester seminar introduces students to the scientific study of human development, personality, stress and coping, and mental disorders. Students examine how psychologists seek to explain human behavior through empirical research, diagnostic frameworks, and competing theories of treatment. Emphasizing both theory and application, the course challenges students to analyze primary psychological research, evaluate real-world controversies in mental health, and communicate their thinking through sustained discussion and formal writing. Using the scientific method as a guiding framework, students design experiential projects, produce APA-style research work, and engage with current debates surrounding the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. As Ivan Pavlov advised, students are encouraged not merely to record psychological facts, but to “penetrate the mystery of their origin.”

Note: Honors option available to juniors and seniors.

Open to juniors and seniors and sophomores if space is available.