Spring, 2007
Instructor: Michael E. Mills, Ph.D.
Office: University Hall, Room 4757
Office hours: Tuesday: 1 – 2:45, Wednesday: 1:00 – 4:15, Thursday, 1:00 – 2:45
Phone: (310) 338-3017
Email: memills@gmail.com Note: Please put “LMU” in your subject heading if you email me, otherwise I may think it is junk mail and delete it.
Class website: http://www.drmillslmu.com/
Class wiki: http://drmillslmu.wikispaces.com/
This course presents an introduction to human psychology. We will explore why we behave the way we do, both from proximate (immediate) and ultimate (evolutionary) perspectives. In particular, we will use an evolutionary perspective as an integrative meta-theory for the discipline. A particular focus of this course will be human nature – the set of psychological emotional, behavioral, cognitive and sexual adaptations that characterize humans a species.
Note: This course is intended to introduce non-psychology majors only to the field of psychology. Psychology majors should take Psych 101.
Course Objectives / Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to differentiate behavioral characteristics that are likely to be adaptations. They will also be able to identify causation of behavior at various levels of analysis, including the individual, the mating dyad, the family, the small group, and large cultural groups.
REQUIRED READINGS:
Gaulin, S. J. & McBurney, D. H. (2004). Evolutionary Psychology, 2nd Ed. NJ: Prentice Hall.
Dawkins, R. (1989). The Selfish Gene. (2nd Ed.) New York: Oxford University Press. (Paperback)
Some tests and quizzes may be given online. If so, instructions regarding how to access the test will be given in class.
Tests. There will be two midterms and a final exam. Each test will be worth about 60 - 70 points.
Quizzes. Starting with the 3rd week of class, you will be given a brief, 5 question quiz at the beginning of class every week (however, no quiz will be given on those weeks in which a midterm is scheduled). The material covered on the quizzes will be from the previous week’s readings and lectures. If the class meets twice a week, the quiz will be given on the Thursday class. The quiz will be given immediately at the start of the class, and it will last only 5 minutes. There will be no make-up quizzes. At the end of the semester, your two lowest quiz scores will be dropped. (Hint: Keep up with the weekly class readings!)
Examinations will include objective (T/F, multiple choice), and perhaps a few short answer and/or brief essay questions. Tests are not cumulative, except that on the final exam about 15 - 25% of the questions will cover material from the first 2/3rds of the course. No study guides will be provided – you are responsible for all of the material presented in class and in the readings.
IMPORTANT: There will be no make up exams for missed tests without a note from your doctor.
You will be given homework assignments. The point value of each will be specified (usually 3 - 5 points).
The research component is required for all Psychology 100 students. For this requirement you have 2 options:
You will be given a chance to participate in research conducted within the Psychology Department. This will be described in more detail in a separate handout. Unlike option B, you are guaranteed 100% credit each time you participate. This is a great way to earn points, participate in something fun and interesting while learning and helping graduate students and professors. Since slots fill up early, plan to participate before the final few weeks of the semester. There is a signup sheet in the Psychology Department outside of UNH 4727.
DO NOT SIGN UP FOR AN EXPERIMENT AND THEN FAIL TO SHOW UP.
Because experimenters are depending on you, if you don’t show up, you will lose 10 points. In other words, you would get minus points that will be deducted from your final grade.
Those students not wishing to participate in the subject pool will be required to read and summarize one research article for each research hour missed. A summary hand-out will be given to the student to complete and return with a copy of the entire article reviewed.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT
CHEATING AND PLARIARISM
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated - period. Every effort is being made to minimize an environment for cheating. If you are caught cheating during an exam or plagiarizing your paper, at the minimum you will be receive a 0 for that test/paper and will be penalized according to university regulations. Familiarize yourself with LMU rules and regulations regarding cheating/plagiarizing.
WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS
It is your responsibility to formally withdraw from classes if you decide to do so. Instructors have no obligation to withdraw students who do not attend courses.
GRADING POLICIES
Your in the class overall will be determined by the average of two grades: a "content mastery grade" and a "peer comparison grade." The "content mastery grade" is based on your percentage correct score on the test; the "peer comparison grade" is based on your percentile score (the percentage of your classmates who had a score lower than yours).
A. Content Mastery Grade. This grade will be determined by your percentage correct score. The "maximum possible score" will actually be set to the highest score actually obtained in the class (this is to your advantage).
A >= 93 | A- = 90 - 92 |
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B+ = 87 - 89 | B = 83 - 86 | B- = 80 - 82 |
C+ = 77 - 79 | C = 73 - 76 | C- = 70 - 72 |
D+ = 67 - 69 | D = 63 - 66 | D- = 60 - 62 |
F+ = 57 - 59 | F < 57 |
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B. Peer Comparison Grade. This grade will be determined by how well you performed in relation to your peers, as indicated by your percentile score (the percentage of students in the class with a score lower than yours).
A >= 86%ile | A- = 80 – 85 |
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B+ = 75 - 79 | B = 65 - 74 | B- = 55 - 64 |
C+ = 45 - 54 | C = 30 - 44 | C- = 20 – 29 |
D+ = 12 - 19 | D = 8 - 11 | D- = 5 - 7 |
F+ = 2 - 6 | F = 1 |
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C. Conversion of Grades to a 13 Point Scale. The above two grades will be converted to a numerical grade index on a 13 point scale: F = 1, F+ = 2, D- = 3, D = 4, D+ = 5, C- = 6, C = 7, C+ = 8, B- = 9, B = 10, B+ = 11, A- = 12, A = 13.
D. The Average of the Two Grades. The numbers that correspond to your two grades will be averaged. Your grade is the grade that corresponds to the resulting average. For example, suppose you took a very difficult test and got only 69% of the items correct. You might be very concerned about your grade (and, indeed, if only percent correct were taken into consideration, your grade would be a 'D' in many traditionally graded classes). But imagine that your peers also found this test to be very difficult, and that you did relatively well compared to them. Say that your score was better than 85% of the class scores on the test. To calculate your grade, you would note that your "content mastery" grade (based on your 69% correct score) is a C-, and your "peer comparison" grade (based on your percentile score of 85) is an A-. These grades correspond to numerical grade indices of 6 and 12, respectively. The average of 6 and 12 is 9. A score of 9 corresponds to a grade of B-. Therefore, your grade on the test is a B-. You may wish to plug in different values in the equation (you'll find things are a bit tougher if you perform poorly on a test that your peers found easy!). This method takes into account both your mastery of the material and the relative ease or difficulty of the test. In comparison to other grading methods, I think you will find this is a very a fair way to assign grades.
Instead of getting letter grades for each quiz or test, students will accumulate points from tests, quizzes, homework, and class projects. The class mean and standard deviation will be reported after the midterms so that you have a sense of how you are performing in the class.
The week before the final exam, your two lowest quiz scores will be dropped, and the all points for tests, quizzes, homework, etc., will be summed. Grades going into the final exam will be calculated and reported according to the grading system noted above.
At that time, if you have any questions regarding your grade, or if you would like to review your accumulated points (from homework, tests, panel presentations, etc.), please stop by my office during office hours to review the class roster (you must do so before the end of the class – point changes cannot be made after the course has ended).
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE, CLASS SCHEDULE, AND CLASS READINGS
WEEK 1. Monday date: 1/8
Topics: What is Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology, Basic Statistics
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 1 / Dawkins, Chapter 1
Web Resources:
· List of web sites to help improve your academic success: http://www.uni.edu/walsh/linda7.html
· List of Psychology Links:
http://www.tamiu.edu/coah/psy/psycholo1.htm
General Resources: http://www.tamiu.edu/coah/psy/psycholo1.htm
· Another List of Psychology Resource Websites:
http://www.psy.pdx.edu/PsiCafe/
· Psychwww: http://www.psychwww.com/
· Psychology tutorials and demonstrations:
http://www.nmu.edu/psychology/demos.htm
· Psychology demonstrations:
http://alpha.furman.edu/~einstein/general/
· Psychology Online Resource Central: http://www.psych-central.com/
· American Psychological Society: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/
· Human Behavior and Evolution Society: http://www.hbes.com
WEEK 2. Monday date: 1/15
Topics: Proximate mechanisms: Genes and the brain.
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 2 / Dawkins, Chapter 2
In class videos: Research Methods / The Brain
Web Resources:
· Psychology Links: Biological Basis:
http://www.tamiu.edu/coah/psy/biologicalbasis.htm
· BBC “Gene Stories”: http://www.bbc.co.uk/genes/
· Human Genetics for the Social Sciences Interactive Learning Exercises (http://psych.colorado.edu/hgss/hgssapplets/hgssapplets.htm) Several interesting behavioral genetics tutorials and simulations.
· PBS Resources on the Brain: http://www.pbs.org/saf/1302/index.html
· The Whole Brain Atlas: http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html
· Mind & Machine Module (includes neural network at AI info): http://www.phy.syr.edu/courses/modules/MM/index.html
· Basic Neural Processes Tutorial: http://psych.hanover.edu/Krantz/neurotut.html
· Neuroscience info and demonstrations:
http://alpha.furman.edu/~einstein/general/
· Brain
http://rpiwww.mdacc.tmc.edu/se/anatomy/brain/
· Digital Anatomist Interactive Atlases
http://www9.biostr.washington.edu/http://www9.biostr.washington.edu/
· Brain Model Tutorial
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~Brainmd1/brain.html
WEEK 3. Monday date: 1/22
Topics: Evolutionary Theory, The Standard Social Science Model vs. the Integrated Model in psychology, the “second Darwinian revolution,” proximate and evolutionary explanations of behavior.
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 3 / Dawkins, Chapter 3
Web Resources:
· Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer at: http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/research/cep/primer.html
· Replicators: Evolutionary Powerhouses (http://library.thinkquest.org/C004367/home.shtml) a website specifically designed to explore Dawkins' concept of replicators in an interesting and interactive format.
· Morph Lab: (http://alife.fusebox.com/morph_lab.html ) Artificial selection in action. Select biomorphs. Requires a Java-capable web browser.
· Evolutionary Psychology FAQ:
http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/projects/human/evpsychfaq.htm
· BBC “Gene Stories”: http://www.bbc.co.uk/genes/
· Twins separated at birth reunite (includes video clip)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/04/48hours/main581771.shtml
WEEK 4. Monday date: 1/29
Topics: The Human Ancestral Environment / Nature-Nurture Interactionism.
Class readings: Dawkins, Chapter 4
Video: The Human Quest / The Yanomamo.
Midterm 1 next week.
Web Resources:
· Steven Pinker video discussing his book “The Blank Slate
http://web.mit.edu/mitworld/content/authors/pinker.html
· Becoming Human (includes video clips):
http://www.becominghuman.org/
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: The Human Ancestral Environment / The Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation (EEA)
WEEK 5: Monday Date: 2/5
MIDTERM 1
Topics: Sensation and Perception
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 4 / Dawkins, Chapter 5
Web Resources:
· Change Blindness demo:
http://nivea.psycho.univ-paris5.fr/ASSChtml/ASSC.html
· Several perceptual illusions demos:
http://www.purveslab.net/
· Audio illusion of continuous rising tone:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/highest_note/fr.continuous.html
· Muller-Lyer illusion: http://epsych.msstate.edu/descriptive/Vision/muller_ly/
· Pogendorf illusion: http://epsych.msstate.edu/descriptive/Vision/Poggendorf/
· Internet Psych Lab: Visual Perception. Muller-Lyer illusion: http://epsych.msstate.edu/descriptive/Vision/muller_ly/
· Pogendorf illusion: http://epsych.msstate.edu/descriptive/Vision/Poggendorf/
· Stroop Illusion: http://epsych.msstate.edu/deliberate/Stroop/index.html
· Necker Cube Illusion: http://dogfeathers.com/java/necker.html
· Internet Psych Lab: Auditory Perception http://www.ipsych.com/aud/level_2_aud.html
· Sensation and Perception Tutorials: http://psych.hanover.edu/Krantz/sen_tut.html
· The Biology of Mind - Origins and Structures of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness: http://dericbownds.net/
· Split Brain Consciousness:
http://www.macalester.edu/~psych/whathap/UBNRP/Split_Brain/Split_Brain_Consciousness.html
· Psychology Links: Sensation, Perception and Consciousness:
http://www.tamiu.edu/coah/psy/senpercon.htm
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Sensation and Perception
WEEK 6: Monday date: 2/12
Topics: Consciousness
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 5 / Dawkins, Chapter 6
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Consciousness
WEEK 7: Monday date: 2/29
Topics: Motivation and Emotion
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 6
Web Resources:
· Test your disgust sensitivity: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/tv/humaninstinct/
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Motivation and Emotion
WEEK 8: Monday date: 2/26
Topics: Learning / Cognition
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 7 & 8
Web Resources:
· Internet Psych Lab: Memory and Learning http://www.ipsych.com/mem/level_2_mem.html
· Internet Psych Lab: Cognition http://www.ipsych.com/cog/level_2_cog.html
· Cognitive Psychology Tutor: http://teach.psy.uga.edu/CogPsychTutor/http://teach.psy.uga.edu/CogPsychTutor/
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Learning
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Cognition
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Spring Break, 3/5
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WEEK 9: Monday date 3/12
Topics: Intelligence and Personality
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 9
MIDTERM 2 NEXT WEEK
PANEL PRESENTATION: Intelligence
PANEL PRESENTATION: Personality
WEEK 10: Monday date: 3/19
MIDTERM 2
Topics: Abnormal Psychology / Psychology of Health
Class readings: G & M: Chapters 10 and 11
Web resources:
· Mental heath information: PsychEducation.org
· 4therapy.com: http://www.4therapy.com/
· Meddie.com: http://www.meddie.com/Mental_Health/index.html
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Abnormal psychology
WEEK 11: Monday date 3/26
Topics: Psychology of Sex Differences / Human Mating
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 12 / Dawkins, Chapter 9
Relevant websites:
· Faceprints: http://www-psych.nmsu.edu/~vic/faceprints/
· Interactive Lonely Hearts ad:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/tv/humaninstinct/
· Darwinian aesthetics:
http://evolution.anthro.univie.ac.at/institutes/urbanethology/beautypro.html
· Calculate your Waist to Hip Ratio:
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/whr
· The Brain Game (video / quizzes / articles):
http://abcnews.go.com/onair/DailyNews/braingame020731.html
· Face Perception:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/tv/humaninstinct/
· Do you have a male or female brain?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/news/page/0,12983,937443,00.html
· PBS website on the evolution of sex:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/love/
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Sex differences
WEEK 12: Monday date 4/2
Topics: Psychology of Sex Differences / Human Mating (continued)
Class readings: None this week -- take good lecture notes.
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Sex differences
WEEK 13: Monday date: 4/9
Topics: Families and Development
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 13 / Dawkins, Chapters 7 and 8
Relevant websites:
· Facial resemblance enhances trust:
http://psych.mcmaster.ca/debruine/fret.html
· Future genetic engineering of our children (article):
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/bodyuncovered/story/0,13992,1067850,00.html
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Families
TOPIC 7. THE GROUP / SOCIALITY: Social Interactions Based on Reciprocity
WEEK 14: Monday date: 4/16
Topics: Social Behavior, Game Theory
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 14 / Dawkins, Chapter 10 and 12
Relevant websites:
· Interactive Prisoner’s Dilemma Game: http://www.iterated-prisoners-dilemma.net/
· Another interactive Prisoner’s Dilemma Game: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/playground/pd.html
· Another:
http://www.princeton.edu/~mdaniels/PD/PD.html
· Evolutionary Psychology of Gossip (Slate magazine article):
http://slate.msn.com/id/2091502/
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Group Behavior / Game Theory
WEEK 15: Monday date: 4/23
Topics: Culture and Memetics
Class readings: G & M: Chapter 15 / Dawkins, Chapter 11.
Relevant websites:
· Robot Independence (PBS video clip – click “Watch Online” at top)
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1103/segments/1103-3.htm
· Article on conscious robots:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1028776,00.html
· Morals: Are you a model citizen, or do you look after number one?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/tv/humaninstinct/
· UK Memes Central:
http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/memetics/index.htm
· Memetics:
http://www.aleph.se/Trans/Cultural/Memetics/
· Memes (info / links):
http://cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/formerly-hyper-weird/memetics.html
· Alt.memetics (info / links)
http://maxwell.lucifer.com/virus/alt.memetics/
· Journal of Memetics:
http://jom-emit.cfpm.org/
· The Hedonistic Imperative (genetic engineering and nanotech):
http://www.hedweb.com/welcome.htm
· Naturalmotion.com (computer learning to walk):
http://www.naturalmotion.com/pages/technology_hiw.htm
· The Law of Accelerating Returns, buy Ray Kurzweil:
http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0134.html?printable=1
· Why the future doesn’t need us., by Bill Joy http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy.html
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Culture / Memetics
WEEK 15: Final exams -- Monday date: 4/23
Term project: Seminar panels (worth up to 15 points)
This project will involve finding, summarizing, and presenting a scientific article or book chapter relevant to one of our class topics.
Seminar panels will be composed of a group of two to three students. The panel will find an academic article, or book chapter, related to their topic, or, one will be assigned by the instructor. They will prepare a written summary, an outline, a critical review, and a PowerPoint presentation, as well as make a presentation to the class and lead a class discussion. To get an idea of what is expected, you may wish to look at papers written by students in previous classes – see our class website.
See the class website for more specific instructions
WEEK 4.
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: The Human Ancestral Environment / The Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation (EEA)
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WEEK 5
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Sensation and Perception
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WEEK 6
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Consciousness
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WEEK 7
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Motivation and Emotion
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WEEK 8
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Cognition or Learning
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WEEK 9
PANEL PRESENTATION: Intelligence
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PANEL PRESENTATION: Personality
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WEEK 10
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Abnormal psychology
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WEEK 11
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Sex differences
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WEEK 12
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Sex differences
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WEEK 13
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Families
_____________________________ _________________________
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WEEK 14
PANEL PRESENTATION: Topic: Group Behavior / Game Theory
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WEEK 15
PANEL PRESENTATION Topic: Culture / Memetics
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