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Description:

Would your behavior change if you suddenly found yourself working as a prison guard? Are your opinions influenced by others? If you were in distress, would it be better to have more people around you, or fewer? How do we define abnormality and classify mental disorders? How common are mental disorders and which are the most prevalent? How do mental disorders vary across cultures? The answers to these questions and others like them may surprise you! This class will begin by introducing students to the study of social interaction and human nature by reading, discussing and analyzing four influential cases that have shaped the way we understand social psychology today. Students will investigate factors that affect human behavior in different social settings and will learn about group behavior, the bystander effect, obedience to authority and more.

Halfway through the semester, we will switch gears and examine the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders. We will examine case studies by renowned psychologists including Dr. Mary Pipher. These readings will be at the core of this class, leading to ongoing, intellectually stimulating discussions. Topics covered will include phobias, PTSD, eating disorders, OCD, addiction, schizophrenia, dementia and more. Students will learn how to analyze field work, evaluate theories, and think critically about how these studies apply to the world around them. They will also have an opportunity to share research on a personal topic of interest.

Topics in this Series: Neuropsychology and Cognition (Semester 1) and Social Psychology and Abnormal Psychology (Semester 2)

Workload: Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week outside of class on readings and completing assignments.

Assignments: All assignments will be posted on password-protected Canvas classroom management site. There, students can access assignments and upload homework. Extension assignments may include watching a short video clip, creating discussion questions, or suggesting a follow-up study.

Assessments: The instructor will assign points for class participation and homework that the parents can use in assigning a grade.

Lab/Supply Fee: None.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Social Sciences for purposes of a high school transcript.