RockhuRst univeRsity 2012–2014 catalog

160PY 3430 Cross Cultural Perspectiveson Adolescence (3)A cultural approach to adolescent developmentis taken, emphasizing the themes of culturalcontrasts and globalization. Cognitive, physical,emotional, and social development are examined.Topics include identity formation, peer influence,schools, self-esteem, media, and problem behaviors.Emphasis is placed on theory and research assources of knowledge. Prerequisite: PY 1000 andsophomore standing (or consent of instructor).(GPR)PY 3440. Adult Development and Aging (3)The developmental tasks of adulthood, includingintimacy, identity, work and family, are consideredin this course. The physical, social, cognitive andemotional aspects of the aging process are considered.Emphasis is placed on theory and research assources of knowledge. A service-learning projectis required. Prerequisite: PY 1000 and sophomorestanding.PY 3500. Personality (3)After a consideration of the characteristics of scientifictheories, this course examines the efforts ofsignificant historical and contemporary theorists toexplain the development, dynamics and determinantsof personality. The usefulness of particularpersonality theories is evaluated within the frameworkof empirical research. Prerequisite: PY 1000.(SRII or SRI)PY 3550. Abnormal Behavior (3)An introduction to the various forms of maladjustmentincluding anxiety, affective disorders, schizophrenia,dissociative processes, personality disorders,and child and adolescent psychopathologies.Disorders are considered from several perspectivesincluding psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive,humanistic-existential, family systems and biological.Prerequisite: PY 1000. (SRII or SRI)PY 3600. Psychology of Sexual Behavior (3)A psychological perspective on human sexualityand patterns of behavior. Sexual functioning,gender identity, sexual disorders and treatment areconsidered. The role of personality, attitudes andemotional factors are emphasized. Prerequisite:PY 1000. (SRII or SRI)PY 3650. Evolutionary Psychology (3)Evolutionary psychology seeks to understandevolved cognitive, emotional and behavioral adaptationsin humans within the context of potentialselection pressures present in our evolutionaryhistory. A central tenet of evolutionary psychologyis that the human brain is comprised of alarge number of specialized mechanisms thathave been shaped by natural selection over vastperiods of time to solve survival problems facedby our human ancestors. This courses reviewscurrent thinking about hominid evolution and thebasic tenets of modern evolutionary theory. Inaddition a variety of human adaptive problemswill be discussed in the context of psychologicalmechanisms that may have been selected for tosolve these adaptive problems (e.g., basic survival,mating strategies, parenting, kinship and problemsof group living).PY 3700. Health Psychology (3)Health psychology is one of the most rapidlyexpanding areas in the field of psychology. Thiscourse will discuss the role psychological factorsplay in physical problems. The role of psychologicaltreatments for individuals with psychophysiologicaldisorders will be discussed. This course willalso address the role of the health psychologist inthe health care system and topics such as chronicpain, obesity, nicotine addiction. Prerequisite:PY 1000; sophomore standing.PY 3810. Psychology and Law (3)Psychology and Law focuses on how the applicationof theories, methods, and research findings inpsychology can contribute to a better understandingof questions and issues related to law and thelegal system. Topics may include forensic hypnosis,eyewitnesses, interrogations and confessions,criminal profiling, prediction of dangerousness,competencies, criminal responsibility/insanity, jurydecision-making, and sentencing decisions, amongother. Prerequisite: PY 1000.PY 3820. Multicultural Psychology (3)This course examines the understanding of culturaldifferences and their application to behavioralchange. Emphasis is placed on the developmentof the ability to engage in perspective-taking as afunction of culture. Diversity across race, gender,and class is explored. Issues related to prejudice,privilege, attitude structure and change, interpersonalcommunication, will be explored. Thecourse will be conducted with a combination oflectures, class discussion, guest speakers, groupactivities, student presentations, videos, etc. Prerequisite:PY 1000.PY 3990. Research Experience I (1-3)Research Experience I is designed to introducestudents to the research process by participating infaculty sponsored research. Activities as a memberof this team may include reading literature relevantto the topic, data collection or data entry andattending research meetings. Students contractwith a faculty mentor to determine their level ofparticipation in the research process. Three hoursof participation per week are required to earn onehour of college credit and the student must have aminimum overall GPA of 3.0 to participate. Studentscan earn a maximum of three credit hours.Prerequisite: PY 1000, minimum 3.0 cumulativeGPA, and instructor approval.PY 4100. History and Systems in Psychology (3)The intellectual history of contemporary psychologyis traced in light of positions taken ona number of fundamental philosophical andpsychological questions. The course delineatespsychology’s emergence as a science and a disci-