Advanced Seminar in Psychology (392-0-1)
Topic
Psychology & 'Weird' Beliefs
Instructors
Sara Cantonia Broaders
847/491-3652
Swift 243, 2029 Sheridan Road
Meeting Info
Swift Hall 210: Thurs 10:30AM - 1:20PM
Overview of class
Lots of people have beliefs that other people think are just plain weird. Why do people have these beliefs? We'll look at "weird" beliefs within our culture and maybe some cross-cultural examples to understand the social and cognitive processes that lead to development and maintenance of beliefs. Among the specific topics we may cover are: distinction between science and pseudoscience, science denial, superstition, parapsychology, conspiracy theories, ghosts, near-death and out-of-body experiences, witchcraft, alien abduction, and repressed memories of abuse.
Since this is an upper-level research course, we will focus on psychological theories, methodological issues, and empirical research in this area. We'll do some hands-on research and data interpretation activities during class meetings. Students will work in groups to design, conduct, analyze, and write up an empirical research project during the quarter.
Registration Requirements
Prerequisite: Students must complete Psych 205 before taking this course.
Teaching Method
Primarily discussion, hands-on research and data analysis activities, videos, and some brief lectures.
Evaluation Method
Grades will be based on weekly written discussion questions, finding and summarizing empirical research articles, participation in class discussion, contributions to class data collection, a group presentation, and an empirical research project conducted in small groups.
Class Materials (Required)
In addition to the required books (tentative list below), we will have articles and chapters from a variety of other sources that will be available through the Canvas course management system. The readings for the class are still under consideration, but if there are assigned books, they are most likely to be:
1. Clancy, S.A. (2005). Abducted: How people come to believe they were kidnapped by aliens. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 978-0674024014 (There is a Kindle edition available.)
2. Gilovich, T. (1991). How we know what isn't so: The fallibility of human reason in everyday life. Free Press. ISBN: 978-0029117064
3. Merlan, A. (2019). Republic of lies: American conspiracy theorists and their surprising rise to power. Metropolitan Books. ISBN: 978-1250159052
4. Shermer, M. (2011). The believing brain. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN: 978-0805091250
5. Wiseman, R. (2010). Paranormality: Why we see what isn't there. ISBN: 978-0956875655 (There is a Kindle edition available.)
Class Attributes
Attendance at 1st class mandatory
Prerequisites apply, see description
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisite: Students must complete Psych 205-0 before taking this course.