Advanced Seminar in Personality, Clinical, or Social Psychology (390-0-2)

Topic

Motivated Thinking

Instructors

Daniel Molden

Meeting Info

Swift Hall 231: Wed 10:00AM - 12:50PM

Overview of class

At one time or another, every one of us has engaged in "wishful thinking," or "let our hearts run away with our heads." That is, every one of us has experienced the effects of our motivations on our thoughts and behaviors. This course is focused on the psychological study of how people's goals, values, needs and desires specifically initiate and guide their basic cognitive processes. We will discuss the influence of a variety of different motivations, including desires for belonging, understanding, control, and accuracy, on a variety of different outcomes, including social impressions, attitude formation, evaluations of evidence, and decision making. The overall goal of the course is to provide students with a solid understanding of the principles that describe the interactions of motivations and cognitions so that they might better understand the influences of motivation in the outcomes they observe and be able to apply these principles to their own research interests. Each weekly course meeting will focus on the discussion of several articles from the Social Psychology literature with all students submitting discussion questions and alternating in the role of discussion leader. Besides discussion questions, assignments include short (500-word maximum) weekly analysis and extension papers prepared after each meeting and a final paper that consists of a research proposal applying the themes of the course to a topic of students' own choosing.

Registration Requirements

Prerequisites: completed PSYCH 201 & PSYCH 301

Undergraduate students seeking permission to enroll should e-mail the instructor a brief statement that includes:
1. A SHORT paragraph describing their interest in the course
2. A list of any other 300-level classes they have completed (including 399 and 397)
3. The name of one Professor as a reference (students do not need to request a letter or statement from that professor)

Class Attributes

Attendance at 1st class mandatory

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisite: Students must complete Psych 301-0 before taking this course.
Add Consent: Instructor Consent Required