Perspectives on Counseling

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 330

This is an experiential course teaching skills in the counseling process. We will examine awareness and listening, attending and reflecting, questioning and summarizing, empathy, concreteness, problem definition, probing, and detailing. Role-playing and group work supplement didactic material. Prerequisite: U09-100 Intro to Psychology.
Course Attributes: OLI

Juvenile Delinquency

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 3251

This course explores the nature of juvenile delinquency, including its root causes and influences, as well as the various strategies currently being employed to reduce and prevent delinquent behavior. The course discusses how delinquency begins, persists, and is overcome. Delinquency will be looked at from both a sociological and developmental-psychological perspective. We will discuss the criminal justice response to delinquency and evaluate programs and models that have met with varying degrees of success, as well as those that have had the opposite effect on reducing delinquent behavior. This course is fully online. Students enrolled in day classes at Washington University should review the policies of their home division on credit earned for online courses.
Course Attributes: OLI

Evolutionary Psychology

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 309

This course will explore the extent to which an understanding of biological evolution is relevant to an understanding of human psychology. Fundamental evolutionary principles will be introduced and their application to psychological theory and research carefully evaluated. Individual topics include romantic relationships, family dynamics, cooperation, clinical pathology, judgment and decision-making, religious belief, and more. PREREQ: U09-100. This course is fully online. Students enrolled in day classes at Washington University should review the policies of their home division on credit earned for online courses.
Course Attributes: OLI

Introductory Psychological Statistics

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 300

Descriptive statistics including correlation and regression. Inferential statistics including non-parametric and parametric tests of significance through two-way analysis of variance. Course emphasizes underlying logic and is not primarily mathematical, although knowledge of elementary algebra is essential. PREREQ: U09 100 Intro to Psychology. This course is fully online. Students enrolled in day classes at Washington University should review the policies of their home division on credit earned for online courses.
Course Attributes: OLI

Positive Psychology and Happiness

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 270

Positive psychology broadly focuses on psychological thriving and how to promote it. The field aims to help individuals lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, cultivate what is best within themselves, and enhance their experiences of love, work, and play. In the first part of the course, we review the history of positive psychology, examine the meaning and measurement of happiness and well-being, explore the role of genetics and circumstances on happiness, and review the myriad benefits of happiness. In the second part of the course, we review the research detailing who is happy and why, and we explore the research on the practices and habits that facilitate happiness. Specific practice and habit topics include gratitude, mindfulness, optimism, strengths identification, meaning and purpose in life, meaningful social connections, compassion, forgiveness, positive relationships, sleep, and more. Throughout the course, we will participate in experiential learning from assessing our own happiness and strengths to engaging in practices found to facilitate happiness. This course will not count toward major in Psychological and Brain Sciences for day students.
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Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 214

This course explores the application of research findings in psychology and other behavioral sciences to issues and problems in the workplace, including both theory and methodology. Includes motivation, communication, learning, decision-making, leadership, power and influence, and personnel selection.
Course Attributes: OLI

Addiction and Treatment

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 488

This course examines the motivation and behavior patterns of the drug/alcohol user. This examination takes place in the wider context of deviance. A portion of the course is devoted to a survey and evaluation of the services and programs available to the drug/alcohol user from the point of view of the user, the user's family, and society. Topics include: the history of psychotropic substances and their purpose and use in human society to the present; the history and philosophy of counseling interventions for psychotropic substance abuse and dependence; the ethnic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors affecting which substances are used, receptivity to treatment, and attitudes toward intervention; various treatment modalities such as 12-step groups, therapy groups, and in-patient treatment for both self-referred and court ordered clients. PREREQ: U09-100
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Applied Psychology of Learning: Training in Industry

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 468

Overview of the foundations of industrial training and the "tools of the trade." Review of learning and memory and recent findings on cognition. Study of methods and techniques used for analysis, design, development, and evaluation of training. Impact of recent advances in computing and instructional technologies. Prerequisite: U09-100 required and U09-214 or U09-314 recommended. Same as U87-468.
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Psychological Tests and Measurements

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 404

This course is an introduction to psychological tests and measurements. We cover basic principles of test construction, including reliability, validity, item analysis, and development of normative data. We examine major types of tests (e.g., intelligence, personality, interests, and attitudes), as well as their application to career counseling, clinical diagnosis, employee selection, performance appraisal, and organizational assessment. PREREQ: one course in statistics. This course is fully online. Students enrolled in day classes at Washington University should review the policies of their home division on credit earned for online courses.
Course Attributes: OLI

Prejudice, Stereotyping & Discrimination

PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCI (PSYCHOLOGY) 3950

This course will trace prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination from its ordinary origins in social cognition to its most extreme consequences in war and genocide. Topics include prejudice, the causes of stereotyping and discrimination, the development of prejudice in children, subtle and overt prejudice and stereotyping, group conflict, the role of social norms, the experience of being a target of discrimination, and interventions to reduce prejudice and discrimination. Areas covered include racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, ableism, colorism, and religious discrimination. Prerequisite: Psych 100B.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; AS SD I; FA SSC; AR SSC; AS SC