Psychology

A brief introductory survey of psychology as both a biological and social science. Topics will include physiological, learning, perceptual, motivational, cognitive, developmental, personality, abnormal, and social psychology.

Up until roughly four decades ago, infants were seen as cute, clueless creatures. Yet, research from a range of fields has led to a radical consideration of this claim; infants may be cute but they are not clueless! In this class, we will consider and discuss the science of babies. In particular, we will take a second look at long-held beliefs about the nature of infants and their knowledge. We will learn that studying infants’ perception, cognition and behaviour can offer us critical insights into long-standing philosophical questions. This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to infancy, that includes content from psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, as well as biology and anthropology. Upon completion of this class, students will (1) have overview knowledge of aspects of infancy as it relates to perception, cognition and behavior; (2) be able to use exploratory writing to develop arguments and develop their understanding of subject matter; and (3) begin to be able to read and summarize a scientific research paper in Developmental Psychology. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

This course will ask how changes in the developing brain can influence our understanding of how humans learn. To answer this question, we will learn about how the brain changes and about how learning changes. We will dig into brain plasticity and ask how this influences “critical” or “sensitive” periods for learning: a phenomenon whereby learning can only take place during a particular time in an organism’s life. We will explore learning in a number of different ways including learning in sensory and motor systems and the development of multiple aspects of learning and memory. In all cases, we will ask how changes in the developing brain impact learning outcomes. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

How does one develop a sense of individuality? Can individual will and freedom be reconciled with the interests of society? Are we determined by society or culture or do we, in some important sense, determine our own behaviour and futures? In this course, we will use classic and contemporary readings from psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and law to explore general characterizations of the individual and society. Basic questions will be examined in light of these characterizations such as: Is there a universal human nature? Who is a “person”?, and What is the ideal society? We will examine these questions in light of various social issues, such as debates about multiculturalism and democracy, whether children have rights to freedom of speech, and women’s equality in society. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on the different views of the person underlying and informing contrasting perspectives on important social questions. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Magicians entertain us with their tricks. What appears as “Magic” is based on fundamental aspects of human psychology: visual and auditory perception, decision making, logic, memory, and verbal abilities. In this class, we will consider and discuss the psychological basis of magic tricks and use magic to explore aspects of psychology. The class will require reading of scientific articles and book chapters as well as watching and analyzing magical tricks. The only prerequisite is a curious and critical mind. The course puts great emphasis on writing and on starting to read primary scientific literature. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

This seminar will examine the historical and contemporary use of drugs. Students will be introduced to the general psychological and neuroscientific mechanisms by which drugs affect human behavior, and explore highlights of current research on drug effects in animals and humans. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics, including population and sampling distributions, simple association, probability, estimation, and hypothesis testing.

Fundamentals of statistical analysis of experimental and observational data including linear models, the analysis of variance, a priori contrasts, post-hoc tests, power analysis and effect size calculations.

This course provides an introduction to conceiving, designing, and conducting research in psychology. It prepares students to be both consumers and producers of scientific research, and also addresses basic issues related to the work of psychological scientists such as theory development, research ethics, and scientific writing. Students in this course will gain insight into the scientific process as a whole – its advantages, difficulties, and limitations. As such, students will be able to better evaluate the knowledge that psychological science can provide, and integrate that knowledge into a broader worldview.

The developmental approach to the study of behaviour with reference to sensorimotor skills, cognition, socialization, personality, and emotional behaviour.

Contemporary areas of research in social psychology: social perception, attitudes, inter-personal relations, and group processes.

Theory and research in personality structure and dynamics: the interaction of cultural and biological factors in the development and expression of individual differences.

A critical survey of concepts, theories, and the state of research in the area of psychopathology and therapeutic methods.

Concepts, theories, and applications of classical and contemporary learning theories, including classical and operant conditioning. Current theories of the physiological and anatomical basis of learning and memory, including synaptic plasticity, the role of the hippocampus, amygdala, frontal cortex and other brain regions. Theories will be related to a practical understanding and applications such as drug addiction, phobias and other disorders.

An introduction to research and theory on the neural and cognitive architecture of attention, memory, language, thinking and reasoning.

An introduction to the physiological and psychological basis of perception across the different sensory modalities in humans and lower animals, with an emphasis on vision. Exploring visual perception such as shape and objects, scenes, colour, space, and motion as well as auditory perception of simple and complex sounds, and location. Further topics may include touch, including perception of temperature, pain and body posture, the chemical senses, and cross-modal influences of the senses on one another. In-class demonstrations may supplement the lectures.

Provides students with a solid background into the biological basis of behaviour. Animal and human research topics include functional neuroanatomy, neural signalling, sensory and motor control, motivational systems, and hormones, and emotions.

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/research-opportunities/research-opportunities-program. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

This course provides a practical yet intensive introduction to the research pipeline, with a focus on research data management and advanced statistical analysis and inference. Students learn how to find, organize, and analyze data sets in a transparent and reproducible way. Students also learn more about statistical inference, focusing on how the design and analysis of data shape the interpretation of results.

Special Topics in Psychology for the Summer Abroad Program. Course topics, content, and instructor may vary from one year to another. More information about Psychology course offerings can be obtained from the Professional & International Programs office at Woodsworth College.

A lecture course providing in-depth examination of specific topics/themes relating to Psychology.  Content in any given year depends on instructor.  Priority is given to PSY Major program students during the first enrolment period.

A lecture course providing in-depth examination of specific topics/themes relating to Psychology. Content in any given year depends on instructor.  Priority is given to PSY Major program students during the first enrolment period.

Research Specialists learn about the research opportunities within our department, and develop skills in the areas of critical thinking, writing, and oral presentation. Students also conduct a pre-thesis research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Students should complete a PSY lab course (PSY3*9H1) prior to taking this course; however, taking the lab course concurrently will be considered in consultation with the instructor. Enrolment is restricted to PSY Research Specialists.

Theory and research in social attachment, aggression, morality, imitation and identification, altruism, and parental discipline, with discussion of methodological issues.

Examines the developmental of knowledge in fundamental domains such as spatial perception, navigation, object perception, number, language, and theory of mind.  Emphasis is on current experimental findings and how they address centuries-old debates surrounding the origin and nature of human knowledge.

Age changes in sensory and perceptual processes, motor skill, learning, memory, and personality. Theory, methodological problems, social, cultural, and environmental influences that shape behaviour and attitudes towards and among the elderly.

Infants’ abilities at birth, prelinguistic development, the first words, phonological, syntactic and semantic development. Social variables influencing language acquisition, bilingualism, models of development, language play. (Sponsored by the Departments of Linguistics and Psychology, but administered solely by the Dept. of Linguistics).

The course examines human perceptual development during the first 2-3 years of life. Vision and audition are emphasized. Some topics are: pattern and colour vision, depth perception, infant speech perception.

Provides an overview of developmental psychology methods. The class conducts an original research project, including design, data collection, data analysis, and a written report. Course capacity is limited to 15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

Intensive study of social attitude development, description, measurement, modification, and organization.

One of the hallmarks of human behaviour is its diversity. Some of the ways in which we differ are thought to be relatively idiosyncratic (e.g., specific aspects of personality), whereas others are fairly systematic. Cultural psychology is one area of research in human behaviour that examines systematic differences resulting from individuals’ cultural backgrounds. This course will introduce you to the consideration of cultural variation in the study of human thought and behaviour.

An in-depth examination of theories and research in intergroup relations; focuses on stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, and stigma.

The effect of sex-role expectations on how men and women behave and perceive the world: theories of sex-role development, physiological and cultural determinants of sex differences, power relationships between men and women.

Moral values vary considerably across individuals, groups, countries, and cultures. What explains the emergence of these differential moral systems? What psychological processes are involved in moral decisions and actions? How might insights from psychological research shed light on contemporary, ‘hot-button’ moral issues? How are moral decisions similar to – and different from – other types of everyday decisions? What is the role of emotion in moral decision making? As an introduction to the field of moral psychology, this 300-level course will cover research from a range of sub-disciplines within psychology including social-personality psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and developmental psychology. In addition, students will gain exposure to related material in other fields including philosophy, ethology, and economics. Students will gain a firm understanding of the key debates and issues in the study of the moral mind and will gain skills in critical thinking and writing.

An examination of theory and research on how we make sense of ourselves and our social world. Topics covered include goals, mood, memory, hypothesis testing, counterfactual thinking, stereotypes, and culture.

This course deals with psychological issues in the law, with particular reference to criminal law. It focuses mainly on research that has been done on pretrial publicity, eyewitness testimony, rules of evidence, and other factors that might affect jury decisions.

Illustrates major methodologies within social psychology, such as attitude measurement, observation of small groups, and experiments. Course capacity is limited to 15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

This course focuses on the development and evaluation of psychological measures, including the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and personality traits. We will discuss theoretical and methodological issues in psychological measurement, covering important concepts such as reliability and validity and how these affect the interpretation of test scores and research findings. There will be some discussion of the application of psychological measures to various settings and the ethics of psychological assessment.

An in-depth review of the role of emotion in human psychology, with an emphasis on the links between emotion and cognition. Topics include theories of emotion, emotion regulation, emotional expression, and emotional experience, the role of emotion in decision-making, and the relationships between emotion, motivation and behaviour.

An analysis of the individual, group, and institutional structures and processes that influence behaviour within organizations. Topics include motivation, leadership, communication, management theory, group processes and team work, supervision, and organizational culture.

Examines research evidence concerning the impact of psychological factors on physical health and illness.

A review of the field of positive psychology, which is the study of happiness and fulfillment. Topics include personal growth, meaning, hedonic and eudaimonic approaches to well-being, gratitude, awe, flow states, mindfulness and meditation.

This course covers major topics in personality psychology including prominent theories and current research in the area. Theoretical frameworks are integrated with specific applications in primary sources. Specific topics may include personality structure, personality development, psychodynamic approaches, genetic methodology, and emotion regulation.

Introduction to methods involved in individual differences or personality research. Group and individual projects focus on assessment of individual difference characteristics and on experimentation including such characteristics. Course capacity is limited to 15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

This course focuses on cognitive and neuropsychological aspects of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in children from clinical and theoretical perspectives.

Work in psychological disorders has increasingly used the theories and methodologies of cognitive psychology to guide research. This course will examine accounts of clinical disorders informed by cognitive experimental psychology, with emphasis on recent work in affective disorders.

Examines various theories of how personality functioning may become impaired and corresponding psychotherapeutic interventions. Emphasis on empirical assessment of personality dysfunction and therapy effectiveness.

This laboratory class introduces students to field methods in social psychology used to study social processes as they unfold in daily life and public spaces. Students will get hands on experience to collecting, managing, storing, and communicating data collected through observational and longitudinal methods, including data collection in public spaces around Toronto and online. Course capacity is limited to 15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

Introduction to brain imaging methods used in cognitive, developmental, and social neuroscience. Course projects will cover experimental design, imaging techniques, and data analysis. Course capacity is limited to 15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

The study of memory, representation, concept learning, and other cognitive processes in non-human animals.

This lab is an introduction to experimental methods in behavioural neuroscience, including neuroanatomical and psychopharmacological methods in rodents. Course projects will cover experimental design, laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific writing. Course capacity is limited to 12-15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

Problem-solving as a model of directed thinking; conceptual behaviour and mental representation; induction, deduction and learning; probabilistic reasoning; creative thinking and complex problem solving.

This course covers selected topics pertaining to higher cognitive processes including expertise, consciousness, creativity, and human and artificial intelligence.

Current theories and data on human memory: processes involved in encoding, storage, and retrieval.

In Psychology of Language, we investigate human and other animal communication, structure of human language, word meaning and semantic memory, psychological studies of syntax, bilingualism, language and thought, language errors and disorders. (Sponsored by the Departments of Linguistics and Psychology, but administered solely by the Dept. of Linguistics).

The application of our knowledge of human information processing capabilities to improve human-machine systems design in a number of engineering environments including aviation, computer software, human-computer interaction, and nuclear power plants.

Examination of issues and methods in human memory research. Students conduct supervised research projects, and read, critique, and write research articles. Course capacity is limited to 15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

Integrates psychology, neuroscience, and computer science approaches to the study of vision science. Topics include: history and philosophy of vision science, low-level vision, motion perception, spatial vision, perception of objects and scenes, colour perception, attention and consciousness, and multisensory integration. Demonstrations/in-class experiments supplement lectures and readings. Emphasis on reading and writing scientific articles in vision science.

Examination of issues and methods in perception research. Students conduct supervised research projects, and read, critique, and write research articles. Course capacity is limited to 15 students and priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists during the first enrolment period.

An examination of how genes contribute to the production of behaviour, either as structural elements or direct participants in behavioural regulation. Covers molecular genetics, natural selection, and genetic methods followed by specific examples of congenic disorders that affect behaviour and studies of normal behaviours in human and animal models.

An examination of how developments in neurology and neuroscience can be used to inform ethical and legal issues related to free will, responsibility, competence, education, morality, and empathy in healthy people and in people with confirmed or suspected neurological disorders.

The functional relevance of neurotransmitters, with particular emphasis on their role in mediating behaviour.

Daily, monthly, annual and other rhythms and methods of measuring them. Behavioural and physiological aspects of biological clocks. The importance of rhythms in experimental design, in research on brain function, in affective disorders, and the use animals make of rhythms in migration and other behaviours.

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/research-opportunities/research-opportunities-program. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

An individual thesis done under the direction of a faculty member. Lecture and seminar presentations of proposals in the Fall session. Enrolment is restricted to PSY Research Specialists. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Examination in depth of specific topics in psychology at the graduate level. These seminars vary from year to year in terms of the number given, the topics, and the restrictions on enrolment. Students must get prior consent from the instructor of the graduate seminar they are interested in taking and submit this consent in writing to the department at which time you will be enrolled for undergraduate credit. Consult the Undergraduate Administrator for more details.

Examination in depth of specific topics in psychology at the graduate level. These seminars vary from year to year in terms of the number given, the topics, and the restrictions on enrolment. Students must get prior consent from the instructor of the graduate seminar they are interested in taking and submit this consent in writing to the department at which time you will be enrolled for undergraduate credit. Consult the Undergraduate Administrator for more details.

Examination in depth of specific topics in psychology at the graduate level. These seminars vary from year to year in terms of the number given, the topics, and the restrictions on enrolment. Students must get prior consent from the instructor of the graduate seminar they are interested in taking and submit this consent in writing to the department at which time you will be enrolled for undergraduate credit. Consult the Undergraduate Administrator for more details.

An intensive laboratory or applied research project under the supervision of a Department of Psychology faculty member. Project must be academically demanding and uniquely suitable for the individual student. Additional information and applications are available at the department and on its website. This course is open to all Psychology program students.

An intensive laboratory or applied research project under the supervision of a Department of Psychology faculty member. Project must be academically demanding and uniquely suitable for the individual student. Additional information and applications are available at the department and on its website. This course is open to all Psychology program students.

An intensive laboratory or applied research project under the supervision of a Department of Psychology faculty member. Project must be academically demanding and uniquely suitable for the individual student. Additional information and applications are available at the department and on its website. This course is open to all Psychology program students.

An intensive laboratory or applied research project under the supervision of a Department of Psychology faculty member. Project must be academically demanding and uniquely suitable for the individual student. Additional information and applications are available at the department and on its website. This course is open to all Psychology program students.

A lecture course providing in-depth examination of specific topics/themes relating to Psychology. Content in any given year depends on instructor.  Priority is given to PSY Major program students during the first enrolment period.

A lecture course providing in-depth examination of specific topics/themes relating to Psychology. Content in any given year depends on instructor.  Priority is given to PSY Major program students during the first enrolment period.

Addresses the central theoretical issues that structure contemporary research in each of the major areas of psychology. The aim is to provide an informal overview of the field as a whole. Enrolment is restricted to PSY Research Specialists.

Examination in depth of a limited topic within developmental psychology. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

Lecture courses examining cognitive-developmental, psychoanalytic, sociobiological, behaviouristic and cultural-anthropological approaches to moral development. Issues covered include definitions of morality, the relationship between moral judgement and action, gender differences and commonalities, and the role of culture in moral development.

Lecture course examining theory and research on the social cognitive aspect of aging. Topics range from impression formation and causal attributions to perceptions of control and emotions.

Examination in depth of a limited topic within social psychology. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

This lecture course discusses how we perceive, categorize, and form impressions of other people, relying on readings from primary sources in the scientific literature.

This lecture course focuses on the social psychology of interpersonal relationships between individuals, especially romantic or close relationships and friendships. It surveys what social psychologists have learned about the development, maintenance, disruption or dissolution of personal relationships, as well as current social psychological theories of interpersonal relationships.

The distinguishing feature of our species is the reflexivity of our consciousness -- the ability to conceive of and interpret ourselves and our experiences. For us, consciousness involves self-consciousness. All our higher symbolic capabilities rest upon this foundation. The aim of this lecture course is to trace out a variety of frames through which we can examine and understand the shared aspects of our subjectivity as self-conscious agents. Using a multidisciplinary approach that draws together ideas and insights from psychology, sociology, philosophy, anthropology, and biology, the course is designed to foster articulacy and critical acumen in how we think about reflexive experience.

With intensive reading and discussion of ‘classic’ and contemporary articles, this advanced lecture course in social psychology focuses on the central issues, methods, and findings in the study of motivation. Topics include self-regulation, achievement, and reward/punishment.

This lecture course examines how we come to understand ourselves and our world, and learn to feel, judge, and act, through the simulative mediation of personal and mass communication technologies. The aim is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the highly commodified symbolic environment that surrounds them and in which they participate as audience and, increasingly, producer. Although the focus is psychological, the history, sociology, political economy, and technology of various media will be discussed in relation to the changing forms of public and private life in the 21st century.

This lecture course examines the place of psychology in broader society and culture. What are the consequences of our research and professional practices for how we understand and govern ourselves and others? What is the extent of our authority and power to describe, define, and explain human behaviour and experience? How do our values direct our activities and interpretations as psychologists? How can we critically evaluate the assumptions, commitments, and shortcomings of our discipline in relation to real or imagined alternatives?

Examination in depth of a limited topic within the area of personality. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

This lecture course is based on the book Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief. Maps of Meaning lays bare the grammar of mythology, and describes the relevance of that grammar for interpretation of narrative and religion, comprehension of ideological identification, and understanding of the role that individual choice plays in the maintenance, transformation and destiny of social systems.

This lecture course explores how psychologists can contribute to finding solutions to today's pressing environmental challenges. Topics include persuasion, community-based social marketing, social influence, social capital, and the many ways in which the physical environment affects psychological processes. The course takes a multi-scalar approach to the human-environment relationship, covering individual, community, cultural and global levels of scale, through the lens of complex dynamic systems theories.

Examination in depth of a limited topic within abnormal psychology. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

This lecture course discusses the philosophical predecessors and early development of modern psychology, schools of thought, and shifs in areas of theory and research, as well as history and philosophy of science, in general.

Examination in depth of a limited topic in human or animal learning. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

Examination in depth of a limited topic within the area of memory. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

Seminar in advanced topics in psycholinguistics. Content varies from year to year.  (Sponsored by the Departments of Linguistics and Psychology, but administered solely by the Dept. of Linguisitics).

Examination in depth of a limited topic in cognition. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

Social cognitive neuroscience is an emerging interdisciplinary field that seeks to integrate theories of social psychology and cognitive neuroscience to understand behaviour at three fundamentally interrelated levels of analysis (social, cognitive, and neural). Topics such as self-regulation, cooperation, decision-making, emotion, morality, and prejudice will be examined in this lecture course.

This lecture course surveys computational perspectives on the mind and brain and introduces computational tools for connecting psychological and neural data to theory. Topics may include neural networks, probabilistic models, pattern recognition, and other techniques applicable to psychological research and general analysis. Basic familiarity with programming is recommended but not required.

This lecture course discusses visual attention; attentional selection for object recognition, feature integration, and action; attention in action-relevant space; movements of attention; eye-hand coordination, eye and limb movements; action-specific perception and effort-based models of perception; ecological perception and the perception of affordances.

An in-depth examination of current issues in perception (e.g. perceptual organization, object and face recognition, motion perception). Emphasis is on the psychological perspective, but integrates physiological and computational perspectives as well. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

An in-depth examination of current issues in brain and behaviour science (e.g. activity of neurons, sensory, motor, motivational, and higher cortical systems.). Content in any given year depends on instructor. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.

Understanding the complexities of how the mammalian nervous system acquires and stores information and how it transforms this information into appropriate behavior is fundamentally important to our understanding of both animal and human behavior. This lecture course explores empirical and theoretical contributions to our understanding of the neural basis of learning and memory.

This is a capstone lecture course surveying research on how the mind arises from the brain. The first objective of the course is to understand how processes in human brains (ranging from the firing of a single neuron to the dynamics of billions) support cognitive abilities (such as recognizing a face, remembering a birthday from childhood, understanding the words in a spoken lecture, or planning a route home from class). The second objective of the course is to understand the methods of contemporary cognitive neuroscience research, to enable students to read primary literature and to understand ongoing debates.

This lecture course discusses the role of brain and body in the expression and experience of emotion in humans considered through the experimental, physiological, theoretical, and clinical literatures.

This lecture course explores the scientific literature underlying the concept that female/male, gay/straight, and transgendered behaviours are based on brain differences. Original scientific papers will be read in close detail for design and interpretation of the experiments. The goal is to gain an understanding of the science and psychology underlying sex/gender, popular conceptions of sex, and the sexual brain. Topics include: the making of sex, hormone action, brain-based sexual behaviours, sex and cognition, and sex and sexuality/gender identification.

This lecture course provides an in-depth examination of the cognitive dysfunction found in neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Schizophrenia. The course focuses on how cognitive impairments relate to neuropsychological models of the specific disease (specifically how these models provide insights into the biological mechanisms underlying the cognitive symptoms) and cognition, more broadly.

This seminar course discusses circadian rhythms with emphasis on non-photic entrainment and phase shifting of rhythms by behaviour (e.g., social interactions, becoming active). Properties and physiological mechanisms for non-photic effects and comparisons with those for photic effects. Although the emphasis is on basic principles, possible applications will also be discussed. Course capacity is limited to 20 students and enrolment priority is given to PSY Specialists and Research Specialists.