Psychology 1103 Seminars Fall 2009

 

Human bonds: a role for nature and nurture

Sunayana Banerjee

This seminar will explore how human bonds namely pair bonds as well as parent-offspring bonds are affected by biology and society. How do people choose individuals for as lifelong partners? What are the factors that play a role in this decision? How important is the early environment of an individual in parent offspring interactions? How does early-life abuse affect relationships later in life? Other topics that will be covered include the role of pheromones, physical similarities between parents and significant others, the role of brain chemicals such as oxytocin (the trust hormone) in the formation of bonds. This seminar will cover studies performed in both humans and animals such as non-human primates and rodents species.

Monday 12:20 pm - 1:10 pm Uris Hall G24
Tuesday 12:20 pm - 1:10 pm Uris Hall G24
Wednesday 12:20 pm - 1:10 pm Uris Hall G24

 


What's it All About?  Psychology and the Big Questions of Life

Erik Helzer

People spend a great deal of time pondering the big questions of life.  Does power corrupt?  Is love blind?  How well can I ever know another person, or, for that matter, myself?  Am I in control of my life?  Might stepping on a crack really break my mothers back?  Psychology has a great deal to say about these, and other, questions.  Furthermore, the answers psychologists provide are rooted in data, which are derived from actual human behavior, rather than from idle speculation.  In this seminar, we will read about and discuss research that probes some of peoples deepest and most important questions about what it means to be human.  From attraction to superstition to free will, we will explore psychological perspectives on some of humanitys biggest issues.

Tuesday 2:30 pm - 3:20 pm Goldwin Smith G20
Wednesday 11:15 am - 12:02 pm Goldwin Smith 122
Wednesday 1:25 pm - 2:15 pm Uris Hall 394

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Psych 1101 Discussion  in Qatar

Rebecca S. Robbins