Human physical, psychological and social development from conception through the intrauterine environment, birth, early and middle childhood, adolescence, and young, middle and older adulthood. The study of a person s behaviors, mental processes and personality variables relevant to group interactions. Topics include helping and aggression, social cognition, attitudes, persuasion, prejudice, group dynamics and influence. The physiological basis of behavior, including the genetics and evolution of behavior, central nervous system anatomy and physiology, research methods, diseases of the brain and associated behavioral alterations and the study of selected systems, e.g., sensorimotor, eating and drinking, sleeping and dreaming, language, and sexual behavior. Historical understanding and symptomatology of organic, childhood, anxiety, dissociative, affective and personality disorders, the schizophrenias and deviant behavior, including consideration of legal and ethical issues.
Students conduct and present their own research in the area.
Counseling theories and affective, cognitive and behavioral techniques in individual and group settings, including basic skills training. Operant principles and their use in building desired skills and reducing problem behavior. Principles and applications of psychology in business and industry, including employee selection, performance appraisal, training and development, leadership, motivation, organizational development, employee safety and health, human factors, engineering and consumer psychology. Through psychological and interdisciplinary approaches learners will gain an understanding and appreciation of the processes of dying, death, and bereavement. Theoretical, historical, and emerging perspectives will be explored.