J. Hanna (Psychology)
4 SS, WRi, 4 Hours
Fall Semester FYSP 087-01 MW 2:30-3:45
Do opposites attract? Do Eskimos actually have 200 words for snow? Is it always better to let off steam than to suppress your emotions? Do Freudian slips reveal our unconscious desires? Is it really all that dangerous to talk on a cell phone while driving? These and other common beliefs about human nature and behavior will be explored in this seminar. We will be psychological mythbusters, investigating which beliefs have scientific merit, which have yet to be investigated, and which appear to be false. In our investigation, we will address the historical, cultural, and psychological bases for common beliefs, the availability and reliability of information sources, and scientific means of turning questions about human nature and behavior into testable hypotheses. Our research will include addressing the underlying neurological, cognitive, social, and other mental processes that do (or do not) contribute to the examined behaviors. We will also explore the implications of commonly held beliefs on our political, medical, and legal systems.