Graduate Course Offerings 2008-2009 (a=fall term; b=spring term; courses in brackets are not being taught this year) CORE COURSES and QUANTITATIVE METHODS 501b, Social Cognitive Development, Kristie Olson How does children's understanding of their social world develop and change? This core course will examine the flourishing field of social cognitive development, drawing on work from each component field—developmental, social and cognitive psychology. Topics will include classics such as theory of mind and intentionality, as well as more recent work on young children's social preferences, morality, pro-social behavior and the relationship between social information and language and memory. 502a, Learning Theory. Allan R. Wagner This course is concerned with the development of Learning Theory from its beginnings in Associationism, Behaviorism, and the Darwinian revolution to its present "connectionistic," neural-network expressions. It emphasizes the systematic implication of studies of animal learning for commenting upon the theoretical representations of knowledge and the principles of behavior modification. 505a, Stereotyping and prejudice, Jack Dovidio Seminar on the literature on the categorization of social groups that leads to stereotyping and consequent prejudice and discrimination. Topics will emphasize modern cognitive approaches that inform about category learning and use, the role of memory in stereotype expression, the cognitive and affective bases of inaccurate and accurate person and group perception, the unconscious operation of stereotypes, and the role of prior knowledge, goals, and expectancies. 514a, Topics in Infant Studies, Wynn This course investigates selected advanced topics in infant cognitive, social, and/or emotional development. The topic varies from year to year. Some examples: infants’ concept of object, concept of number, early social cognition, and early emotional development. 522a, Mapping the Human Brain, Greg McCarthy An introduction to the physiology, physics, and biophysics of methods used to relate human brain structure and function; i.e., for brain mapping. Topics will include functional MRI and positron emission tomography, direct and transcranial brain stimulation, field potential recording, electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography, lesion analysis, and imaging genomics. The course will examine critical assumptions underlying each technique, their relative strengths and weaknesses, and the inferences about brain function that may be drawn from their use. 526a, Research Methods in Human Neuroscience, Greg McCarthy This laboratory course will provide students with experience in the major methods used in human neuroscience research. The focus will be upon functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and evoked potentials. Psychophysiological techniques such as the measurement of skin conductance will also be covered, but in less detail. Students will acquire a firm understanding of each technique, and will design experiments, acquire data, and perform analyses. The course will make extensive use of Matlab. 539a, Psychopathology and its treatment, Doug Mennin Research design, methodology, and evaluation considered in the context of clinical research. Emphasis on experimental and quasi-experimental designs, threats to validation, confounding, sources of artifact and bias, alternative assessment strategies, and data evaluation methods. [541a, Research Methods in Psychology. Alan Kazdin] Research design, methodology, and evaluation considered in the context of clinical research. Emphasis on experimental and quasi-experimental designs, threats to validation, confounding, sources of artifact and bias, alternative assessment strategies, and data evaluation methods.] 554a/MGMT 754a, Behavioral Decision-Making II. Nathan Novemsky This seminar examines research on the psychology of judgment. Although the normative issue of how decisions should be made is relevant, the descriptive issue of how decisions are made is the main focus of the course. Topics of discussion include choice, judgment heuristics and biases, decision framing, prospect theory, mental accounting, context effects, task effects, regret, and other topics. The goal of the seminar is threefold: to foster a critical appreciation of existing knowledge in behavioral decision theory; to develop the students' skills in identifying and testing interesting research ideas; and to explore research opportunities for adding to that knowledge. Students generally enroll from a variety of disciplines, including cognitive and social psychology, behavioral economics, finance, marketing, political science, medicine, and public health. [556b, Developmental Psychopathology, Julia Kim-Cohen] This course will provide an overview of the theoretical and empirical literature in the field of developmental psychopathology. Psychopathology will be studied as models of atypical development that can elucidate underlying mechanisms of stability and change. Although emphasis will be placed on the causes and correlates of child and adolescent psychopathology, continuities and discontinuities in psychopathology across the lifespan will also be covered. Readings will include epidemiological, experimental, neurobiological, psychosocial, and ecological perspectives. Theoretical, methodological, and clinical implications of empirical findings will be discussed.] 557b, Social Psychology and Relationships, Margaret Clark The course will focus on determinants of initial attraction and interpersonal processes that serve to promote high quality relationships and detract from high quality relationships along with individual differences and how they relate to those processes. Initial sessions will focus on ways of conceptualizing attraction and relationships. The remaining sessions (constituting the bulk of the course) will organized around the theories which have organized the empirical research in this field including evolutionary approaches, interdependence theory, attachment theory, self-evaluation maintenance theory along with other approaches 572b/CMP 675b, Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Thomas Brown The goal is to comprehend the field and memory across several levels of analysis, including synapses, neurons, circuits, systems, behavior, and cognition. The emphasis is on mammalian memory systems that are sufficiently well understood to begin unifying facts and principles across these levels using suitable combinations of theoretical approaches to computational neuroscience. 518a, Data Analysis: Quantitative Variables. Teresa Treat(Required 1st Semester) Analysis of tabular data arrays arising usually from experiments. Sums of squares, F-tests and variance components. The method of contrasts. Data transformations. 'Nesting,' 'crossings,' and Latin square designs. The analysis of covariance. Aspects of Tukey's "Exploratory Data Analysis" such as box plots and median polish. Introduction to computer program packages. How to think about statistics. SPECIALIZED SEMINARS 607b, Cognitive Science of Causality, Frank Keil Examination of how people and animals track causal patterns in the world around them. Topics include the perception of causality, mechanistic, teleological, and psychological causation, variations in causal thinking across domains, the role of counterfactuals, biases and heuristics in causal thought, and the development of causal thinking. [608b, Cognitive Science of Ignorance, Frank Keil] Examination of how adults and children make sense of the artificial and natural world with incomplete knowledge and understanding. Topics include: awareness of one#s knowledge limits, mistakes in understanding, gullibility and cynicism, deference, the division of cognitive labor, knowledge management and science literacy.] 610a, The Modern Unconscious, John Bargh This seminar will focus on modern psychological research on unconscious phenomena, relating this research to historical conceptions and notions of the unconscious, and applying the course concepts to issues of free will, extent of personal control over one's feelings, judgments, and behavior, as well as social issues such as prejudice and discrimination, influence of advertising and other forms of 'mind control. 611b, What we eat and why, Kelly Brownell This course covers a range of topics pertaining to food, nutrition, and behavior. The goal is for students to learn about the broad array of forces that affect what humans eat, the impact of modern food conditions, and the actions that might be taken to improve the nutrition landscape. This involves an understanding of many factors, including the business of modern agriculture, food industry practices, human biology, the law, politics, and globalization. Students receive considerable writing and speaking experience in this class and engage in unique endeavors (e.g., writing and submitting OpEds, dissecting public policy, planning how technology advances can be harnessed to improve human nutrition). 613b, Mind, brain and society, Marvin Chun Examines how recent advances in modern neuroscience can inform or complicate issues in society, as traditionally studied by disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, economics, political science, law, and religion. 615a, Psychology and Psychotherapy: History, Systems and Practice, Jerome Singer This course seeks to place modern psychotherapeutic practice in an historical and current psychological scientific context. The evolution of modern practice from hypnosis through interpersonal psychoanalysis and cognitive-behavioral approaches is traced. A foundation for an approach to current practice based on contemporary personality theory and behavioral science research is presented. The research literature on studying psychotherapy (process and outcome) is also examined. 628a/428a, Social and emotional learning, Jeremy Gray We will review work in social cognitive and affective neuroscience, with some consideration of its relevance for learning and education. Topics are likely to include emotion, emotion regulation, altruism, close relationships, aggression, autism, mindfulness meditation, personality, moral reasoning, emotional intelligence, and self-control / impulsivity. We will consider the plasticity and development of social-emotional abilities, as well as their expression in adults. [643b, Diagnosis and Assessment, David Klemanski] This course focuses on the theoretical underpinnings of psychological assessment as well as covering the administration of major cognitive, projective, and personality instruments and the basics of report writing] [644b/466b, Neurobiology of emotion, Glenn Schafe] This course will focus on the brain circuitries involved in emotion and emotional learning and memory. We will begin by considering the emotion research in a historical context, then discuss progress that has been made in understanding the neurobiology of emotion in both laboratory animals and humans.] 648b, Cellular analysis of learning and memory, Glenn Schafe We focus on the brain circuitries and cellular/molecular mechanisms involved in learning and memory, with particular emphasis on vertebrate model systems. Review of work on habituation, sensitization, Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, and declarative memory formation. 657a/CDE505a, Social and Behavioral Influences on Health. Jeanette Ickovics This course provides students with an introduction to social and behavioral issues that influence patterns of health and health care delivery. The focus is on the integration of biomedical, social, psychological, and behavioral factors which must be taken into consideration when public health initiatives are developed and implemented. [659b/459b, Addictive Behaviors, William Corbin] This seminar course will introduce students to important issues in the field of addictive behaviors. Three areas of focus include: defining assessing, and diagnosing addictive behaviors and reviewing epidemiological research on alcohol and drug abuse and negative consequences of normative alcohol and drug use; examining factors that contribute to alcohol and drug related problems, including genetic, physiological, neurochemical, cognitive, and social factors; evaluating current prevention and treatment approaches for addictive behaviors.] 670b, Personality & individual differences, Michael Pantalon In this Personality & Individual Differences course, we will focus on the second level of study described in this well known quote: ¿Every person is in certain respects (a) like all other people, (b) like some other people, (c) like no other person" (Murray, H.A. & C. Kluckhohn, 1953). Particular emphasis will be placed on personality, or person¿s dynamic and unique set of characteristics that influence what he/she does, thinks and feels. We will seek to distinguish an individual differences approach to psychology from the more common study of group effects (e.g., randomized controlled trials of psychotherapy effectiveness) by emphasizing dimensions shared by all individuals but upon which individuals differ. The following four courses are required by first year Clinical Students: 684a, Psychotherapy Technique, Process & Outcome: Case Conference Seminar. David Klemanski Introduction to basic clinical skills and clinical issues. Topics for discussion include developing a therapeutic relationship, barriers to effective communication, strategies for managing resistance, and developing a professional identity. Class format includes informal discussion, assigned readings, and student case presentations. 684b Intro to Psychotherapy: Technique. David Klemanski The focus of this seminar is on formulating and conceptualizing psychological problems from a cognitive-behavioral perspective. Special consideration is paid to individual and cultural diversity in conceptualizing cases and planning treatment. Also discussed are ways in which cognitive-behavioral perspectives can be integrated with other theoretical orientations, (e.g., interpersonal theory, experiential therapy). 689a, Psychopathology and Diagnostic Assessment. Douglas Mennin Didactic practicum for first-year clinical students. Main emphasis is initial assessment. Treatment planning and evaluation of progress is also covered. Students first observe and then perform initial interviews. Applicable ethics and local laws reviewed. 690b, Ethics and Clinical Practice: Legislation & Diversity Issues. David Klemanski Introduction to ethical and legal guidelines for clinical practice. In addition, supervision on diagnostic interview using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV is provided. CURRENT WORK/RESEARCH TOPICS 702a&b, Current Work in Cognition. Marvin Chun A weekly seminar in which students, staff, and guests report on their research in cognition and information processing. The course involves presentation of a variety of research designs and methods. 704a&b, Current Work in Behavioral Neuroscience. Allan Wagner An informal student/faculty seminar in which each participant will choose, lay groundwork for and present some current work in Psychobiology. The course currently emphasizes the Psychobiology of Learning but involves a variety of research approaches, designs, and methods. 708a&b, Current Work in Developmental Psychology. Kristie Olson A luncheon meeting of the faculty and graduate students in developmental psychology for reports of current research and discussion on topics of general interest. 710a&b, Current Work in Social Psychology. Margaret Clark Social/Personality faculty and students meet during lunchtime to hear about and discuss the work of a local or visiting speaker. The course involves presentation of a variety of research designs and methods, applied to a variety of research topics. 711a&b, Current Work in Child Development and Social Policy, Walter Gilliam Edward Zigler, Sandra Bishop-Josef, A series of lectures by guest speakers from academia, various levels of government, community organizations, service agencies, the business world, and the media. Speakers discuss their work and its social policy implications. Topics may include: early childhood education, child care, intervention programs for children and families, education reform, mental health, child and family policies, research at the intersection of psychology and social policy, and media presentation of child and family issues, among others. 720a&b, Current Work in Clinical Psychology. Teresa Treat Examination of the current status of research and scientific knowledge bearing on issues of cultural and ethnic diversity as they relate to clinical practice. Weekly speakers present research, which is examined methodologically and recent significant journal articles or technical books are also reviewed. 721a&b, Research Topics in Infant Cognition. Karen Wynn We will be investigating various topics in infant cognition: early mechanisms for representing and reasoning about number, infants' ability to represent time; early object knowledge, and foundations of intentional understanding. (Permission of instructor required). 722a&b, Research Topics in Food, Nutrition, and Obesity. Kelly D. Brownell In-depth discussion and analysis of current research topics on bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and obesity. Topics will include, but not be limited to, physiology, cultural influences, treatment studies, body image, binge eating, and epidemiology. 723a, Research Topics in Child & Adolescent Therapy. Alan E. Kazdin This course will focus on the development and execution of research related to child and adolescent treatment and the factors with which clinical dysfunction and therapeutic change are associated. 725a&b, Research Topics in Human Neuroscience, Gregory McCarthy This laboratory course will provide students with experience in the major methods used in human neuroscience research. The focus will be upon functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and evoked potentials. 726a&b, Research Topics in Mood Regulation and Mental Health. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema We will discuss a range of topics related to mood regulation and psychological disorders, including models of depression, anxiety, and related disorders. We will also discuss how gender impacts vulnerability to emotional problems, and how gender-related factors may serve to protect against certain types of psychopathology. 729a&b, Research Topics in Language and Cognition. Paul Bloom Seminar focusing on ongoing research projects in language, cognition, and development. Permission of instructor is required. 730a&b, Research Topics in Addictive Behaviors. William Corbin A forum for graduate students conducting research on alcohol and drug abuse. 731a&b, Research Topics in Cognition and Development. Frank Keil A weekly seminar discussing research topics concerning cognition and development. The primary focus will be on high level cognition, including such issues as: the nature of intuitive or folk theories, conceptual change, relations between work meaning and conceptual structure, understandings of divisions of cognitive labor, and reasoning about causal patterns. 732a&b, Research Topics in Visual Cognitive Neuroscience. Marvin Chun Examines current research in visual cognitive neuroscience, including discussion of proposed and ongoing research projects. Topics include visual attention, perception, memory, and contextual learning. 734a&b, Research Topics in anxiety disorders. Douglas Mennin We will examine current conceptualizations of anxiety disorders with particular emphasis on generalized anxiety disorder. The utility of an emotion regulation perspective in understanding and treating anxiety disorders will be highlighted 736a&b, Research topics in stereotyping and prejudice, John Dovidio Explores the nature of prejudice in its traditional and contemporary forms. Although the emphasis will be on the causes and consequences of racial bias in the United States, the dynamics of intergroup relations will be considered more broadly, as well. Emphasis will be on developing critical thinking, reading, and research skills to test ideas relevant to understanding and combating stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. 738a&b, Research Topics in Cultural diversity and Social Psychology. Valerie Purdie-Vaughns Examines current research related to culture, intergroup relations, group processes, and diversity in social psychology. Discussions include proposed and ongoing research projects. Emphasis placed on building research skills for conducting empirical investigations (hypothesis testing, design, and analysis). 739a&b, Research Topics in Autism and related disorders. Fred Volkmar and Ami Klin Focus on research approaches in the study of autism and related conditions including both psychological and neurobiological processes. Emphasis will be on the importance of understanding mechanisms in the developmental psychopathology of autism and related conditions. 741a&b, Research Topics in Emotion and Relationships, Margaret Clark Members of this laboratory will read, discuss and critique current theoretical and empirical articles on relationships and on emotion (especially ones relevant to the functions emotions serve within relationships). In addition, ongoing research on these topics will be discussed along with designs for future research. [746b, Research Topics in Developmental Psychopathology. Julia Kim-Cohen This course will focus on exploring mechanisms of risk and resilience in psychosocial development, including but not limited to early life experiences, parenting, gene-environment interplay, and emotion processing. Permission of instructor is required.] 748a&b, Research Topics in Emotion and Cognitive Control. Jeremy Gray This course covers (1) research in emotion and cognitive control, and (2) science communication skills. For research, the emphasis is on the design, conduct, and analysis of behavioral and fMRI studies, emphasizing individual differences. Once a month, we have a session on science communication skills, with topics chosen by students to meet student interests and needs (spoken research presentations, persuasive communication, graph design, Web design, and so on). Students may enroll in the course and attend only the science communication skills component. 749a&b, Research Topics in Memory. Marcia Johnson Discussion of current theoretical and empirical work in cognition and memory, with emphasis on clarifying research ideas, identifying and solving methodological problems, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data, and writing up research projects. 750a&b, Research Topics in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Thomas H. Brown Discussion and analysis of current research on the neurobiological foundation of learning and memory in mammals. The major emphasis is on limbic system and cortical structures that have been implicated in certain forms of rapid learning. Informal weekly discussions span several levels of analysis, including molecular and biophysical studies, cellular and systems neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, and contemporary behavioral neuroscience. Computational approaches are included where appropriate. Discussion includes limitations, advantages, and interpretations of results of various research strategies. The content is generally designed to compliment ongoing or planned research in my laboratory. 766a&b, Research Topics in Perception and Cognition. Brian Scholl A seminar style discussion of recent research in perception and cognition, covering both recent studies from the literature and the ongoing research in the Yale Perception & Cognition Laboratory. 767a&b, Research Topics in Emotion, Health, and Social Behavior. Peter Salovey Research issues in the study of the cognitive and behavioral consequences of mood and emotion including mood and memory, influence of mood on social behavior, impact of mood on health cognition and health behavior, and emotional processes in close relationships (e.g., jealousy and envy). Also includes the application of principles of social psychology to the promotion of healthy behaviors, especially the framing of persuasive health communications encouraging cancer and AIDS prevention and early-detection activities. This is a laboratory course primarily dedicated to student presentations of ongoing research. 768a&b, Research Topics in Psychopathology and Cognitive Processing. Teresa Treat Weekly discussion and analysis of theoretical and measurement models relevant to examination of the role of cognitive processing in psychopathology. Permission of instructor required. [770a&b, Research Topics in Animal Learning. Allan R. Wagner Students will discuss the current literature, issues of experimental design, and theoretical interpretations pertinent to their own research projects in the area of animal learning.] 771a&b, Research Topics in Nonconscious Processes. John Bargh The lab group focuses on nonconscious influences of motivation, attitudes, social power, and social representations (e.g., stereotypes) as they impact on interpersonal behavior, as well as the development and maintenance of close relationships. 775a&b, Research Topics in Animal Cognition. Laurie Santos Investigation of various topics in animal cognition, including: what nonhuman primates know about tools and foods; how nonhuman primates represent objects and number; whether nonhuman primates possess a theory of mind. (Permission of instructor is required). 777a&b, Research Topics in Gender and Psychology, Marianne LaFrance The “Gender Lab” will meet weekly to consider research being done in the department that bears on some gender-related issue. PRACTICA (CLINICAL STUDENTS) 801 Clinical Internship (Child). Faculty Advanced training in clinical psychology with children. Adapted to meet individual needs with location at APA-approved internship settings. 802 Clinical Internship (Adult). Faculty Advanced training in clinical psychology with children. Adapted to meet individual needs with location in a suitable APA-approved internship setting. 806 Practicum in Childhood Intervention. Faculty Advanced supervised work in settings where child and family policies are developed and/or implemented. Adapted to meet individual needs with location at suitable sites such as Department of Children and Youth Services, Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, U.S. Office of Children, Youth and Families. 808 Practicum in Child Psychology, Faculty The Yale Child Study Center offers a yearlong practicum, which includes assessment of children, psychotherapy, team meetings, supervision, and didactic experiences. 810 Practicum in Developmental Assessment. Linda Mayes The Child Study Center offers a year-long practicum in screening and assessment of infants and toddlers at high risk for social, cognitive and adaptive developmental problems. The practicum is for graduate students in developmental and/or clinical psychology. Standardized assessment instruments and clinical interviewing are taught and utilized in a weekly clinic. Weekly supervision is provided by a licensed psychologist. NOTE: Psychology 811-883 are open only to doctoral students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Program. 811, Anxiety Disorders Practicum. David Klemanski Theoretical discussion of anxiety disorders will involve case conceptualizations from behavioral and cognitive perspectives. Specific measurement techniques will include behavioral avoidance tests, questionnaires, and use of collateral informants. Students will learn interventions basic to treatment of anxiety, such as applied relaxation, building hierarchies, and exposure. 812, Conduct Problems Practicum. Alan E. Kazdin The course provides training in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of aggressive and antisocial children and their families. Students will have experiences in assessment and treatment and will receive background on the nature and scope of child dysfunction and parent, family, and contextual factors with which the dysfunction is often associated. Cognitive, behavioral, and family-based treatment will constitute a core portion of training. Prerequisites: a two-year minimum commitment and permission of the instructor. 813, Eating and Weight Disorders Practicum. Kelly D. Brownell and Marlene Schwartz Students will receive experience in the therapy setting with all aspects of treatment of eating disorders and obesity — observation of therapy, individual and group supervision, and reading of the relevant literature will occur. 815, Mood Disorders Practicum. Faculty Supervised practicum in the assessment and treatment of mood disorders, with an emphasis on cognitive-behavioral perspectives. 817, Other Clinical Practica: Title provided by student. Faculty Clinical students will register for practicum experience in clinical psychology for course credit under this course number so transcripts will reflect accurately the various practica experiences completed. Students may register (with the DGS's permission) under the supervision of an individual faculty member 883, Practicum in Clinical Assessment. Donald M. Quinlan Supervised psychological assessment using measures of intellectual functioning, projective testing, and neuropsychological testing with patients. Administration, scoring, interpretation and reporting of a test battery are provided, with discussion of clinical and research issues. INDIVIDUAL TUTORIALS 920, Dissertation Area Paper. Faculty. This course number is reserved for preparation of the Dissertation Area Paper under the supervision of the thesis advisor. Registration can be for as many semesters as needed to complete the paper. 923, Theme Essay. Faculty This course number is reserved for preparation of the Theme Essay under the supervision of the Theme Group selected at the end of the second year. Registration is for the entire third year of study. It is graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. 925, Individual Tutorials. Faculty In special cases a student may wish to do specialized individual study. This must be arranged with the particular faculty member and approved by the DGS. . 930, Pre-dissertation Research. Faculty Individual study under the supervision of the pre-dissertation advisor, to be started by the second semester of the first year. Registration can be for as many semesters as needed to complete the project.