The Dutch are among the happiest people in the world. This course will introduce students to the science of quality of life, including variables associated with worldwide differences in happiness. Students will gain an appreciation for the role of physical health, social relationships, and generosity as predictors of well-being. We will pay special attention to…
We spend 90% of our lives indoors, yet we underestimate how much the interior of buildings influences thoughts, feelings, and behavior. This course will examine how the incorporation of natural elements like sunlight and plants indoors improves mental health. Through tours of innovative “green” buildings, students will learn how their homes, schools, and workplaces can…
Rather than focusing on deficits such as psychological disorders, this course examines research on human strengths, thriving, and the factors that promote well-being. Through cultural experiences provided by the program, students also learn practical strategies to enhance happiness and well-being.
This course examines how culture shapes human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Topics include, but are not limited to, emotion, personality, multilingualism, social behavior, and mental health, as well as similarities and differences in these psychological processes across diverse cultural contexts. Students will apply course concepts to the unique cultural learning experiences provided by the program.
What does it mean to live a good life? This course will combine classical Greek theories of virtue and flourishing with psychological research on wellbeing, relationships, and meaning to explore potential answers to this question. Students will explore how social environments shape an individual’s character and happiness, using both ancient wisdom and contemporary data to…
In this course, students will be exposed to basic ideas from the field of social psychology, focusing on the power of situations and the impact of the social environment on human behavior. In the course, students will explore topics such as self, attitudes, persuasion, prejudice, discrimination, group behavior, interpersonal attraction, aggression, and prosocial behavior. Particular…
This course examines how development across the lifespan is shaped not only by the cultural context but also the historical context in which we live. In addition to broader conversations about developmental psychology as a field, you will explore how trauma and major economic and political upheavals, such as the Great Depression and World War…
The Holocaust was one of the great tragedies of the modern era. One question that is still asked today is: “How could people commit such atrocities?” This class seeks to answer that very question and explore how normal people can do terrible things. We will talk about the effect of authority and the forces that…
This course will examine how children develop across historical and cultural contexts, focusing primarily on Ancient and modern Greece. Students will explore how everyday aspects of development have shifted from Ancient Greece to modern Greek society, and how these patterns compare to other world cultures. Through site visits, field observations, and engagement, students will investigate…
This class explores the impact of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Events) as well as the impact of trauma throughout the lifespan on development of behavior, social-emotional functioning, and overall mental health. Particular interest will be paid to citizen experience in both historical and recent politically violent and socially uncertain events in Greece and other relevant locations.
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