PSYb2105 Unsolved mysteries of cognitive psychology

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Fri 14:00–15:40 U43
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 31/30, only registered: 8/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is trying to shed more light on psychological myths revolving around cognitive psychology, which often evolved from original scientific work but, under the influence of time, interpretations and/or folk psychological theories, became something slightly different. Also, it asks questions about topics, that have been in the background of psychological debates. This quest takes us from the mysterious lands of learning styles and cognitive styles, through the unanswered questions of human consciousness all the way to the unresolved issues of the universality of emotions or language acquisition. The course requires courage, critical thinking, and a bright mind, as it might bring doubts about seemingly stable constructs and reveal new points of view and ideas.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of the course, a student would be able to:

1. Characterize particular cognitive processes and their relation to behavior

2. Explain certain chosen theories

3. Formulate a conclusion about the relation between human cognition and behavior

4. Describe scientific methods used in experimental research of cognition

5. Integrate the knowledge about human cognition into other psychological disciplines
Syllabus
  • 1. What did Witkin measure, and did he even know?

    2. Culture, emotions, perception, and language

    3. Autobiographical memory, false memories, and a Bermuda triangle of memories (culture)

    4. Collective memory: the horror story of individualists and introverts

    5. Behaviorists: what would happen if we assumed they were right?

    Midterm discussion

    6. Phrenology and craniology: I have the phrenology head and I´ll bring it

    7. Consciousness: a byproduct of evolution?

    8. Feral children: language acquisition and what does Genie tell us about language?

    9. Is sex a social construct? No, no it´s not! (Based on a true story.)

    10. Who even let them do it? Experiments you may have never heard of.

    Final Exam

Literature
    required literature
  • EYSENCK, Michael W. a Mark T. KEANE. Cognitive psychology : a student's handbook. Seventh edition. London: Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015. xviii, 838. ISBN 9781848724167.
    recommended literature
  • Chiang, T. (1998). Story of your life. Stories of your life and others, 117-78.
  • DICK, Philip K. Blade runner : (do Androids dream of electric sheep). New York: Ballantine Books, 1968, 216 s. ISBN 0345350472. info
    not specified
  • GOLDSTEIN, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience. Nelson Education.
  • Colapinto, J. (2000). As nature made him: The boy who was raised as a girl. HarperCollins Publishers.
Teaching methods
Lectures with PowerPoint presentations, group discussions, reading.
Assessment methods
Midterm: At home, each student will prepare positions (both pro and con) to the idea that mood can be altered and programmed (based on the first chapter of “Do androids dream of electric sheep?”. In the class, each student will randomly be assigned a position and would have to make an argument (work in groups). The class will be divided in half, with the lecturer as a moderator. Final exam: position paper to a short story from the “Stories of your life” book, which will be discussed at the final lecture.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Teacher's information
Please, follow an Interactive syllabus of the course.

Lecturer: Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph. D., Room 2.47, Office hours: Tuesday 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023.
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