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| Ryerson Home > Current Students > Academic Calendars > Full-Time Undergraduate Calendar |
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 UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM CALENDAR 2003-2004 |
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Psychology Courses
PSY 011 Psychology: Introductory Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. This course introduces the student to the basic methods used to investigate behaviour. It surveys the basic principles established in such areas as biological determinants of behaviour, learning, motivation, emotion, individual differences, perception and personality. (LL) Exclusions: Students may not obtain credit for more than one of PSY 102, PSY 105, PSY 011.
PSY 024 Psychology: Social Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. In this course, students examine the influence of social variables on the behaviour of the individual. Topics include affiliation, aggression, personality and society, social cognition, the measurement, structure and development of attitudes, propaganda and brain-washing, socialization, conformity and mass behaviour. These topics are explored from a cross-cultural as well as a North American perspective. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 504.
PSY 040 Psychology: Psychological Disorders Lect: 3 hrs. Three main sections address the reality of psychological disturbance: (1) a critical examination of symptom-based diagnosis; (2) evidence-based evaluation of current theoretical frameworks; (3) current and future approaches to treatment. An integrative model- the biopsychological- which views the person in a sociocultural context, will be stressed. Ethical, legal, economic and gender issues will be addressed. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent. Exclusions: PSY 036, PSY 606.
PSY 102 Psychology: The Science of Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. This course introduces students to psychology, the scientific study of behaviour and cognition, by examining the basic principles of psychology and their applications to everyday experience. The course will survey various areas of psychology including biological bases of behaviour, learning, memory, thinking, personality, abnormal and social psychology. (PR) Exclusions: Students may not obtain credit for more than one of PSY 102, PSY 105, PSY 011.
PSY 105 Psychology: Perspectives in Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. This course introduces psychology by exploring several frameworks, such as the biological, behaviourist/learning, cognitive, and psychodynamic. The emphasis is on examining the ways in which the various perspectives have influenced our understanding of how people act, think, and feel, and the contributions that each has made to psychology as a discipline. (PR) Exclusions: Students may not obtain credit for more than one of PSY 102, PSY 105, PSY 011.
PSY 108 Psychology: Applied Problem Solving Lect: 3 hrs. This course offers a general introduction to issues associated with effective thinking and problem solving. The focus is on procedures for identifying and solving problems, the role of memory in thinking, and methods of making decisions. Factors which affect thinking and problem solving, such as creativity and social influence, are also considered. (PR) Exclusion: PSY 308.
PSY 204 Psychology: Psychology of Work Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the psychology of organizational behaviour, emphasizing factors that affect how people interact in the workplace. Among the influences considered are com-munication, motivation, leadership, and stress. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 209.
PSY 208 Psychology: Psychology of Aging Lect: 3 hrs. This course introduces students to the basic theoretical models, research methods and current research findings in the psychology of aging and shows how these concepts can be applied to understanding and helping older adults. The course examines the normative age related changes in sensory/perceptual, psychomotor, cognitive, personality and social psychological process, the impact of these changes on older person’s behaviour, and factors that influence successful adaptation to later life changes. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 105 or PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent.
PSY 209 Psychology: Industrial Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. In this course, psychology is applied to history and problems of work, personnel selection and individual differences; training and evaluation; the role of motivation; and the structure, process and dynamics of organization. (PR) Exclusion: PSY 204.
PSY 217 Psychology: Environmental Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. This course provides an introduction to the concept of people-environment relations. It examines the effects and power of the everyday environment and the research strategies used to study these effects. Examples include: the effects of noise, pollution, and weather on behaviour, personal space and territoriality, and crowding and behaviour. (PR)
PSY 302 Psychology: Child Development Lect: 3 hrs. Students will be introduced to the methods, theories, findings and practical applications of child development. The focus is on describing the significant changes in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development and on explaining why these changes occur. There is an emphasis on the immediate contextual influences of families, peer groups, and schools as well as on the broader contextual influences of subculture, culture, and historical era. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent.
PSY 304 Psychology: Psychology of Gender Lect: 3 hrs. This course involves an examination and critique of psychological theory and research related to gender. Broad topics to be addressed include: gender development, stereotyping and gender roles, sexism, and the impact of gender on intimate relationships, achievement, and psychological and physical health. A key goal of the course is to foster an appreciation for how gender may be relevant to students’ working and personal lives. (LL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent.
PSY 308 Psychology: Psychology of Thinking Lect: 3 hrs. Thought is central to our functioning in coping with both the physical and the social environment. In this course the student will study the basis of human cognitive processes such as problem-solving, decision-making and planning. Research and theories of how individual and social factors affect the efficiency of these processes will be examined, and the consequences of poor thinking processes for the individual and for society will be considered. (LL) Exclusion: PSY 108.
PSY 402 Psychology: Adult Development Lect: 3 hrs. All of us hold beliefs about what it means to be an adult and what it means to grow old. In this course, students examine their beliefs in light of scientific evidence on adult development and aging. Theories and empirical findings related to changes in physical, cognitive, personality, and social processes are examined. Contextual influences of family, culture, and historical era are emphasized. A recurrent theme is the tremendous diversity and individual variability in aging. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 105 or PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 022.
PSY 504 Psychology: Social Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines how behaviour is shaped through interaction with others. Topics include social perception, attitude formation and change, prejudice, conformity, persuasion, aggression, co-operation and group dynamics. These topics are explored from a cross-cultural as well as a North American perspective. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 024.
PSY 505 Psychology: Personality Theory Lect: 3 hrs. At present, a number of major perspectives co-exist as alternative approaches to the understanding of personality. Theorists representative of each will be discussed in detail. This course is equivalent to the first half of PSY 036. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent.
PSY 602 Psychology: Developmental Psychopathology Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines psychological disorders in children and adolescents, taking into account the developmental context in which such disorders occur. Topics may include classi-fication and assessment, anxiety disorders, depression, conduct disorders, attention deficit disorder, autism, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 105 or PSY 102 or equivalent and PSY 302 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 032 or equivalent.
PSY 604 Psychology: Issues in Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. This course involves an in-depth examination of a specific area in psychology. Topics vary from year to year and have included the psychology of aging, and the causes of aggression and criminal behaviour. Students may contact the department to enquire about the current subject matter. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent.
PSY 605 Psychology: Psychology of Health and Health Care Lect: 3 hrs. This course will offer insight into the psychological influences on health, with an emphasis on the application o psychological principles to health care delivery and disease prevention. Among the topics discussed are general health promotion, patient-practitioner interaction, stress, pain, and psychological issues in chronic and life-threatening illness. (UL) Prerequisites: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or equivalent.
PSY 606 Psychology: Abnormal Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. Clinical syndromes ranging from the mild patterns of personality pathology to the more severe disorders will be discussed. In addition, the techniques involved in psychodiagnosis and the types of therapy available will be examined. This course is equivalent to the second half of PSY 036. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent. Exclusions: PSY 036, PSY 040.
PSY 607 Psychology: Drugs and Human Behaviour Lect: 3 hrs. This course introduces students to the social, psychological and biological factors involved in the use and effects of psychoactive drugs and drug-taking behaviour. The course examines two aspects of drug use: addiction, and the drug treatment of mental disorders, and addresses current issues such as the use of designer and performance-enhancing drugs. Topics range from historical, social, and cultural aspects of psychoactive drug use, to neurobiology and pharmacology underlying drugs and drug use. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent.
PSY 614 Psychology: Psychology of Sport Lect: 3 hrs. This course aims to examine sport by focussing on the application of psychological theory and research to many of its aspects. Topics in this area include personality and the athlete, attention, anxiety and arousal, motivation and self confidence, social psychology of sport, psychobiology of sport and exercise, and intervention strategies. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent.
PSY 615 Psychology: The Psychology of Belief and Skepticism Lect: 3 hrs. This course takes a critical look at things people are willing to believe, and the psychological processes behind that belief. Basic belief (or “credibility”) factors such as humans’ information and cultural contexts, and source credibility are discussed. Many beliefs are discussed, including some alleged professional techniques such as therapeutic touch, subliminal persuasion, and hypnotic interviews in the treatment of illness, in business, and in the justice system, respectively. (UL)
PSY 620 Psychology: Psychology of Immi-gration Lect: 3 hrs. In this course we will examine the issue of immigration from the perspective of experiences of immigrants and receiving societies. Broad topics to be addressed include: (i) immigration trends and societal effects, (ii) acculturation, ethnic identity, and cultural conflict, (iii) causes, forms, and experiences of prejudice and discrimination against immigrants, and (iv) strategies for promoting acceptance of diversity (e.g., multiculturalism). Throughout, the Canadian context of immigration will be emphasized. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 105 or PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent.
PSY 621 Psychology: Psychology of Human Sexuality Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines contemporary knowledge and attitudes towards human sexuality. Multiple perspectives will be presented, including psychosocial, cross-cultural and psychobiological. Sexuality across the life span will be examined, including issues pertaining to: biological sexual differentiation, intimacy and communication, gender role development, varieties of sexual relationships and behaviour, contraception, procreative technologies, and sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 105 or PSY 102 or PSY 011 or equivalent.
PSY 706 Psychology: Models of Personal Growth Lect: 3 hrs. This course focuses on recognizing and realizing one’s potential for growth. Eastern concepts drawn from areas such as Zen Buddhism, Yoga and Hinduism, and Western concepts from areas such as Gestalt therapy, Jungian psychoanalysis and existential psychology will be considered. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent.
PSY 707 Psychology: Models of Stress and Adaptation Lect: 3 hrs. Every society produces stressors to which the members of that society must respond. In our society stress is commonplace, but the origins, effects and handling of stress are often poorly understood. Through the examination of psychological models of stress, this course seeks to make students aware of the stressors present in our society and of their own personal resources for adjustment and growth. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 805.
PSY 711 Psychology: Research Methods: Computerized Applications Lect: 3 hrs. This is a course in research in the social and health sciences, introducing students to computer manipulation and handling of databases as well as qualitative and quantitative research concepts. Students will be taught to use a major social science research package for data entry and complex analyses. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 601.
PSY 713 Psychology: Psychology of Perception Lect: 3 hrs. The focus of this course is visual perception. The approach is traditional, beginning with historical and methodological considerations and proceeding with a study of various visual phenomena, such as the perception of patterns, colour, depth, motion and illusions. The emphasis is on presenting the latest findings and the theories, models and systems created to understand them. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 714.
PSY 714 Psychology: Visual Information Processing Lect: 3 hrs. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the latest findings and theories about how we organize and understand visual information. Knowledge about visual processing contributes immensely to the creative efforts of visual artists by providing them with information and perspectives on how we comprehend pattern, shape, brightness, colour, distance, size, motion, time and illusions. (PR) Exclusion: PSY 713.
PSY 802 Psychology: Death, Dying and Bereavement Lect: 3 hrs. This course presents a comprehensive review and critical analysis of empirical findings on death, dying and bereavement. There will be a discussion of research-based techniques for dealing with the problems and stresses encountered in helping the dying or grieving person to adjust. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 102 or PSY 105 or PSY 011 or equivalent.
PSY 805 Psychology: Adjustment, Stress and Coping Lect: 3 hrs. This course will offer insight into stress, its consequences, and what individuals can do to cope. There is a balance of theory and applied information, and although we will concentrate on psychological variables, physiological issues are also considered. Among the topics discussed: popular models of stress, sources of stress, the influence of cognitions and personality on one’s appraisal process, and strategies for successful stress management. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 105 or PSY 102 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 707.
PSY 806 Psychology: Behaviour Modification Lect: 3 hrs. This course is designed to provide students with a sound knowledge of behaviour theory and a set of skills essential to the behaviour modification process. Course requirements include completion of a project in which students design and implement a programme to modify some aspect of their own behaviour (e.g., smoking, over-eating, coping with interpersonal conflict). (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 102 or PSY 105 or PSY 011 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 206.
PSY 807 Psychology: Psychology of Prejudice Lect: 3 hrs. This course involves an examination and critique of psychological theory and research related to prejudice, discrimination, and intergroup relations. Broad topics to be addressed include: the causes of prejudice, contemporary manifestations of prejudice and discrimination, experiences of the targets of prejudice, and approaches to reducing prejudice and group inequality. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent.
PSY 808 Psychology: Community Psychology Lect: 3 hrs. In general, community psychology is concerned with the application of psychological principles to social issues such as child abuse, homelessness, school violence, racism, crime, and chemical dependency. This course will examine a number of topics related to community psychology including theories of community psychology, research methods, community mental health, prevention programs, the community practitioner as social change agent, and applications of community psychology to other settings and situations. (PR) Prerequisite: PSY 102 or PSY 105 or PSY 011 or equivalent.
PSY 813 Psychology: Psychology of Art and Creativity Lect: 3 hrs. We are both creators and perceivers of works of art. The psychology of creativity is concerned with the perceptual, cognitive, motivational, educational and cultural factors involved in original achievement. The psychology of aesthetics examines factors that produce judgments of artistic productions as ugly or beautiful, interesting or uninteresting, simple or complex. (UL) Prerequisite: PSY 011 or PSY 102 or PSY 105 or equivalent. Exclusion: PSY 814.
PSY 814 Psychology: Principles of Aesthetic Production Lect: 3 hrs. Aesthetic production involves both a creator and a product, and this course examines the dynamics of each. Students are introduced to personal and cultural forces that shape creative production and to the universal aesthetic principles that govern audience responses to aesthetic products. (PR) Exclusion: PSY 813.
PSY 920 Psychology: Pathology and Sciences of the Mind Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the development of psychology, psychiatry, and related disciplines from the Industrial Revolution to the present. The course traces changing conceptions of “insanity”, from demonic possession to mental disorders and abnormal behavior. Particular consideration will be given to treatment and theories related to psychoanalysis, behavioral psychology, and psychopharmacology, with a focus on the ways in which the “medical model” and drug treatments have influenced both research and public attitudes. (PR)
PSY 940 Psychology: Prejudice and Discrim-ination Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the origins and forms of prejudice and discrimination, the experiences of privilege and disadvantage, and strategies to reduce prejudice and discrimination. Throughout, the link between psychological processes and the social structure will be emphasized. A short placement in a community agency that is attempting to combat prejudice and/or discrimination will be included. Students will be required to participate in the agency’s efforts and to write a critical paper based on the experience. (PR)
PSY 941 Psychology: Cross Cultural Psych-ology Lect: 3 hrs. Cross-cultural psychology is the critical and comparative study of cultural effects on human psychology. This course examines the linkages between cultural norms and behaviour, and the ways in which particular human activities are influenced by different, sometimes dissimilar, social and cultural forces. Topics covered will include motivation, development, emotion, social perception and social interaction. Some applied aspects of cross-cultural psychology, such as prejudice and acculturative stress, will also be discussed. (PR)