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Course Info for PSYC - 402 - 01, Spring 2024
Class number: 2645 Title: Sr Sem: Psychology of Morality Department: Psychology
Career: Undergraduate Component: Seminar Session: Regular
Instructor's Permission Required: Yes Grading Basis: Regular Units: 1.00
Enrollment limited to 15 Current enrollment: 9 Available seats: 6
Start date: Monday, January 22, 2024 End date: Friday, May 10, 2024 Mode of Instruction: In Person
Schedule: TR: 9:25AM-10:40AM, MC - 313 Instructor(s): Outten, Robert
Prerequisite(s): This course is open only to senior Psychology majors.
Distribution Requirement: Meets Social Sciences Requirement
Course Description:
For centuries philosophers and scientists have been fascinated by people's ability to make moral judgments. This course will examine psychological processes that shape humans' moral judgments and decision-making. We will integrate research from social, political, cognitive and developmental psychology, as well as neuroscience, sociology and philosophy. In this class we will attempt to address questions like: What motivates us to be moral? Why do we sometimes fail to act morally? Under what conditions are we morally responsible for our actions? Do emotions help or hinder us from acting morally? Some topics include character, taboos, moral reasoning, the attribution of moral responsibility, social dilemmas, lying, cheating and altruism. We will also discuss morality as it relates to religion, politics, intergroup conflict, health, and the legal system.