In this course we will discuss conscious and unconscious mental processes. We will start by considering the nature of the unconscious mind and will examine evidence for the existence of unconscious processes in memory, problem solving, behavior in social settings, and our attitudes, beliefs, and opinions. We will then study the nature of consciousness from psychological and philosophical perspectives, with a focus on trying to answer the questions of: what is consciousness, what does consciousness do, and why does consciousness exist. For many of the issues we will discuss, there is no scientific consensus regarding the right answer or the most correct theory. Be prepared to think critically and to tolerate perplexity. (This is an Honors course.) Note: This course fulfills the Human Behavior (GB) requirement for students under GenEd and Individual & Society (IN) for students under Core.
Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed Psychology 0816.