MATHEMATICS (TURKISH, PHD)
PhD TR-NQF-HE: Level 8 QF-EHEA: Third Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 8

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
PSY3052 Readings in Cognitive Psychology Fall 3 0 3 6
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester

Basic information

Language of instruction: En
Type of course: Departmental Elective
Course Level:
Mode of Delivery: E-Learning
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi HALE ÖGEL BALABAN
Course Objectives: As a biological capacity, the human mind appears to have evolved through natural processes. The human mind has many cognitive components, from perception and emotion to language and thinking, roots of which is in fact shared with other animals. Are they all products of natural selection, other evolutionary forces, or of no such forces at all?

The course brings an evolutionary perspective to some important topics in philosophy of mind and cognitive science and offers a multidisciplinary introduction to the emerging but rapidly developing field of evolutionary psychology. Throughout this course, students will
(1) explore the adaptive problems faced by early human populations (challenges related to disease, hunger, predators, romantic
relationships and mate choice, childcare, kinship, conflict, and war)
(2) investigate the potential psychological and cognitive mechanisms that evolved to cope with those challenges
(3) discuss in what ways these mechanisms may still affect human behavior in our modern-day lives.

Learning Outputs

The students who have succeeded in this course;
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Accurately discuss the core principles of evolution and the conceptual foundations of evolutionary psychology.
• Describe the most frequent misconceptions about an evolutionary approach to psychology, and explain how these misconceptions reflect an inaccurate understanding of evolutionary psychology.
• Understand the basic concepts and controversies in the field of evolutionary psychology.
• Summarize key research findings across content areas in psychology, from learning to mating to grandparenting, that point toward the heuristic value of looking at content areas within psychology through an evolutionary lens.
• Interpret and discuss the adaptive psychological mechanisms in various context.
• Explain, in cognitive psychological terms, what we mean when we say, “human nature.”

Course Content

1 Introduction & Course Mechanics, Read the Syllabus
2 Evolution & Behavior Lecture Videos
3 Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology
4 An Evolutionary Perspective on Attention and Perception
5 Emotions: Evolved Internal Regulatory Variables
6 Evolutionary Prepared Learning & Adaptive Memory
7 Evolved Irrationality: Decision Making Processes
8 Evolved Uniqueness: Personality, Language, and Culture
9 Midterm
10 Evolutionary Origins of Mental Disorders
11 An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Romantic Relationships I
12 An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Romantic Relationships II
13 Evolution of Human Social Affiliation: Family, Cooperation, and Altruism
14 Evolution of Human Social Conflict: Competition, Aggression, and Warfare



Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction & Course Mechanics
2) Evolution & Behavior
3) Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology
4) An Evolutionary Perspective on Attention and Perception
5) Emotions: Evolved Internal Regulatory Variables
6) Evolutionary Prepared Learning & Adaptive Memory
7) Evolved Irrationality: Decision-making Processes
8) Evolved Uniqueness: Personality, Language, and Culture
9) Midterm
10) Evolutionary Origins of Mental Disorders
11) An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Romantic Relationships I
12) An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Romantic Relationships II
13) Evolution of Human Social Affiliation: Family, Cooperation, and Altruism
14) Evolution of Human Social Conflict: Competition, Aggression, and Warfare

Sources

Course Notes: Students are not required to purchase a textbook for this course. The materials required for inclass discussions and homework assignments will be available on Itslearning. Nevertheless, I suggest the following books as complementary material for the lessons: • Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind, 6th Edition (David M. Buss) • Evolutionary Psychology, 3rd Edition (Lance Workman & Will Reader)
References: Reading supplemented with powerpoint slides.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 20
Laboratory 0 % 0
Application 0 % 0
Field Work 0 % 0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) 0 % 0
Quizzes 0 % 0
Homework Assignments 2 % 0
Presentation 0 % 0
Project 0 % 0
Seminar 0 % 0
Midterms 1 % 30
Preliminary Jury % 0
Final 1 % 50
Paper Submission % 0
Jury % 0
Bütünleme % 0
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 50
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 50
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 42
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship (Work Placement)
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 14 98
Presentations / Seminar
Project
Homework Assignments
Quizzes
Preliminary Jury
Midterms 1 1
Paper Submission
Jury
Final 1 2
Total Workload 143

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution