Topics of contemporary interest that may vary from semester to semester.

Theoretical and methodological issues involved in trying to understand and measure personality.

A survey of the diverse roots of modern psychology, the competing schools that influenced psychology's development, and the perspectives that guide scholarship in present-day psychology.

Psychological research and theory on religious fundamentalism. Considers the nature of different forms of religious fundamentalism, and possible psychological mechanisms that motivate fundamentalism. Includes topics such as the development of fundamentalism, the movement from fundamentalism to terrorism, and fundamentalism and the family.

An exploration of the psychological processes involved in religion. Discusses seminal psychological theories of religion, such as the work of James, Freud, Jung, and Maslow. Discussion of empirical work includes topics such as the development of religion across the life span, religious experience, conversion, and the effects of religion on mental and physical health.

Delves into the relation between literature and psychological research. Addresses this relation in terms of character development, plot devices, and historical influences. Broadly explore why people are interested in reading literature that might be subjective or wholly fictional in nature. Explore the extent to which authors create characters that 'ring true' to what psychological science has learned about human nature and how this affects the reader's enjoyment of the literature.