Social Cognitive Psychology Honors

Course No: 5441
Subject: Social Science
Grade Level: 11, 12
Course Length: Semester
Course Type: Elective
UC/CSU Subject Approval: G
Prerequisite: Introduction to Ethnic Studies and Modern World History
Criteria for Enrollment: Student must apply to enroll. To be accepted, students must have demonstrated a history of academic achievement.

Social Cognitive Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes, information processing and group dynamics. Students will investigate how our brains let us “see” the world, how our perceptions depend on our current state of attention, and how memories can change over time. As we seek to better understand the human mind, we will discuss language abilities and the power of social influences. Students will look at mistakes that people make, from simple visual illusions to  errors in higher-level

decision-making, and will discuss how these “failures” provide unique insights into the mechanisms of human thinking and even mental disorders and their treatment.

The honors curriculum for this course will necessitate college-level psychological analysis as well as practical applications or experiences of authentic psychology research in action.

Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations