Oh wait, it's terrible news. Looks like my computer has a bit of malware at the moment. I'd prefer to fix it before I allow it to connect to the internet again, but that means today's lecture will be delayed until later tonight or even in to tomorrow. I have the slides in an email somewhere, so I'll upload those for you to review when I get a chance. Sorry guys, but I'm sure you all know how it is. You gotta take care of malware ASAP.

Hey guys,

This lecture is about how other people influence our actions and beliefs.

Lecture

Slides

Stanford Prison Experiment

Milgram study

Hey guys,

Today's lecture focuses on motivation (competing theories to explain, as well as examination of sexual motivation).

Lecture

Slides

Let me know if you have any questions!

Hey guys,

Today's lecture is all about storage. What happens to it once it's been encoded into the brain. We look at a few different types of memory.

Lecture

Slides

Discussion question:

Think about this lecture and the past. What are the many different ways we can categorize memory? Are these distinctions important or unnecessary? Why?

Hey guys.

Today's lecture focuses on the classes of drugs, addiction, and motivating factors for drug use.

Lecture

Slides

Questions: Do you think the hallucinogen category should be broken into two categories?

Given the recent legislative changes in Colorado and Washington State, what would you predict to be the outcome regarding usage of both marijuana and harder drugs?

Also, for your enjoyment: animals totally love to do drugs

Hey guys,

Today's lecture focuses on the factors which impact scores on a standard IQ test which measures the general intelligence. We discuss some racial and gender differences in scores and examine what possible causes might be behind the differences.

Lecture

Slides

Questions to consider:

If you had or have children, what would you do to encourage them to perform at their absolute best? Try to include information from past lessons.

At your present age, do you think you could realistically change your IQ score? If so, how? Also, why or why not?

Hey guys,

Here is everything you need for today's lecture:

Lecture

Slides

Attention video I ask you to watch in the lecture- 1 min

Discussion questions:

Discuss a memory from your past you later learned was erroneous. Which stage (encoding, storage, retrieval) do you think led to the error? How?

Consider the (super awesome) video I linked you to. How does attentional awareness impact the formation of new memories? Cite an example.

Hi all,

I apologize, but I am not as forthcoming about my identity as Comicspedia is. I've deleted my credentials.

Hey guys, I had a meeting run long today, and I'm currently stuck in traffic. I will post as soon I get home. Sorry guys.

Hey guys,

Thanks for understanding my missed week! I had a nasty cold but I'm mostly back to normal. To make up for the missed lectures, we're skipping "thinking" and moving into Intelligence. If you want the lecture slides for thinking, let me know and I'll get them to you.

EDIT: As requested, here are the thinking slides.

Lecture

Slides

Hey guys,

Today's lecture is kind of intense. It's on memory retrieval and what happens when we forget as well as how to combat forgetting.

Lecture

Slides

Elizabeth Loftus on Memory Construction

No discussion questions today. This is a complex lecture, so instead, please ask me questions.

Hey guys,

Today's lecture focuses on the first stage of memory formation: encoding.

Lecture

Slides

Discussion questions:

Would chunking or hierarchical organization be better for remembering complex information? Why?

Give examples of automatic and effortful processing.

Take a look at my questions above. What memory effect is in place here?

Hello guys.

If you weren't aware, I live in the DC metro area. We are bracing for full impact from Hurricane Sandy within the next two hours. I have not recorded tomorrows lecture and do not expect to be able to before the power goes out. There is no telling if power will go out, and if it does, how long it will be out. As such, I cannot determine the direct impact of the storm on this class. Once the storm has passed, I will reassess the schedule and make arrangements where necessary. I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. Be safe and have a great week!

Here's the video lecture:

YouTube link

The PowerPoint is currently converting on Slideshare. I will edit this to include the slides once it's done.

EDIT: Sorry for the delay with getting the slides up. Slideshare gives me a file conversion error quite frequently, finally got it to work: Slides

Second lecture discussion thread for those who are on now.

Hey gang, here's my first attempt at posting a virtual lecture, hope you find it informative!

Research Methods Video

Slideshow via Slideshare

Discuss this topic here

Hey guys,

Today's lecture is on classical conditioning.

Lecture here

Slides here

Discussion questions:

Come up with a classical conditioning example. Identify the UCS, the UCR, the CS, and the CR.

An asthmatic patient receives medication for her condition when needed. Later, on vacation,her inhaler is almost empty. A devious friend fills the inhaler with harmless saline solution, and the asthmatic individuals still obtains relief from the inhaler in the absence of the medicine. What has happened here?

Sounds like classical conditioning reduces our behaviors to thoughtless, rote actions as a result of stimuli. Do you agree? How might you support or counter that assertion?

EDIT: Sorry guys, video currently down. Looks like NBC made a copyright claim (had a short clip from "The Office"), so I am removed that clip and resubmitted. Although NBC blows for being so hardcore about this, I do suggest you watch the clip. If you have Netflix, it's the first minute of the episode titled "Phylis' wedding." Thanks for understanding, guys.

Hey guys,

Lecture Six Video

Lecture Slides

Video about sodium potassium pumps

Discussion Questions:

What are the primary differences between neural impulses and hormones? What would be the evolutionary advantage of having both fast and slow methods of communication?

How might drugs impact the production of neurotransmitters in the brain?

Describe the difference between agonists and antagonists.

Hey guys,

Here's today's material.

Lecture

Slides

No discussion questions yet. Feel free to ask anything!

Hey guys,

Sorry for the delay, I live in the metro DC area and well, the Nationals had a ball game today and traffic was just atrocious. Anyway, here's today's materials:

Lecture

Slides

I'd like to do a little something with this discussion thread. We have had roughly the same number of upvotes for each lecture, and I assume that pretty much the same people are here each lecture. I'd love to get to know you all. Feel free to tell me a bit about you, or ask me anything. Also, if you have any questions about stress, now is a great time ;)

Discussion Thread for behavioral genetics and evolutionary psychology. Some questions to consider:

1. Give an example of a genetically influenced trait that could impact how others treat you.

2. What might be some pros and cons of genetic testing for behavioral traits (should such technology become available)?

3. How might you critique the perspective of evolutionary psychology?

4. Read and discuss the Clark and Hatfield Study

Hey guys, sorry for the late posting. Had a bit of an internet problem but after a friendly chat with Comcast, I am back online! Here are tonight's resources:

Lecture

Slides-PDF

SlideShare

Video on the Jim Twins

Clark and Hatfield Study

Discussion Thread

Lecture

Slides

Video about Phineas Gage

Discussion Questions:

Discuss the brain's plasticity following injury.

What might be some consequences of splitting the brain?

Explain localization of function and contrast that with known examples of associated areas of the brain working in concert (not just the example I gave! Use those google-skills

Hey guys,

Today's lecture is on infant and child development. Next lecture will cover adolescence.

Lecture

Slides

Discussion Questions:

How might you criticize Piaget's theory of development through the four stages he outlined?

What is a schema? Give examples of assimilation and accommodation.

How might attachment style influence your future relationships?

How old were you at your earliest memory? If younger than 3, why do you think you remember it?