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Psychology

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU1207V Perception	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module is designed to introduce students to the field of human perception and the principles underlying perceptual processing within the main sensory systems. The approach of the module is based on cognitive neuroscience and will provide a foundation knowledge of the physiological structure of the main sensory organs and the associated brain structures, and also an overview of the functional properties of each of these sensory systems. Students will have knowledge of perception from low-level processing, such as stimulus detection, to more higher-level processing such as object or person recognition. The module aims to provide an integrated approach to the study of human perception from physiological, behavioural and neuropsychological research.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU1214V Foundations of Psychology	5	MT	None	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes To orient students to historical developments the field of psychology; to understand the strengths and limitations of different levels of analysis in psychology; to synthesize different levels of explanation in psychology; to encourage critical evaluation of the methods used to acquire psychological knowledge in order to understand the relationships between theories, observations, and conclusions and to critically analyse psychological knowledge within a wider socio-historical and intellectual context

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3476V The Psychology and Neuroscience of Spontaneous Thought	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes Mental experience is not always anchored to the present moment; instead, when the constraints of cognitive control are released, the mind is free to transition from one mental state to the next. Spontaneous thought encompasses a range of mental phenomena that are an intrinsic part of the human experience. These include mind-wandering, daydreams, vivid fantasy, inner speech, creative insights and the nightly manifestations of dreaming. There are also negative ramifications of an excessively wandering mind including distractibility in disorders of attention, obsessive thoughts in OCD, uncontrolled ruminations in depression, and disinhibited traumatic imagery in PTSD. This module will ask, what are these various unconstrained modes of thought? How are they generated and instantiated in the brain? Why does the mind and brain devote time and energy to generating these spontaneous mental states? Moreover, this course will consider how we can guard against unwarranted mind-wandering by reflecting on techniques such as meditation, mindfulness and their philosophical origins, and how altered states of consciousness can shed light on the content and dynamics of spontaneous thought.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3455V The Theory and Application of Behavioural Analysis	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes Much of psychology concerns itself with what is happening inside the head or brain. Behaviour Analysis, by contrast, insists that much of the explanation for behaviour, and the leverage to change it, can be found in the analysis of the context in which it develops and occurs. This option explores the theory of behaviour analysis, and the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and assesses their contribution to modern psychology.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3456V Human Factors and Organisational Factors	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes Human action is subject to influences at the levels of task, individual, team, organisation, industry and society. This module will: • Help the student to critically examine the interplay of these factors in determining the dimensions of human performance – safety, efficiency, reliability, sustainability. • Introduce students to the range of interventions that have been developed to enhance performance and help them to critically evaluate their effectiveness • Expose students to applied human factors research in a range of organisational and societal contexts • The module will draw heavily on ongoing research projects for its content and will give students hands-on experience of state of the art tools and methodologies.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3459V Neurological Rehabilitation	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module will cover approaches to meeting the needs of people with neurological disorders and progressive neurological diseases. As the production of purposeful goal directed movement pervades all aspects of behaviour, there will be a specific focus upon the physical, psychological and social consequences of movement dysfunction. The module will deal with the scientific principles underlying neurological rehabilitation, including motor control and learning. The student is also introduced to intervention strategies that are designed to maintain or re-establish functional capability, such as brain-computer interfaces, robot assisted therapy, deep brain stimulation and cortical stimulation.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3461V Making Sense of Action	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module will cover approaches to understanding perception and cognition, from the perspective that these functions can only be considered sensibly in an action context. Consideration will be given to exemplars drawn from various areas of psychology that serve to illustrate the role of movement in aspects of perception and cognition regarded traditionally as being independent of the means of effect. The module will deal with observations defined at the level of behaviour. It will also include evidence drawn from the neurosciences - concerning brain activity subserving perception, cognition and motor function that bears upon these issues. In addition, consideration will be given to some of the related philosophical questions that are raised. The student is also introduced to the possibility that intervention strategies thus informed, may be used to maintain or enhance cognitive performance.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3471V Case Studies in Neuropsychology	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes Case studies of patients with brain damage remain a critical part of cognitive neuropsychology’s methods for understanding the organisation of cognitive systems, and devising principled approaches to rehabilitation. In this topic, there is great scope for clinicians and researchers to inform and learn from one another with respect to the manifestation of clinical disorders, their potential causes, and paths to rehabilitation. Students are aware of famous patients with brain damage (e.g. Phineas Gage and patient H.M.) but this module will address lesser-known cases, who have nevertheless provided important insights into contemporary research problems across several domains including attention, memory, dysexecutive syndrome and disorders of meta-cognition and social-cognitive processing. This module aims to: 1) introduce the value of case studies in neuropsychology for dissociating mechanisms of human cognition and contributing to the development of theory. 2) highlight different methodological approaches that are employed to study patients with brain damage, and their advantages and limitations. 3) discuss the role of case studies in complementing other approaches in cognitive neuroscience, including imaging and electrophysiological studies. 4) explain the role of case studies in shaping novel approaches to neuropsychological rehabilitaiton

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU1212V Intro to the Psychology of Language	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module will introduce the study of the psychological and neurobiological factors that enable humans to acquire, use, and understand language. Modern psycholinguistic research makes use of biology, neuroscience, cognitive science, and information theory to study how the brain processes language. Topics covered will include the biological bases of language including methodologies used to study brain processes underlying language comprehension and use, the time course of linguistic processing, infant language acquisition, speech processing and production, developmental language disorders and aphasia.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3412V Advanced Psychology of Language	5	MT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the psychology of language: how it is stored, produced, understood and used, including the neural, social and cognitive bases of language; how the human brain supports production and comprehension of language; the structure and function of language; language acquisition and development, particularly in terms of its interrelatedness with cognitive and socio-cultural development; developmental and acquired language disorders.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU1206V Social Psychology	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module is designed to introduce students to the field of social psychology and the principles underlying group and individual interaction. It will present the historical and philosophical roots of social psychology in the context of the current state of the discipline. Students will be acquainted with debates and tensions between different schools within social psychology and to present critiques of the discipline. The module aims to present the richness, complexity and variety of human social behaviour and the discipline that studies it in a conceptually integrated way.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU1230V Personality and Individual Differences	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes In this course it is proposed to explore the main theories of personality and the most recent research relating to these theories. The structure and measurement of abilities will also be focussed on. Topic areas will include the psychoanalytic approach, trait approaches, social cognitive theory, learning theory, phenomenological and existential approaches, the structure of mental abilities and ability processes.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3479V The Psychology of Climate Crisis	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes Section One: How did we get here? 1. Big problem, small brains. Introduction; module overview; historical perspective; the science on where we are now; the challenge of appreciating a problem of this scale (space and time); evolutionary explanations; role of capitalism, drive to progress, money, and power, Maslow’s hierarchy [Clare Kelly] 2. Heuristics and Biases - psychological distance, anchoring, present bias, risk, probability etc. [Ruth Byrne/Shane Timmons] 3. Motivated Reasoning - how our beliefs are shaped by our attitudes; the gap between intentions/beliefs and behaviour. How our identity leads us to reject some evidence/experts and embrace others. Role of information sources and framing, expertise and the requirement for “balance” in the media (false equivalence) [Redmond O’Connell] 4. Terror Management Theory - a framework that explains the psychological mechanisms underlying the crisis and human inaction. [David Hevey] Section Two: What are the effects? 5. Health and well-being - The impact of climate catastrophe (i.e., floods, droughts, famine), nature/biodiversity-loss, and environmentally unfriendly behaviours (fossil fuel burning, inactive transport, sedentary life-stype) on human health and well-being. Climate change and mental health (efficacy, fatalism, etc.); managing climate anxiety. 6. The Global Health Perspective - Intersectional issues of the impacts (greatest impacts are on the poor, women, least polluting countries (per capita), etc.); climate-related forced migration; humanitarian response programming for climate-change related disasters [Frédérique Vallieres - Trinity Centre for Global Health] Section Three: What can we do? 7. A Systems Approach - leveraging an understanding of the human role at different levels of interconnecting systems – transport, energy, food, agriculture - to identify solutions and effect behaviour change. [Sam Cromie] 8. Behavioural Economics: the science, policy, and ethics of nudges [Clare Kelly and/or TBA Economist] 9. Morality, Emotion, and Story-Telling. Understanding Climate Action through moral and emotional lenses - Haidt, moral foundations etc. Priority of emotion over facts. Moralising environmental behaviors (How can we?), changing social norms - guilt vs shame. Instigating collective action (how to foster cooperation and collaboration). Use of emotion in science communication, does it help to scare people? Story-telling [Clare Kelly] 10. Policy. Using research on the Psychology of the Climate Crisis to effect policy change [Shane O’Mara] 11. Will Gen Z Save the World? The need for Climate Justice. Drivers of progressive societal change, inter-generational differences. The psychology of protest and civil disobedience. The psychology of disruptors and change-agents (Greta Thunberg, Jessie Margolin, Saoi O’Connor, and others). Radical hope, creativity, and imagination.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3418V Perceptual Neuroscience	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes The course will review important findings from research in neurophysiology and cognitive neuroscience on the structure and function of the visual, auditory and somatosensory cortices. Evidence from studies based on single unit recordings, multiple recordings, neuroimaging and behaviour from both human and comparative research will be discussed. The course will also review evidence for how the processing of sensory information in the brain leads to a coherent perception of the multisensory world. Recent psychophysical studies investigating how sensory information is combined will be reviewed along with significant advances in neuro-computational models proposed to explain these effects. The course will examine the phenomenology of perception and evaluate how illusions and synaesthesia provide insight into the conscious basis of perceptual processing in the brain.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3443V Development of Perception Throughout the Lifespan	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This course aims to provide an overview of the development of the main human sensory systems and related perceptual abilities from the moment of conception throughout the lifespan. The approach will be mainly from a neuroscience and behavioural perspective, with cortical development and consequent effects on behaviour analysed. The effect of genetic and environmental factors on sensory development will be discussed. The effects of ageing on sensory and perceptual decline will also be included.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3443V Development of Perception Throughout the Lifespan	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This course aims to provide an overview of the development of the main human sensory systems and related perceptual abilities from the moment of conception throughout the lifespan. The approach will be mainly from a neuroscience and behavioural perspective, with cortical development and consequent effects on behaviour analysed. The effect of genetic and environmental factors on sensory development will be discussed. The effects of ageing on sensory and perceptual decline will also be included.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3467V Child Health and Wellbeing	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module introduces students to the study of child health and wellbeing through the presentation and critical examination of some contemporary topics in the field. These topics are based around two key themes: (i) Risk and Resilience and (ii) Children’s Perspectives on Health & Illness. Lectures will provide a stimulating, interactive context in which to consider theoretical, research-based and applied perspectives from psychology and related disciplines.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3481V Global Mental Health	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module offers an introduction to global mental health from a critical perspective, with a particular focus on contextual constructions of mental illness, mental health programming in low resource and humanitarian settings, and for marginalised populations. The course covers global differences in definitions and incidence of psychiatric disorders, the validity and effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions, and the wider role of power and inequity in shaping national mental health policies and international guidelines. The course draws heavily on real examples from practice and research on psychological therapy, psychosocial support, and policy.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3482V Workplace Wellbeing	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes · Introduction to organisational psychology and wellbeing (brief history) · Definition and understanding of models and constructs of wellbeing. · The importance of workplace wellbeing for both the organisation and the individual employee, a psychological perspective · Organisational process and procedures that enhance wellbeing · Leadership styles and wellbeing · Vertical and horizontal organisational communication and its impact on wellbeing · Theoretical overlap of Social psychology and organisational psychology in wellbeing theory · Organisational culture and wellbeing · Social norms within the organisational culture that enhance wellbeing · Individual psychology and wellbeing · Measurements of employee wellbeing

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3477V Traffic Psychology	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes This module aims to give an overview of the insight psychology can give us to the antecedents of how individuals behave while engaging with traffic. From the vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and those who ride power-two-wheelers) to the professional driver; all make decisions which are then acted upon within a road environment. Most of these decisions and subsequent actions are safe but many are not with serious consequences. As an applied discipline, Traffic Psychologists we can apply many of the lessons from the five areas of psychology to making travelling by road much safer thus reducing the number of fatalities or serious injuries which occur every year on our roads. This module will highlight how basic psychological principles can help explain difficulties that emerge in road use.

Module Code and Module Name	ECTs credits	Semester	Prerequisite Subjects	Assessment	Contact
PSU3478V Debates in Developmental Psychology	5	HT	Intro to Psychology or equivalent	Exam	Erin Paullin

Course Description and Learning Outcomes Developmental psychology is the scientific study of age‐related change and consistency across the spectrum of human growth. This module aims to build upon the knowledge base students received during their Freshman years and provide a stimulating context in which to introduce them to a number of important issues that are debated in the field. Some of these issues are long-standing, some more current. The focus will be on presenting the key elements of each perspective under scrutiny and then inviting students to critically review, examine and evaluate the available information.