PSYC 2222 - Strange Superstitions, Beliefs, and Experiences

Prerequisite: PSYC 1111 or PSYC 1112 or SOCI 1113. This course explores the ways in which people perceive, believe in, and even experience extraordinary or impossible things. Our brains and our senses, our friends and associates, and even our culture itself can cause us to misperceive the world around us. These phenomena can range from false childhood memories and fantastic rumors of gang initiation rites, to outlandish conspiracies and even allegedly paranormal events. Some beliefs and experiences are fringe-deviant or even pathological in character-and require specialized explanation. However, many are actually very common, even normative, and explicable through ordinary processes. Students will learn how to identify these phenomena, how to investigate them critically, and how to explain them from a diverse array of psychological and social perspectives. Cross- listed with: SOCI 2222. 3 credits.