Mind and brain

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Learning outcomes

After completing this minor, students will have knowledge and understanding of:

• the broad discipline of Psychology, including evolutionary psychology, biopsychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, personality psychology and clinical psychology (all at an introductory level);

• the wide range of research methods that have been developed throughout history, which enable us to make a distinction between scientific psychology and intuitive understanding of human nature;

• the selective and intentional functions of attention in integrating separate items of incoming information to make a comprehensible and conscious whole; the way in which attention inhibits unwanted thoughts and actions, and limits our ability to engage in multi-tasking; and the way in which attention interacts with our emotions, cognitions and behaviour;

• how our consciousness works, from both a philosophical and a psychological perspective; this involves such questions as whether or not we have free will, how dreams and out-of-body experiences can be explained, and how drugs affect states of consciousness;

• the extent to which attention, consciousness and behaviour are controlled not only by rational considerations but also by emotions;

• the historical research perspectives from which answers are found to such questions as: How do reason and emotion influence each other? Are emotional choices always worse than rational choices?

• artificial intelligence, a specific application of knowledge about neurocognition; knowing how neurons work together in neural networks provides useful insights for the development of technology, robots and (neuro)prosthetics;

On the basis of exercises in understanding and applying this knowledge, students will learn to take a critical and analytical approach to issues in the area of social and organisational psychology drawn from everyday life, to collect information independently, to evaluate the validity of this information and to formulate proposals for further research with a more fundamental or more applied (solution-oriented) character. Students will be able to present these insights and analyses in written and/or oral form.

Maximum number of participants: 25 students

Due to the limited number of participants, students who apply for the full minor of 30 EC will be prioritised over students who apply for the 15 EC minor. Students who opt for the 15 EC minor will study the following courses:

• Introduction to Psychology

• Consciousness

• Artificial Intelligence and Neurocognition

Minor

The courses Artificial Intelligence and Neurocognition can only be followed upon completion of the course Introduction to Psychology. The courses Emotion and Cognition and Attention: Theory and Practice can only be followed upon completion of the courses Introduction to Psychology and Consciousness.