Psychology—as an academic discipline—has gotten somewhat of a bad rep, says Vernon Smith, who teaches several courses, including General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology.
Theres a lot of dry theoretical content to absorb, and psychology often doesnt lend itself to lab work and other hands-on activities, he says. But since arriving at BMCC last year, Smith has used in-class movies and videos, multimedia and other teaching tools while drawing on his own intellectual curiosity to convey the drama, excitement and relevance of psychology.
One of the points Smith emphasizes in Psych 100 (General Psychology) is that Psychology is indeed a science—one that incorporates rigorous, quantitative research methods and a growing battery of advance technology tools, such as neuro-imaging and PET scans, that provide an actual look at the human brain.
Peeking at brainwaves
As an undergraduate at Philadelphias Temple University, he recalls, I had the opportunity to spend time in a neuro-psych lab, where we could fiddle around with the electronic equipment and view brainwaves. He is hoping someday to replicate that experience at BMCC—most likely by adding an hour—and a credit—to the schools General Psychology course.
Students who have completed the General Psychology course can opt to enroll in Smiths Abnormal and Social Psychology courses, which place a heavy emphasis on writing, thinking, research and critical reading of assigned texts. This semester, Smiths Abnormal Psych classes included viewings of three films, including Swedish director Ingmar Bergmanns Persona, in which an actress retreats into a world of silence and, over time, merges personalities with the nurse who cares for her.
What we focus on is how Bergmanns cinematic style mirrors the inner experience of someone in psychological distress, Smith says. In a sense, the students become armchair psychologists—but I let them know there is right or wrong answer. All that matters is that they stretch their minds.
Casting off prejudices
Smith is particularly interested in the debate over what he calls the universality of psychology—a topic that he covers in General Psychology. The question I put to the students is whether the principles we study in the U.S. are applicable to psychological mechanisms and behaviors in other parts of the world, he says. That invariably leads to a discussion about the importance of replicating studies, taking a broader view of human behavior, and stepping out of an exclusively American context. Its a topic that seems to have special resonance at BMCC, with its highly diverse student body.
There are so many nationalities and cultures represented here, its inevitable that many students will be thinking about these very questions, Smith says. Fifty years ago, English and philosophy were the dominant college majors—you could take either one and move on to a career in virtually any field. Now psychology is rapidly becoming the most popular course of study. I think its because students understand that in the 21st century, as the world shrinks and we routinely connect with people from other cultures, its essential to have people skills and apply them in a way thats deep and meaningful, Smith says. Psychology provides a way to understand yourself—and your neighbors—better.
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Ummm... What school was this?
SwartAristocrat 2 years ago