Psychology of Personal Security: Global and Local Perspectives

PSYCH 4525: Psychology of Personal Security: Global and Local Perspectives

An exploration into contemporary research into personal security; The science of how individual people respond to threat and risk – terror, famine, ostracism, and illness. Reading and discourse on psychological research into: terror management, attachment, fear, ignorance, extremism, and leadership. Each week will focus on a new topic explored in the field.

Prereq: 1100.

Credit Hours

Sample Topics:

Defining Security
Scales, Stress, Affect
Evaluating Risk
Cognitive Shortcuts & Errors
The Role of Perspective
Threats & Thought Reliance
Terror, Metacognition, & More
Insecurity & Leadership
Narcissism & System Justification
Defensiveness & Self-Esteem
Attachment, Ego Defense, & Terror
The Tripartite Security System
The Hyperactive Agent Detector; Embodied Cognition
Outsmarting Each Other
Consequences for the Ostracized
Fear & Extremism
& More!!

Meets the following Psychology Major Goals:

Knowledge Base in Psychology

Describe key concepts, principles, & overarching themes in psychology
Describe applications of psychology

Scientific Inquiry & Critical Thinking

Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena
Demonstrate psychology information literacy
Engage in innovative & integrative thinking & problem solving
Incorporate sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry

Ethical & Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science & practice
Build & enhance personal relationships
Adopt values that build community at local, national, & global levels

Communication

Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes
Interact effectively with others

Professional Development

Apply psychological content & skills to career goals
Exhibit self-efficacy & self-regulation
Refine project-management skills