Consciousness, Behaviour and Communication

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:6.00

Study Course Accepted:01.08.2024 13:14:46

Study Course Information
Course Code:		PMUPK_026		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Communication Sciences; Psychology and Ethics of Communication		Target Audience:		Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Artūrs Utināns
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 23 Kapseļu Street, pmpkrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67210989
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		5	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		10
Classes (count)		5	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		10
Total Contact Hours								20
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Analysis of communication situations.
Objective:
Acquire knowledge of behavioural sciences, consciousness and communication. Acquire critical thinking skills by evaluating different theories about human behaviour, psyche and interaction.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	An overview of human psyche and behavioral theories. I			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	An overview of human psyche and behavioral theories. II			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
3	Motivation for people, social communication systems. Mimetics and communication.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Apologist theories. Emotion functions. I			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
5	Apologist theories. Emotion functions. II			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
6	Morality. Critical thinking			Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	People's faith in the supernatural and paranormal. Magical thinking. I			Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	People's faith in the supernatural and paranormal. Magical thinking. II			Classes		1.00	auditorium
9	Changes in human personality, communication and thinking. I			Classes		1.00	auditorium
10	Changes in human personality, communication and thinking. II			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
• Video analysis and / or • Clinical case description and / or • Open questions at the beginning of the lesson and / or • Multiple choice test and / or • Preparation of a presentation on the topic of the lesson.
Assessment Criteria:
The exam grade is cumulative. It consists of: 1. Intermediate examination - 50%. At the choice of the lecturer: • Video analysis and / or • Clinical case description and / or • Open questions at the beginning of the lesson and / or • Multiple choice test and / or • Preparation of a presentation on the topic of the lesson. 2. Final exam (50%) - electronic, e-learning available or face-to-face multi-choice test on the topics covered within the course. It is possible to credit the automatic final test if the following criteria are met: -excellely passed mid-term examination; -100% attendance of classes and lectures; -active participation in discussions and role plays. OR A presentation on the topic of the cycle lesson has been prepared (literature review); (b) a clinical case; c) the latest research (according to the topic of the lesson).
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Students acquire knowledge of human consciousness, behaviour and communication, the role of essential emotions, motivational systems, social interactions, human character, emotions, awareness and thinking change opportunities.
Skills:		Students have a grasp of modern complex concepts of human behavioural sciences, psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry. Students acquire the skills to evaluate the scientific validity of different theories according to the principles of critical thinking.
Competencies:		Students are familiar with general theories of consciousness, behaviour and communication. Students are competent in the field of science and pseudoscience. Students know well the principles of scientific and critical thinking and distinguish between these types of thinking and the collection of non-scientific information.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Alcock, J.E., Otis, L.P. Critical thinking and belief in the paranormal. Psychological Reports, 1980; 46(2): 479-482.
2	Blackmore S. The Meme Machine. Oxford University Press, 1999.
3	Bloom P. Just babies : the origins of good and evil. Crown Publishers, New York, 2013.
4	Broom D.M. The Evolution of Morality and Religion. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
5	Buss D.M. The handbook of evolutionary psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005.
6	Facione P.A. Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction
7	Franks D.D., Turner J.H. Handbook of Neurosociology. Springer, 2013.
8	Schick Theodore. How to think about weird things: critical thinking for a new age. McGraw-Hill, 2005.
9	Utināns A. DNS, matrice un cilvēka uzvedība. Nacionālais apgāds, 2008.
Additional Reading
1	Armony J., Vuilleumier P. The Cambridge Handbook of Human Affective Neuroscience. Cambridge University Press, 2013.
2	Brodie, R. Virus of the mind. Integral Press, 1996.
3	Distin K. The Selfish Meme. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
4	Goode E. Paranormal Beliefs: A Sociological Introduction. Waveland Press, Inc. 2000.
5	Hamer D.H. The god gene: how faith is hardwired into our genes. New York: Doubleday, 2004.
6	Irwin H. J. The Psychology of Paranormal Belief. A Researcherˮs Handbook. Hertfortshire: University of Hertforshire Press, 2009.
7	Subbotsky E. Magic and the Mind: Mechanisms, Functions, and Development of Magical
8	Thinking and Behavior. Oxford University Press, 2010.
9	Utināns A. Cilvēka psihe. Tās darbība, funkcionēšanas traucējumi un ārstēšanas iespējas. Nacionālais apgāds, 2005.
10	Носырев И. Мастера иллюзий. Как идеи превращают нас в рабов. Форум, Неолит, 2013: 542 c.