Body Talk: The Psychology of Nonverbal Behavior
PSY 1042
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
What can we learn about another person by observing their nonverbal behavior? Are “vibes” real? Does the body offer insights into who someone is, what they want, or how they really feel? In this seminar, we will learn about nonverbal behavior as it is studied in psychological science, considering when, why, and how psychologists measure the moving body in their efforts to understand the mind. We will explore how nonverbal behavior contributes to psychological research on topics that range from inferring what babies understand about the world to how much someone aligns with their conversation partner to the judgements we make about others in an instant. Throughout the semester we will grapple with the fact that our nonverbal behavior is generally produced and interpreted automatically yet may influence others more than our intentional behaviors, including our words.
Recommended Prep
The Psychology Department requires completion of Science of Living Systems 20 or Psychology 1 or the equivalent of introductory psychology (e.g. Psych AP=5 or IB =7 or Psyc S-1) and at least one foundational course from MCB/NEURO 80, PSY 11, PSY 14, PSY 15, PSY 16, or PSY 18 before enrolling in this course; or permission of instructor.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
