• Introduction to Psychology

  Prof. Gilad Hirschberger

  This class will provide a broad overview of the field of psychology and will place emphasis on psychology as a scientific discipline. Over the semester we will learn about the different subfields of psychology and about the current questions and debates that are concerning psychologists today. We will also discuss the different ways to apply psychological knowledge outside of the lab.
• Psychology and Neuroscience: An Interdisciplinary Approach

  Dr. Limor Shtoots

  This course provides a vital introduction to the connection between brain and mind. We will learn about the life of the cell, and the structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the neuron. We will then survey the architecture of the brain and nervous system, and learn about the neurotransmitter and hormone chemicals required for its operation (as well as those that alter it…). Along the way, we will learn about the techniques used to study the brain, such as event related potentials and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
• Probability

  Dr. Lior Galili

  The course covers basic concepts in probability theory, and is designed to provide the students with the theoretical background for future statistics courses.
• Philosophy of Science

  Dr. Ori Rotlevy

  In this course, we will discuss basic themes in the philosophy of science. We will try to understand science by examining issues such as the distinction between reality and appearance, the rationality of the scientific activity, method and explanation, the problem of demarcation, and the relations between science, morality, and society. We will study these issues by considering the writing and positions of central thinkers in the history of the western philosophy, from the pre-Socratic philosophers of nature to the 20th and 21st century philosophers of science.
• Developmental Psychology

  Dr. Rachel-Shlomit Brezis

  The objective of this course is to introduce the student with the field of developmental psychology, while presenting key issues pertaining to nature versus nurture, critical and sensitive stages of development and culturally sensitive versus universal characteristics of development. The course will describe the main research methods in the field (e.g. observation, longitudinal research, laboratory experimental psychology), and the main theoretical perspectives in the field (e.g. Piaget, Bowlby, Erikson, Kohlberg, Mahler). The course will focus on development from the fetus through infancy, childhood and adolescence, while discussing cognitive, social and emotional domains of development. In addition, the course will introduce physiological, familial and social factors that may facilitate or pose risk in shaping developmental trajectories and outcomes. The lectures will be accompanied with guided reading of chapters from the Developmental Psychology text book.
• Social Psychology

  Dr. Michal Reifen Tagar

  Social Psychology is the scientific study of individuals’ thoughts, emotions and behavior in different social contexts such as dyads, groups and organizations. Students in this course will be presented with the central streams of research in social psychology, classic theories and the main research methods on this field.
• Cognitive Processes A: Sensation & Perception

  Prof. Daniel A. Levy

  The foundation of all thought, behavior, and emotion is our interaction with the world through our senses. We will begin our cognitive journey by exploring the capacities and limitations of our chemical senses - smell and taste. From there we will proceed to study human vision, the most vital of senses. We will discover the brain bases of our visual perceptual abilities, and find out what happens when neural injury, illness, or improper development impairs those functions. Through illusions, demonstrations, and simple experiments, we will delve into the world of sight: the structure of the eye; the early stages of visual perception; shape, color and motion; seeing objects, faces, & places; vision for action; visual imagery; synesthesia; and the dynamics of perceptual learning. We will then turn to the world of sound and hearing, and investigate how we perceive environments, speech, and music. We’ll conclude with an exploration of psychophysics and the common priciples of all sensation and perception.
• Statistics

  Dr. Michal Kanat-Maymon

  The purpose of the course is to equip students with basic knowledge in Statistics which will allow them to critically read and understand research reports based on statistical analyses, and enable them to conduct simple statistical analyses. The course will focus on Descriptive Statistics – methods and statistical indexes aimed at describing types of variables, data distribution, and associations between two variables.
• School Seminar and Positive Psychology

  Dr. Michal Reifen Tagar

  What do psychologists do? And how can I do it too? The goal of this seminar is threefold: first, to expose first year students to the diversity of psychological research and to the way researchers think and go about their work; second, to introduce students to Reichman University psychology faculty and their research programs; and third, to provide a platform to learn and reflect on tools and trajectories towards a career in psychology.

• Brain, Cognition & Emotion

  Dr. Limor Shtoots

  This course builds on the material we studied in Biological Basis of Behavior. We will begin with an overview of human genetics – the foundations of what we become in life. This leads us into an overview of the biology of development, from the moment of conception until old age. The second part of the course explores the biological foundations of emotions and of personality, and provides the biological background for understanding psychopathology. This will hopefully lead us to a better appreciation of the fine line between normalcy (if there is such a thing…) and insanity.
• Theories of Personality

  Dr. Sharon Riwkes

  The course will cover personality theories from various disciplines, and will relate to research and applied aspects. The personality of the person will be presented from the perspective of psychoanalytic theory, from Freud onwards in the object relations theory. Personality theories from the field of self-psychology, Interpersonal psychology and attachment, will also be presented, along with humanistic and existentialist psychology, attribute theory, and cognitive, behavioral, and biological approaches to personality.
• Cognitive Processes B: Attention & Language

  Prof. Daniel A. Levy

  This course will explore the worlds of language, attention, knowledge and intelligence, and cognition across the lifespan, and attempt to understand the brain bases of those functions. We will consider the organization of knowledge in the mind, including categorical knowledge and the lexicon. We will try to understand the processes of understanding language, producing speech, reading, and writing. We will also get acquainted with cognitive and neuropsychological disorders such as ADHD, hemispatial neglect, aphasia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, and how they might be treated. Other questions to be discussed: What is required for us to multi-task? What is intelligence? Are there really gender differences in cognition?
• Multivariate Statistics

  Dr. Maya Lecker

  This course is designed to develop skills for advanced data analysis. The goal is to provide you with theoretical understanding of different techniques and with practical tools for conducting statistical analysis in psychology. You will participate in weekly recitation sessions (mandatory attendance), in which lecture materials will be reviewed and practiced, and training with the SPSS statistical software will be provided. Multivariate Statistics A will focus with analysis using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) model.
• Introduction to Psychotherapy

  Dr. Eve Lishner Freud

  This is an introductory course in clinical psychology and psychotherapy. The Primary goal of this course is to introduce students to the work of the clinical psychologist and to primary therapeutic approaches in clinical psychology: a) the psychoanalytic-psychodynamic approach, b) the cognitive-behavioral approach, c) the family systems approach. For each one of the three therapeutic approaches, we will go over the underlying theoretical assumptions, how the approach conceptualizes the causes of psychological disorder, how the approach conceptualizes the change process, and the therapeutic techniques used in each approach.
• Research Methods & Experimental Laboratory

  Dr. Karin Zohar Cohen

  This course is an introduction to the methods and tools of psychology as a science. You will be provided with the basic principles, theoretical and practical, of research methods in psychology. Topics covered include the scientific perspective in psychology, hypotheses construction and testing, operationalization of theoretical constructs, research designs, measurement tools, data collection techniques and ethical considerations in psychological research. You will also participate in an experimental laboratory in which you will develop, design, run, analyze and report independent research.
• Psychology and Social Change

  Dr. Uri Lifshin

  The course we will explore ways in which psychology can promote social change. The tools and the professional knowledge of psychologists make them key players in social change. The course will examine how psychological theories and research can be applied to help advance social change at the theoretical and practical levels.
• Organizational Psychology

  Dr. Osnat Bouskila-Yam

  This course will provide an overview of basic topics in Organizational Psychology – the study of human behavior in organizations. In this course, we will explore individuals’ behavior in organizations on an individual, group, and organizational levels. We will learn the basic theories and concepts in the field and implement them in class, assignments and exams. In the course we will discuss different theories and empirical findings regarding employees' motivation for work, individual differences and their influence on job selection and performance, leadership processes in organizations, work in groups and teams, organizational culture and other issues confronted by employees, managers and consultants at the workplace today. This course will enhance students’ understanding of the world of business and related career concerns.
• Cognitive Processes C: Memory & Reasoning

  Prof. Daniel A. Levy

  Cognitive Processes C will deal with the worlds of memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. We will learn about the multiple memory systems of the brain, the differences between long- and short-term memory, how we form new memories (encoding), what happens to memories until we retrieve them (consolidation and storage), and how we remember (retrieval) and why we forget. We will also learn about forms of memory that can be unconscious, such as conditioning, procedural learning, and priming, and explore what cellular and molecular processes are necessary for memory. We will also consider the processes by which we solve problems, assess the worth of items and experiences that we might acquire or lose (valuation), how we decide between possible course of action and item choices (decision-making), and how the brain mechanisms involved in those processes affect how we interact with others (social cognitive neuroscience).

Core Courses

• Abnormal Psychology

  Dr. Joshua M. Weiss

  The first part of this yearlong course, Semester A will provide students with an introduction to the field of abnormal psychology. Students will first explore this subject through historical, socio-cultural, as well as biological contexts. Students will then study the etiology of symptoms, learn about classification and assessment of psychopathology, and explore the associations between maladaptive behaviors, diagnoses, and treatment approaches. This course will combine lectures, experiential activities, videos, and clinical case material.Students are expected to complete assigned readings prior to each class and preview the slides uploaded on Moodle. There will be in-class assignments, a mid-term presentation, and a final group project. In the second part of this yearlong course, Semester B, students will continue learning key elements in the field of abnormal psychology. Students will deepen their understanding of the historical, socio-cultural, as well as biological contexts. Students will expand their knowledge about classification and assessment of psychopathology, and about current psychological treatments. Similar to semester A, this semester’s course will be taught in an interactive manner, using a combination of lectures, experiential activities, videos, and clinical case material. In addition, students (in groups) will read a personal account of mental illness through a chosen memoir or biography, and will prepare a brief group class presentation which will be presented in class and submitted as powerpoint slides. Students are expected to complete assigned readings prior to each class and preview the slides uploaded on Moodle. There will be in-class assignments, a mid-term presentation, and a final group project.
• Psychological Skills & Field Experience

  Drs. Yasmin Fulder Heyd, Chantal Stern Azachi, and Efrat Salton Meir

  During the course, students will experience training and guidance in different settings of the different domains in the psychology field. Students will receive professional guidance from the place in which they will be assigned for their fieldwork, and will also receive additional personal and group training in the Reichman University. During the course the students will learn to recognize the psychological workplace environment in the field, will experience personal and professional processes that are involved in psychological work and will promote personal development of skills needed in psychological practice. The course is annual and will take place once a week, 3 weekly academic hours. Once a fortnight the course will be in a group format, and once in a fortnight in a personal training format. The group meetings will deal with different topics related to work experience and theoretical conceptualizations. The topics will be raised by both the professor and the students, by presenting a short presentation. In the personal training meetings, students will raise topics related to their fieldwork and personal experiences that they wish to process and analyze with the professor.
• Psychology, Culture and Society

  Dr. Yuval Benziman

  This course examines psychological processes in the broad social and cultural context. Students will be exposed to the central role of the cultural context in psychological processes. We will deal with relations between groups, relations between the group and its constituent individuals, and power-relations between groups. We will examine what defines a social-cultural norm and, accordingly, how the image of the "other" is shaped. We will see how a national narrative, a collective memory and an ethos of society are constructed, and how these shape our collective self-perception. We will focus on the complex relationship between culture that shapes social consciousness and society that shapes culture. In order to illustrate these issues, the students will become familiar with the main theories of psychology, society and culture, and at the same time will be exposed to concrete examples of these phenomena.

Theoretical Seminars One Semester: Choose One

• Developmentof Prosocial & Antisocial Behaviors

  Dr. Sarit Steinmetz

  Antisocial behaviors among children have long been recognized as one of the major problems with which children present, and families as well as educational systems - have to cope. Conceptualizing behavior problems as an expression of distress, in this seminar students will closely examine the various theories regarding the causes for the development and maintenance of behavior problems,using empirical data gathered over the past decades to integrate theories in a meaningful and original way. Students who chose to, can expand their theoretical research into ways in which prosocial behaviors can be promoted among children. Much emphasis will be given throughout the course on the priniples of writing, some of which will be done in individual meetings with each team of students.
• The Biological Basis of Interpersonal Empathy

  Dr. Yulia Golland

  This course explores the neural foundations of one of the most miraculous social abilities –to understand other people and share their emotional experiences. The last decade has seen an unprecedented wave of studies devoted to understanding the neural substrate of human social and empathic abilities. The objective of the course is to provide a comprehensive overview of the brain networks supporting different faces of human empathy, its developmental roots and its failures. At the end of the course students will submit a seminar paper in which they will choose a specific theoretical question, review the relevant research literature and discuss its consequences.
• Psycholinguistics, Emotions and Conflict Resolution

  Dr. Orly Idan

  The field of psycholinguistics is a specialized area combining psychology, linguistics and cognitive science. Psycholinguistics focuses on the mental representations and processes that underlie human language use; particularly, cognitive processes that make it possible to generate a grammatical and meaningful sentence, as well as processes that make it possible to understand utterances, words, and texts. Furthermore, the field examines how groups of people are able to interact in dialogue. Stemming from theories on the relationship between language and thought, the seminar will provide a broad overview of how language serves as a "window into human nature", focusing on the interface between language, emotions and conflict resolution. The relationship between language and our perceptions of reality will be discussed, with a particular emphasis on the role language has on inducing emotions and, perhaps, on determining our attitudes within the context of intergroup relations and intractable conflicts.

Research Seminars Two Semesters: Choose One

• Social Defense Theory

  Prof. Tsachi Ein-Dor

  Who would we trust when facing a dangerous situation? Social defense theory (SDT) proposed that the mere presence of people with different personality traits than us shall promote our survival. In this seminar we would examine SDT’s predictions using group- and person-level paradigms. Building on SDT’s theoretical background, students will work in pairs to develop original research projects including developing a proposal, running an empirical study, and writing a research paper.
• The Neurobiology of Attachment; Healthy and Pathological Processes

  Prof. Ruth Feldman

  The Neurobiology of Human Attachment in Health and Psychopathology The course will enable active involvement in research focusing on the neurobiological basis of human attachment. We will discuss the hormonal systems that underpin human affiliations: between parents and children, among spouses, and between close friends, particularly the oxytocin system. We will also address the brain networks that support attachment and the behavioral components that contribute to human attachment. The course will involve both formal lectures and hands-on participation in research on attachment in healthy populations and under conditions when bonding fails, such as maternal postpartum depression and parenting under high stress
• Avatar Psychology

  Dr. Beatrice Hasler

  Avatars are no longer science fiction. Today millions of people are spending a significant part of their lives as avatars (i.e., digital representations of themselves) in computer games and virtual worlds. Researchers have recently begun to use avatars as a psychological research tool to simulate and study human social behavior. Avatars enable us to experimentally manipulate and measure a range of psychological variables while providing a high level of experimental control and ecological realism. This seminar provides an introduction to the psychology of avatars from a theoretical and empirical perspective, and illustrates how this new research paradigm can overcome limitations of traditional research methods. In Semester B, the students will conduct a guided research project using virtual reality technologies.
• Existential Social Psychology

  Dr. Uri Lifshin

  We will focus on the broad and extended framework of terror management theory (TMT; Greenberg, Pyszczynski, & Solomon 1986) and on other related theories focused on the motivation to minimize anxiety. According to TMT much of human behavior is aimed at reducing the potentially anxiety provoking awareness of our mortality. This theory has been applied to illuminate a very broad spectrum of human social behavior including: the psychological function of self-esteem, cultural worldviews, religion, intergroup conflicts, prejudice, close relationships, sexuality, attitudes towards nature, political psychology, and health related decisions. It may also be used to better understand various psychological disorders related to anxiety. This year we will also present in this class the novel motivated helplessness hypothesis, according to which, helplessness against threats in specific domains can serve an anxiety-buffering function, and protect people from experiencing fear, anxiety, guilt, or threats to self-esteem. This hypothesis may be used to further understand the psychological function of helplessness and how it might relate to human behavior in various contexts including threat management, psychopathology, and social change. Together we will develop and test new and diverse lines of research in this extended framework. We will also specifically address the COVID-19 pandemic on human psychology from an existential-social psychological perspective.

Elective Courses One Semester: Choose Four

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy

  Dr. Alexandra Klein Rafaeli

  Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a short term, evidence-based treatment approach, which has shown benefits in treating depression as well as other mental health conditions. IPT focuses on the patient’s current life events, including social and interpersonal functioning, to understand and treat maladaptive symptoms. This course will give students an opportunity to learn about the theory, research and practice of IPT for adults, and IPT for adolescents (IPT-A). We will learn the original IPT manual, along with more recent adaptations for other disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders). In addition, we will review other IPT formats (group, prevention, brief triage, and community based interventions). Classes will include examples of the approach through case presentations and videotape segments, and students will have the chance to participate in experiential exercises in order to deepen their understanding of the approach. By the end of this course, students will have wider knowledge of IPT, including its theoretical roots and treatment phases. They will also gain experience in implementing core IPT techniques such as conducting an interpersonal inventory, identifying an interpersonal problem area, and working with the client to address problematic relationships. Course requirements will include a class presentation and paper.
• Mindfulness – a scientific and experiential approach

  Ms. Orit Reem

  This elective course combines a theoretical and experiential study of mindfulness and an introduction to mindfulness based interventions in psychology. The aim of the course is: A) Introduce students to the history and roots of mindfulness practice and the ways it was adapted in the West, as well as learning about research evidence of its benefits and proposed mechanisms of action. B) Introduction to mindfulness based interventions – MBSR, MBCT, DBT, ACT. C) Enable students to cultivate a richer understanding of mindfulness practice based on their own experience. The workshop is based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) protocol developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn and will allow students to learn first-hand about this mindfulness-based program. Course requirements: As this is a workshop-course, attendance in all classes is mandatory. In addition to regular class requirements (reading papers and submitting a final paper), students are required to commit to a daily practice of 20 minutes a day, throughout the semester and weekly reflection. The course is limited to 25 participants. Students who cannot commit to full participation in the workshop (arriving to all classes and daily practice) will not be accepted to the course.
• Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Nexus of Biology, Psychology and Culture

  Dr. Rachel-Shlomit Brezis

  Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose global prevalence has been growing exponentially in recent years. The course will provide an introduction to the biological and psychological bases of autism, as well the ways in which autism varies cross-culturally. We will touch upon some of the heated debates surrounding autism causes and treatments, such as the neurodiversity movement and the future of autism treatments in adulthood. The course will provide students with critical skills to examine not just the known facts about autism, but the formation of these scientific ideas, and will encourage students to apply these skills to other mental and developmental disorders.
• Cognitive Aging

  Prof. Michal Schnaider Beeri

  This course will present the epidemiology of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, including risk factors and protective factors, as well as the cognitive functions affected by normal aging and dementia. In addition, the course will introduce the neuropathology of Alzheimer's and dementia and the pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies available for people at risk
• Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy

  Prof. Dani Hamiel

  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that is effective for a variety of conditions including mood, anxiety, personality, and eating disorders. In this course we will review the main principles of the cognitive behavioral theory and demonstrate its applications in a variety of therapeutic interventions. There is a well-known misunderstanding regarding the depth of the change created by CBT. The course will demonstrate the potent effectivity and the wide applicability of the cognitive behavioral model through methods of interventions of the 2nd and 3rd waves of CBT. The course is not only theoretical but also practical in its nature, so it demands an active involvement of the student in applying the cognitive behavioral material in clinical therapeutic protocols and in personal life. Students will be directed to practice and exercise the cognitive behavioral methods in their own life thus implementing the theoretical knowledge and exploring real life effectivity. Course demands: 1)Groups of students will present a CBT treatment for a chosen mental disorder (30% of final grade). 2)Weekly short tasks of practicing CBT methods in personal life (70% of final grade).
• Introduction to Art Therapy

  Dr. Biri Rottenberg

  Creative art therapies as clinical playground - This course presents students with an overview of the psychological aspects of creative art therapies as a distinct therapeutic practice such as art therapy, bibliotherapy and music therapy. In addition, the course will provide students with the opportunity to explore and experience the theory and the practice of the creative clinical playground in class.

Interdisciplinary Studies Two Semesters: Choose One

• Psychology & Criminology

  Dr. Joshua M Weiss

  Arguably, there is no topic more interesting than studying crime and criminals. Criminology and the Psychology of Crime try to understand what is about our surroundings that encourages some people to embark on illegal endeavors and what is it in ourselves that can promote rebelliousness, impulsiveness or the violation of other people rights. We will study how society tries to control behavior that is unacceptable or harms others via policing and punishment, treatment and rehabilitation. The three major disciplines that compose Criminology are Sociology, Law and Psychology. We will be studying these three disciplines as they relate to crime and to criminals. This course will integrate theory and research together with field trips and learning via observation. This course requires the following: Attendence (Required!), semesterial exams, a short oral presentation and a final paper.
• Neuroscience and Biology

  Dr. Noa Albelda, Dr. Limor Shtoots

  This course is aimed at students interested in advanced degrees in neuroscience out of an interest in academic research. Its purpose is to expose students to the theoretical and practical aspects of an academic researcher with an emphasis on researchers in the field of neuroscience. During the course the students will get acquainted with contemporary research topics in biology and neuroscience, with relevant research methods in animals and humans and with the work of leading Israeli neuroscientists. They will also visit research laboratories and institutes
• Communications

  Choose four of these courses offered in the Sami Ofer School of Communications

  • Love and Couplehood in Popular Culture - Dr. Shiri Reznik
  • Family On Television: Identity, Gender, And the Other - Prof. Tal Azran
  • Digital Marketing Dr. Zack Hayat Media Audiences: Uses, Interpretation and Influence - Dr. Keren Tzur-Eyal
  • Culture & Identity in a Visual Media Environment - Dr. Assaf Lev
  • Health Communication: PR Strategies of Pharmaceutical Companies - Dr. Yaffa Shir-Raz
• Entrepreneurship

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