日本語

Course Code etc
Academic Year 2023
College College of Contemporary Psychology
Course Code HM776
Theme・Subtitle Cognitive and Evolutionary Psychological Approaches to Religion and Ritual
Class Format Face to face (all classes are face-to-face)
Class Format (Supplementary Items)
Campus
Campus Niiza
Semester Fall semester
DayPeriod・Room Wed.2・N236
Credit 2
Course Number PSY2931
Language English
Class Registration Method Course Code Registration
Grade (Year) Required 配当年次は開講学部のR Guideに掲載している科目表で確認してください。
prerequisite regulations
Acceptance of Other Colleges
course cancellation
Online Classes Subject to 60-Credit Upper Limit
Relationship with Degree Policy
Notes
Text Code HM776

【Course Objectives】

The goal of this seminar is to:
- Provide students with an overview of modern research on religion and ritual, especially from the perspective of cognitive psychology and evolutionary theory.
- Teach students how to critically evaluate research and compare theoretical approaches
- Improve students' abilities to discuss research and communicate opinions
- Introduce students to ongoing debates and new methodological standards

【Course Contents】

The seminar focuses on modern research on religion and ritual, particularly research that adopts an evolutionary or cognitive perspective. Although many people in Japan and in the West do not follow any specific religion, the majority of people across the world believe in and belong to religious groups. Furthermore, rituals are important in all societies and even non-religious people often hold some supernatural beliefs. This course examines religion and ritual as a cross-culturally recurrent social and psychological phenomenon and examines modern research that explores both the effects of religious belief and ritual participation.

Students are required to make a presentation (15-20 mins) on one selected topic during the course and will be required to submit short reaction papers for certain weeks. Classes throughout are a combination of lectures and group discussion segments. The course is conducted in English but the contents will be adjusted according to the level of the students. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the key theories on religion/ritual and have gained experience in discussing research critically and presenting their opinions.

※Please refer to Japanese Page for details including evaluations, textbooks and others.