It is human nature to speculate about the causes of behavior. What causes genocide? What causes schizophrenia? What causes eating disorders? What causes one friend to be so faithful and another to be so fickle? What causes me to be so anxious? What psychology attempts to do is to move beyond speculation and common wisdom to provide objective information about the causes of these and other behaviors. Because psychology does not yet have complete answers to these questions, much of what psychology is about is developing techniques and conducting research to discover these answers. Students who major in psychology at Bates College will examine what we currently know about the influences on behavior that derive from biology (especially the brain), from individual psychological processes such as cognitions and emotions, and from our sociocultural surroundings. Students will also learn and utilize the various methodologies that psychologists use to uncover these influences. These methodologies include experiments, interviews, questionnaires, clinical case studies, and statistical analysis.
Requiring application of content, theory, and methodology, senior majors must complete a thesis project, which can take one of two forms. For an empirical research thesis, students conduct original research on an issue of theoretical or practical concern. Recent examples include examination of the effects of stress hormones on brain anatomy and memory, gender differences in attitudes about one's body, and children's memory for staged crimes. For a service-learning thesis, students work in a local school or agency, using their training in psychology to address social issues in an applied setting, as well as meeting in a weekly seminar with other seniors doing service-learning. Recent examples include working in a group home for at-risk youth, helping an elementary school evaluate its mentoring program, and interning with an agency that provides expressive therapy in the local community.
We have excellent facilities to support student research projects. In addition to various types of research equipment, including several animal laboratories, we have a half-dozen rooms designated for student research. Included among these facilities are rooms with a one-way mirror used to observe children's behavior or small groups in action, video equipment to record observations, and approximately thirty microcomputers. We also have excellent relationships with local schools and social service agencies, enabling a variety of service-learning projects.
Advanced students who have particular interests not covered in our regular courses have an opportunity to do independent work. Interdisciplinary majors in fields such as child and family studies, for example, are also encouraged.
Most of our graduates eventually pursue advanced study in graduate, medical, or law schools at institutions that include Yale, Columbia, Harvard, University of Chicago, Minnesota, Stanford, and Cornell. Others work in education, mental health, social services, or business and consulting agencies.
Questions about the program may be directed to:
Kathryn Graff Low
Chair, Department of Psychology
Bates College
Lewiston, ME 04240
klow@bates.edu
phone: (207) 786-6186
