PSYC 2002 - Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n Roll

Credits: 1
Hours/Week: Lecture 1 Lab None
Course Description: What is the biopsychology of desire? How does the brain regulate and influence experiences of motivation, emotion, reward, and pleasure? This course presents an introduction to the brain’s role in mental and behavioral processes that involve motivation, sex, drug addiction, music, and emotions. The focus is on how the brain and nervous system contribute to and influence psychological functioning, both normal and pathological, in ways that are related to cravings and desires, such as sex, motivation, music, and emotion.
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: PSYC 1020  

Major Content

1. Basic brain anatomy and physiology
2. Body motivations such as hunger and thirst
3. Drug addiction and chemical dependency: How psychoactive substances affect the brain
4. The biopsychology of emotion
5. The biopsychology of sex
6. The brain’s response to music

1. describe the basic foundations of brain anatomy and physiology.
2. identify the fundamental biological factors involved in homeostatic motivational systems such as thirst and hunger.
3. describe the basic bio-psychological principles of sexual differentiation, behavior, and response.
4. identify the fundamental areas of the brain that are sexually differentiated.
5. list several psychoactive drugs and describe their affects on brain functioning and physiology.
6. identify significant brain responses to the basic characteristics of music.
7. describe the brain pathways and anatomical areas related to emotions.

05. 02. Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.

05. 03. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

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