PB400 Advances in Psychological and Behavioural Science

Giving first session in a new course for all MSc and upper UG students. Posting for network in particular alumni who might be interested and have suggestions. Course revives a format that existed in one form or another for a very long time, a general overview driven by faculty debates. Will be called Pb400 Advances in Psychological and Behavioural Science. Driven partly by areas of interest and concentration in Department. Moderated faculty discussions with interactive elements with students. Pre-readings and various ways to accumulate and disseminate interesting ideas throughout the term, with at least some eye on dissertations and career ideas. Students encouraged to engage across programmes. 

Will begin with "Overview and Debates in Psychological and Behavioural Science" namely a history of psychology and behavioural science at LSE in the context of the wider fields and the key questions addressed. Aim to welcome students into communities of knowledge and stimulate thinking about role of what we do. 

• Overview and debates in psychological and behavioural science
• The future and past of social psychology
• What makes a technology conversational? From conversation analysis to industry
• Can AI interpret? Artificial intelligence and large-scale qualitative research
• Between individual and system change: What is the role of psychology and the behavioural sciences in addressing climate change?
• Social influence: What do we know, and does it work?
• What is truly human? AI and the boundaries of authenticity
• Leadership for a sustainable future
• From nostalgia to utopia: A societal approach to imagining collective futures
• End-of-term review: Where next for psychological and behavioural science?

Alumni from pre-covid may remember and hopefully have good memories of a recent iteration of this course. In general, suggestions welcome for topics and themes likely to lead to a high desire for further exploration and inspiration for the time people spend here. We are clearly not trying to span everything. But to give sufficient sense of psychology and behavioural science as vast, dynamic, aspects of human creation intellectually and practically at heart of many evolving existential areas of concern for 21st century.