Washington Center

Psychology for Public Policy

Credits: 
4
Day and Time: 
Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Quarter Dates: 
September 30 to December 9, 2015
Campus: 
UCDC
Category: 
Quarter Elective
Description: 

Many policies attempt to change human behavior (e.g. reducing drug use, terrorism, or racial bias; encouraging saving for retirement, recycling, or educational achievement).  To do that, policy makers need to understand the causes of human behaviors, and what types of interventions lead to attitude and behavioral changes.  This course covers basic concepts and findings from psychology and their application in policy development. Topics include bounded rationality, group dynamics, memory, judgment and decision making biases, behavioral economics, public opinion, social determinants of behavior, attitudes, psychological assessment, and incentive structures, all of which have implications for the design of policies that affect individual citizens as well as for the functioning of organizations that determine policy.

Taught by Professor Danny Oppenheimer

Syllabus:

Course ID: 
UCDC15201F15