Underappreciated Ideas in the Social Sciences

Catalog description

Some great ideas change the world, others change the way you think about the world, and still others vanish into academic obscurity barely making an impact. This course is a treasure hunt for those hidden gems: the theories, frameworks, and findings that could fundamentally reshape how you think about people, groups, and societies but, for whatever reason, haven't hit the big time. We'll cover the quirky, the profound, and the counterintuitive, exploring theories of why societies collapse, why the world can feel worse even as it gets better, and why adding a new highway might actually increase traffic congestion. These aren't the buzzwords you'll hear in every psychology or decision science class—these are the ideas that fall through the cracks but might just blow your mind. Along the way, expect lively debates, a few "how-did-I-not-know-this?" moments, and a deeper appreciation for why humans are just so delightfully strange.