- Psychology of Bodies and Self

Catalog description

All humans have bodies -- it’s difficult to imagine human existence in the absence of a body. This class focuses on understanding how the properties of our bodies shape our identities. In other words: in what ways do our bodies make us who we are? This course will address the roles of skin, muscle, genitalia, DNA, fat, limbs, and brain in constructing our many identities. We will learn about philosophical, psychological, and theoretical perspectives on the relationship between bodies and identities. By focusing on bodies in transition (i.e. bodies that are intentionally or unintentionally changed), we will interrogate the question: when and how do the properties of our bodies impact our identities? We will also ask about the intersection of power, identities, and bodies in contemporary America: how do systems of power and oppression shape the ways that we view and psychologically study ourselves and our bodies? Given that there is systematic body-and identity-based oppression, what does justice look like from a practical, psychological, and scientific perspective?