Why Did I Register For This Course?

It was two months into the summer, and I was still enrolled in only three courses at Duke with plans of somehow trying to earn a degree in both neuroscience and psychology. Most of the open classes didn't seem interesting or couldn't quite be fit into my schedule. However, I came across this course and just had to enroll! I had already enrolled in Dr. Kevin LaBar's course on social behavior the semester before, and I was excited to learn more about the disciplines used to answer social behavior research questions! 

I had always thought I was going to medical school after my undergraduate education, but classes like the one aforementioned sparked my interest in pursuing a career in social psychology research. I found the social neuroscience research on autism spectrum disorders and the theory of "self" fascinating. In addition, I was intrigued to discover the physiological indicators in the brain for hidden biases and racial prejudices. I included an investigation by NBC’s Dateline describing the findings of this particular research that was discussed in class. Such research has sparked an ethical controversy about hidden biases and has instigated further research about whether or not prejudices can be eliminated in society. 


For this reason, I am eager to learn more about the methodologies used by social neuroscientists so that I may have a better idea of how they approach research questions in this field. In addition, I had always been interested in topics of social psychology and developmental psychology, and I am eager to learn about how these fields intersect with evolutionary anthropology and behavioral economics. 



Dateline NBC: Psychological Dispositions in Black & White