2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences49:The Psychology of Relationships
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Lorinda Kiyama
- Class Format
- Lecture (HyFlex)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S511
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The purpose of the course is to familiarize students with major theories in counseling psychology and to be able to apply them.
Course description and aims
Students will be able to explain and use key interventions in counseling psychology for the improvement of human relationships.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
The instructor has a doctoral degree in counseling psychology and counsels students and people in the general public on a regular basis.
Keywords
human relationships, counseling psychology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
- Students will have opportunities to discuss topics related to human psychology in English and will practice alleviating relationship troubles using theories and practices from counseling psychology
Class flow
The class will be comprised of interactive lectures in which students will have opportunities to discuss material presented both during class time and in online discussions between classes. There will be a final research project, a summary of which will be presented in class towards the end of the quarter.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The neuroscience of human relationships: polyvagal theory | Identify various states of nervous system arousal and the physiological, emotional, and cognitive phenomena that accompany them. |
| Class 2 | Attachment theory: John Bowlby and beyond | Identify patterns of attachment to other human beings and their origins in early childhood experiences. |
| Class 3 | Conflict & Communication Strategies: Nonviolent Communication | Identify the content, feelings, and needs layers of any act of communication and use the NVC formula to convey understanding. |
| Class 4 | Love, Partnership & Sexuality | Identify ingredients of healthy committed relationships and strategies for maintaining long-term satisfaction. |
| Class 5 | Addiction, Mood disorders, and Neurodiversity | Identify the symptoms of addiction, mood disorders, and neurodiversity and basic strategies for coping with these challenges. |
| Class 6 | Student presentations | Share with the class your research on a topic related to human relationships that interests you. |
| Class 7 | Student presentations | Share with the class your research on a topic related to human relationships that interests you. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
handouts, etc.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
to be introduced in class
Evaluation methods and criteria
class preparation and participation 20%
weekly online small group discussions 30%
final research project 35%
final presentation 15%
Related courses
- TAL.C602 ： Creative Discussion
Prerequisites
Excellent listening comprehension, reading, writing, and discussion ability in English
Other
This course is 500-level course.
Tokyo Tech’s “wedge-shaped style education” enables students to pursue liberal arts education in a phased manner throughout undergraduate and graduate programs.
Students are encouraged to take 100-level to 600-level courses in order. As such, master’s students must begin Humanities and Social Science courses at the 400 level (in 1Q/2Q of the first year for those entering in April, and 3Q/4Q for those entering in September), then proceed to 500-level courses (in 3Q/4Q or later for those entering in April, and 1Q/2Q of the following year or later for those entering in September).