Psychology 1603, "Adolescent Behavior"

Always wondered why your best friend was elected homecoming king while his sister started freebasing at age 11? Psychology 1603, “Adolescent Behavior,” a survey of adolescent development from the ideal to the freaky just might have the answer.



Professor Debbie Sorenson, a Lowell House residential tutor, seems barely older than a teen herself, and her lectures are light-hearted and enjoyable, especially since she incorporates a course-related clip from favorite teeny-bopper flicks into most. Even if she doesn't inspire you, guest speakers and panels (the hidden jewels of Psych 1603) spice up lecture, despite the fact that they discuss merry subjects such as delinquency and self-injury. There’s nothing like a presentation on bulimia to brighten your day, eh?



Assignments are minimal and include keeping a short journal (tip: listen to Britney Spears' super-hit Dear Diary for inspiration). The biggest perk of the two required papers is that students have enormous freedom: you can analyze Napoleon Dynamite, a teen self-help book, or even your experience observing resumé-padding high school kids working at a soup kitchen. Don't bank on an easy A, though, for despite the "duh, I already knew that" appearance of the course material, the tests are challenging and the TFs hold higher academic standards for the papers than their casual air might convey.



Joining the Psych concentrator masses are students considering careers working with adolescents, as well as those on the prowl for an "easy" elective with a side of group therapy. Though the class offers few practical skills, it succeeds at giving a comprehensive glance at just how the hell we all survived adolescence.