Psychology and the Meaning of Life

The goal of this seminar will be to explore what psychology can teach us about the meaning of life. We will start with earlier, more philosophical models (Freud, Frankl, Maslow) and conclude with modern empirical approaches to the study of “happiness” and “meaningfulness” (Seligman, Czikszentmihalyi, Kasser). This seminar will include a substantial service-learning component in which students will volunteer in community organizations and use those experiences as material for class discussion and assignments. 3 hrs. sem.