The Cultural Psychology of Happiness: Re-Entry and Application

This course is an extension of the Copenhagen global education program and the first-year seminar on The Cultural Psychology of Happiness. We will examine and apply psychological concepts of cultural re-entry as students return to their home environments, and we will discuss comparative aspects of well-being and happiness within diverse cultural contexts. We will add topics from positive psychology not covered in the fall course that are pertinent to planning for life at Middlebury, and concepts related to enhanced learning, such as growth mindset. Students will work independently and in small groups to design applications and conduct research projects. Assignments will include oral presentations, one short paper, and a longer research paper. The course will be offered on Zoom only. (Open only to those students enrolled in the Middlebury-Copenhagen First-Year Program.)