Faculty Profile

Marie Helweg-Larsen

Professor of Psychology; Glen E. & Mary Line Todd Chair in the Social Sciences; Director, Norwich Sciences Program in England, 2019-21 (2002)

Contact Information

helwegm@dickinson.edu


717-245-1040
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/helwegm/

Bio

Professor Helweg-Larsen’s research is in the areas of social psychology, health psychology and cross-cultural psychology – specifically why smart people do dumb thing and how to make them stop. She is currently examining how smokers react to being stigmatized.

Education

  • B.A., California State University - Northridge, 1989
  • M.A., University of California - Los Angeles, 1990
  • Ph.D., 1994

Awards

  • Dickinson Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2015-16

2023-2024 Academic Year

Fall 2023

FYSM 100 First-Year Seminar
The First-Year Seminar (FYS) introduces students to Dickinson as a "community of inquiry" by developing habits of mind essential to liberal learning. Through the study of a compelling issue or broad topic chosen by their faculty member, students will: - Critically analyze information and ideas - Examine issues from multiple perspectives - Discuss, debate and defend ideas, including one's own views, with clarity and reason - Develop discernment, facility and ethical responsibility in using information, and - Create clear academic writing The small group seminar format of this course promotes discussion and interaction among students and their professor. In addition, the professor serves as students' initial academic advisor. This course does not duplicate in content any other course in the curriculum and may not be used to fulfill any other graduation requirement.

PSYC 140 Social Psychology
In this introduction to psychological aspects of human social behavior, we discuss such topics as the relationship between attitudes and behavior, how people judge one another, interpersonal and group influence processes, and relations between individuals and groups, with strong emphasis on real-world applications. We also introduce scientific methods and formal theories for studying social behavior.

PSYC 560 Social Identity and Risk Lab

PSYC 560 Stu/Faculty Collaborative Rsch

Spring 2024

PSYC 140 Social Psychology
Humans are “the social animal” because our beliefs, our brains, and our physical environments are profoundly shaped by our social context, often without us realizing it. The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the field of social psychology - the scientific study of how our thoughts, feelings, and behavior are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of other people. We will discuss topics such as the self, conformity and obedience, social cognition and information processing, attitudes and persuasion, prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination, social influence, romantic relationships, and helping behavior. You will learn how research in social psychology can explain everyday events in your own lives and around the world and how it can help to better human existence.

PSYC 340 Rsrch Meth in Social Psych
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. This intensive course will provide students with an overview of research methods used in social psychology. Students will learn about major concepts in research planning, design, and analysis when working with social psychological data. Students will also learn about best practices and challenges in social psychological research such as issues of sampling, survey research, correlational research, observational methods, experimental methods, ethics, and replication. In lab students will learn hands-on how to search and review scientific literature, how to design and conduct research projects, collect, analyze and interpret data, and communicate their findings in scientific reports. They will also learn how to use online methods for data collection and survey administration and strengthen their skills in SPSS data analysis. Three hours classroom plus three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: 140, 210 & 211.

PSYC 560 Stu/Faculty Collaborative Rsch