Course Description

Instructor: Ralph LaRossa

Are you curious about understanding human thought processes more deeply? Do you often find yourself pondering what others are thinking? If so, you're not alone. With a multitude of ideas circulating, contemplating how people think has become a common practice. How can a basic understanding of thinking patterns enhance our understanding of ourselves and others? How does the everyday cognitive landscape, often overlooked, profoundly shape not just our decisions but also the narratives we construct about those decisions? How do we navigate between thinking as part of a broader human experience and thinking uniquely as individuals within various social groups? To what extent does thinking differ across regions and cultures worldwide?

 In this course, we will explore these questions and more. Along the way, we'll delve into intriguing concepts—from playful observations like why prices often end in 9 (e.g., $19.99, $59.99) to serious topics such as how hatred is cultivated and reinforced. Join us for a thoughtful yet engaging discussion as we uncover the inner workings of the human mind.

Bio:  Ralph LaRossa is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Georgia State University and the author of, among other works, The Modernization of Fatherhood: A Social and Political History; and Of War and Men: World War II in the Lives of Fathers and Their Families. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation (principal investigator) and National Institutes of Health (co-investigator) in support of research on the social realities of fatherhood during the Machine Age (1918-1941) and on the experience of becoming a father in contemporary society. He also has done research on the transition to parenthood, the social transformation of childhood, the changing culture and conduct of fatherhood, the symbolic connection between fatherhood and baseball, and the cognitive world of family life.