| School/Faculty/Institute | Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences | ||||
| Course Code | PSYC 343 | ||||
| Course Title in English | Neuroscience and Law | ||||
| Course Title in Turkish | Nörobilim ve Hukuk | ||||
| Language of Instruction | EN | ||||
| Type of Course | Flipped Classroom | ||||
| Level of Course | Intermediate | ||||
| Semester | Fall | ||||
| Contact Hours per Week |
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| Estimated Student Workload | 147 hours per semester | ||||
| Number of Credits | 6 ECTS | ||||
| Grading Mode | Standard Letter Grade | ||||
| Pre-requisites | None | ||||
| Co-requisites | None | ||||
| Expected Prior Knowledge | None | ||||
| Registration Restrictions | None | ||||
| Overall Educational Objective | Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to Understand the impact of neuroscientific advances on legal theory and practice Elaborate ideas on theoretical basis of legal responsibility (especially criminal responsibility) Use their knowledge on causes and effects of human behavior in different social contexts Discuss the accuracy of the use of neuroscientific evidence in legal adjudication Use scientific terminology with respect to neuroscience and legal responsibility. | ||||
| Course Description | Neuroscience, as an emerging multidisciplinary field, has already dissolved a good deal of well-established boundaries between natural and social sciences. Its aspiration to reveal neurobiological structures underlying motor activities and cognitive abilities sets new horizons in understanding, inter alia, causes and patterns for social behavior. Hence law, as a tool used by all kind of human societies –primitive, traditional, modern alike- to regulate behavior, falls within the scope of neuroscience. Interaction between law and neuroscience has been a topic of scholarly interest for more than two decades now, already acquiring the status of a sub-discipline labelled as “neurolaw”. |
Course Learning Outcomes and CompetencesUpon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:1) understand the impact of neuroscientific advances on legal theory and practice; 2) elaborate ideas on theoretical basis of legal responsibility (especially criminal responsibility); 3) use one’s knowledge on causes and effects of human behavior in different social contexts 4) discuss the accuracy of the use of neuroscientific evidence in legal adjudication 5) use scientific terminology with respect to neuroscience and legal responsibility |
| Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. | |||||
| 2) Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation. | |||||
| 3) Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes. | |||||
| 4) Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts. | |||||
| 5) Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline. | |||||
| 6) Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards. | |||||
| 7) Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences. | |||||
| 8) Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level). | |||||
| 9) Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity. | |||||
| 10) Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement. | |||||
| 11) Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses. | |||||
| 12) Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning. | |||||
| 13) Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations. |
| N None | S Supportive | H Highly Related |
| Program Outcomes and Competences | Level | Assessed by | |
| 1) | Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. | S | HW,Exam |
| 2) | Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation. | N | |
| 3) | Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes. | H | HW,Exam |
| 4) | Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts. | S | HW,Exam |
| 5) | Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline. | N | |
| 6) | Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards. | N | |
| 7) | Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences. | N | |
| 8) | Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level). | S | HW,Exam |
| 9) | Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity. | S | HW,Exam |
| 10) | Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement. | S | HW,Exam |
| 11) | Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses. | H | HW,Exam |
| 12) | Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning. | H | Participation,HW,Exam |
| 13) | Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations. | H | HW,Exam |
| Prepared by and Date | BANU FEMİR GÜRTUNA , December 2023 |
| Course Coordinator | BANU FEMİR GÜRTUNA |
| Semester | Fall |
| Name of Instructor | Prof. Dr. OZAN ERÖZDEN |
| Week | Subject |
| 1) | Introduction – presentation of the course content |
| 3) | Incompatibilism vs. Compatibilism: Can free will exist in a deterministic universe? |
| 4) | Folk psychology: mental states and human behavior |
| 5) | Mens rea: mental element of a crime |
| 6) | Why do we punish? Logics of penal policies in a democratic society |
| 7) | Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience: New answers to old questions |
| 8) | Mid-term exam |
| 9) | Neuroscience of conscience |
| 10) | Neuroscience of free will |
| 11) | Neuroscience of aggression and violence |
| 12) | The use of neuroscientific evidence in criminal cases 1 |
| 13) | The use of neuroscientific evidence in criminal cases 2 |
| 14) | Summing up: Will neuroscience change our understanding of legal responsibility? |
| 15) | Final Examination Period |
| 16) | Final Examination Period |
| Required/Recommended Readings | Articles given each week by the instructor. | |||||||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Flipped learning | |||||||||||||||
| Homework and Projects | Class participation is essential. Students should complete assigned readings on time and be prepared to discuss in the class. Video recordings are only a complementary source and would have no decisive effect on the success of students without being properly used together with other sources (i.e. reading material and lectures). The final grade will be determined by the following distribution: 2 assignments (critical paper analysis), 30% Mid-term Exam, 30%. Final assignment (a short academic paper), 40% BONUS Grade: Students who receive an attendance level higher than 75% (that is, min. 11 out of 14) and who participate actively in the discussions during lectures will receive an extra 10 points (on the scale of 100) for the end of semester grade. Students enrolled in this course may earn up to 5 points (on the scale of 100) for the end of semester grade by participating in the MEF University Faculty’s research. For details see the annexed “Research Points System (RPS) Students’ Guide” | |||||||||||||||
| Laboratory Work | None | |||||||||||||||
| Computer Use | None | |||||||||||||||
| Other Activities | None | |||||||||||||||
| Assessment Methods |
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| Course Administration |
erozdeno@mef.edu.tr Attendance is mandatory. Students missing an exam for a legitimate excuse may be given a makeup exam at the instructor’s discretion. Any disrespectful attitude/act directly or indirectly toward the instructor/classmates will not be welcomed. Academic dishonesty and plagiarism: YÖK Disciplinary Regulatio |
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| Activity | No/Weeks | Hours | Calculation | ||||
| No/Weeks per Semester | Preparing for the Activity | Spent in the Activity Itself | Completing the Activity Requirements | ||||
| Course Hours | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 112 | ||
| Project | 1 | 20 | 20 | ||||
| Quiz(zes) | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Midterm(s) | 1 | 12 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Total Workload | 147 | ||||||
| Total Workload/25 | 5.9 | ||||||
| ECTS | 6 | ||||||