A survey of different approaches to the psychological interpretations of religious phenomena such as the image of God, rituals, myths, faith healing, meditation, mysticism, and conversion.
HSS 175:Fundamentals of Psychology I: Brain, Mind and Behavior
This course emphasizes the biological underpinnings of behavior and of mental processes. What do we know? How do we come to know? What do we want? Why do we act the way we do? In this course these fundamental questions of psychology are mainly looked at from a biological perspective that emphasizes the study of the brain and nervous systems. Historical, philosophical, and evolutionary perspectives on mental processes are considered, as well.
This course presents an overview of the theoretical backgrounds as well as the historical and very current research in the field of life span developmental psychology. Special emphasis will be placed on infancy and childhood, adolescent and young adult development. All aspects of development, i.e. physical, cognitive, emotional and social will be addressed. Ongoing issues such as: critical vs. sensitive periods, brain plasticity and malleability, the nature/nurture controversy will be addressed throughout the semester.
CAL 105:CAL Colloquium: Knowledge, Nature, Culture
This course introduces students to all the humanistic disciplines offered by the College of Arts and Letters: history, literature, philosophy, the social sciences, art, and music. By studying seminal works and engaging in discussions and debates regarding the themes and ideas presented in them, students learn how to examine evidence in formulating ideas, how to subject opinions, both their own, as well those of others, to rational evaluation, and in the end, how to appreciate and respect a wide diversity of opinions and points of view.
School: College of Arts & Letters
Department: Social Sciences / CAL 105
Program: Social Sciences
Research & Education
Education
Ph.D. study and M.A. at Graduate Faculty of New School University (M.A. in Psychology awarded in 1977) B.A., Douglass College, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 1966
Research
I use psychological theory and current findings from neuroscience to interpret Jewish sacred text. Specifically, my current research focuses on the underpinnings of both "justice and care" ethics in Hebrew Scripture.
Experience & Service
Institutional Service
Principal Courses Taught
Fundamentals of Psychology: Biological Bases of Behavior Fundamentals of Psychology: Development, Personality, and Pathology Theories of Personality Seminar in Freud and Jung Psychology of Gender Psychology of Religion Developmental Psychology
Achievements & Professional Societies
Professional Societies
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Association for Jewish Studies
Selected Publications
Journals
Susan Schept. "Hesed: Feminist Ethics in Jewish Tradition", Rabbinical Assembly.
Susan Schept. "Ba bel: Boundaries of the Self", Conservative Judaism, Rabbinical Assembly.
Susan Schept. "Jacob's Dream of a Ladder: Freudian and Jungian Perspectives", Psychological Perspectives, C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles.
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