Universität Wien

200023 PS Proseminar zu Biologischer Psychologie und zu Kognitiv-Affektiven Neurowissenschaften (2025W)

Cooperation and Prosociality

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 20 - Psychologie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
Moodle
Do 04.12. 09:45-11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 40 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

- 02.10 11:30 - 13:00 Introduction
- 09.10 09:45 - 11:15 Lecture 1
- 16.10 09:45 - 11:15 Lecture 2
- 23.10 09:45 - 11:15 Lecture 3
- 30.10 09:45 - 11:15 Lecture 4
- 06.11 no class
- 13.11. Student Presentations 1 09:45 - 13:00
- 20.11. Student Presentations 2 09:45 - 13:00
- 27.11. Student Presentations 3 09:45 - 13:00
- 04.12. Student Presentations 4 09:45 - 13:00
- 11.12. Student Presentations 5 09:45 - 13:00
- 18.12 no class
- 8.01 no class
- 15.01. 09:45 - 11:15 (Test)
- 22.01. 09:45 - 11:15 (Test Optional)
- 29.01 no class

  • Donnerstag 02.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 09.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 16.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 23.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 30.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 13.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 13.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 20.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 20.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 27.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 27.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 04.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 11.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 11.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 15.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock
  • Donnerstag 22.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal G Psychologie, Liebiggasse 5, 2. Stock

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

This seminar introduces the foundations of cooperative and prosocial behavior from an interdisciplinary perspective, bridging psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary theory. The course aims to (1) familiarize students with key empirical findings and theoretical frameworks, (2) examine the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying cooperation, (3) explore the developmental and comparative roots of prosociality, and (4) encourage critical reflection on the applicability of joint action and cooperation research to broader societal challenges.

The following topics will be covered:
1. Introduction: Why study cooperation?
2. Evolutionary and comparative foundations
3. Developmental origins of prosociality
4. Cognitive and motivational mechanisms
5. The cooperative brain – fMRI evidence, hormones and neurochemistry
6. Joint action as cooperation toward shared goals

This course consists of four preparatory sessions, five block dates, and two (alternative) test dates.

During the preparatory sessions (1.5 hours), we will have lectures on the topic of the course together with an interactive discussion about the readings.

During the block dates (3 hours), student groups will present a relevant paper (chosen from a list or proposed by the group). Other teams of students will be responsible for curating relevant questions, and critically assessing the presented article. As a class, we will finish with an interactive discussion about the topics presented that day.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

During the preparatory sessions (1.5 hours), we will have lectures on the topic of the course together with an interactive discussion about the readings.

During the block dates (3 hours), student groups will present a relevant paper (chosen from a list or proposed by the group). Other teams of students will be responsible for curating relevant questions, and critically assessing the presented article. As a class, we will finish with an interactive discussion about the topics presented that day.

The final test will consist of 12 MC questions on the topics of the lectures and readings.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab


- Group presentation (40%, individual contributions will be evaluated separately)
- Discussion contributions to other project topics and active participation (10%)
- Final test (40%)
- Attendance (10%)

Attendance
You must be present to minimum 2 sessions: 1) the session where you have the group presentation, 2) the session where you are a discussant

Grading
90-100: Very good (1)
80-90: Good (2)
70-80: Satisfactory (3)
60-70: Sufficient (4)
<60: Failed (5)

Prüfungsstoff

At the end of the course, the students should:
(1) read, critically evaluate and present scientific articles
(2) be familiar with key empirical findings and theoretical frameworks
(3) understand basic cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying cooperation

Literatur

A full list of the required reading literature can be found on the course Moodle. Examples include:

Tomasello, M., & Vaish, A. (2013). Origins of human cooperation and morality. Annual review of psychology, 64(1), 231-255.
Rand, D. G., & Nowak, M. A. (2013). Human cooperation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
Sebanz, N., Bekkering, H., & Knoblich, G. (2006). Joint action: Bodies and minds moving together. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

70231

Letzte Änderung: Mo 08.09.2025 11:06