Teaching
The courses that Donna McMillan teaches -- Psychology of Personality, Psychopathology, Positive Psychology, Environmental Psychology, Sleep and Dreaming, Culture and the Self, and Women and “Madness” -- are described briefly below; for more information on many of these you can also see the St. Olaf College Catalog. Because not all of these courses can be offered each year, please check the St. Olaf College Class and Lab Schedule to see which ones are currently scheduled.
Psychology of Personality (Psychology 244): This course directly examines the person, asking questions such as “What are important aspects of personality?” and “What factors shape personality?” We sample a wide range of psychological theory and research done over the past 100 years, including Freud and Jung, behaviorism (e.g., Skinner), humanistic psychology (e.g., Rogers and Maslow), cognitive psychology, and trait psychology (e.g., the Big Five). In this course some degree of private self-examination almost inevitably happens; it is hard to encounter the concepts, theory, and research within personality psychology without applying it to yourself and the lives around you. If you want to study what psychology has to say about understanding others, or you want to “know thyself” better through the lens of psychology, this course may be a good choice for you. Prerequisite: Psych 125 (Principles of Psychology).
Psychopathology (Psychology 247, this course is also known as Abnormal Psychology): This course focuses on psychological disorder and mental illness. We ask, “Why are certain experiences or patterns of behavior considered psychologically "abnormal?" We investigate a wide array of psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders and schizophrenia. We examine models used to conceptualize abnormal behavior, as well as current evidence and theories regarding the etiology and treatment of these important and sometimes devastating disorders. Prerequisite: Psych 125 (Principles of Psychology); because of its difficulty level, Psych 247 should not be one of your first psychology courses.
Positive Psychology: The Science of Optimal Human Experience (Psychology 342): What does any person need, psychologically, in order to thrive? In this course we explore the latest research and theory regarding happiness, meaning, and satisfaction with life. We investigate "the good life," exploring what psychology can tell us about human flourishing and psychological well-being. Empirical evidence is examined to understand some of the best aspects of life, such as the function of positive emotions, the role of traits in well-being, sources of meaning and life satisfaction, and character strength and virtue. Personality and sociocultural factors are emphasized in this exploration of the positive potentials of human life. This is an upper-level seminar for juniors and seniors and is primarily discussion-based. Prerequisites: Psych 230 (Research Methods) and Psych 244 (Personality) OR Psych 247 (Psychopathology).
Environmental Psychology at Rocky Mountain National Park (Psychology 255; counts not only towards the Psychology 
major but also toward the Environmental Studies major/ concentration as a social science course): This course investigates the human relationship with the natural world, examining ways in which the natural environment is important psychologically to human beings. Integrating aspects of theoretical and empirical psychology, environmental studies and literature, we explore meanings, values and questions such as: How are we affected by nature? What affects people's attitudes and behaviors toward the environment? How can psychology help us deal with the environmental challenges that face us? This is an off-campus course in Colorado offered during Interim. Prerequisite: Psychology 125 (Principles of Psychology) or Environmental Studies 137.
*****((View from our rooms at YMCA of the Rockies)
Sleep and Dreaming (Psychology 224, offered some interims): (Note: Because of other course scheduling needs, I have not offered this course for a few years.) By age 20 you will have spent over 50,000 hours or nearly 7 years of your life asleep. However, if you are like most people, you know relatively little about what you do during this third of your life. In the past 60 years, our knowledge about sleep and dreaming has increased dramatically as science has turned its attention to this fascinating topic. In this course we investigate a number of questions like: How can we systematically study sleep and dreaming? What are the functions of sleep and dreaming? What bodily changes are associated with different sleep stages? What happens if someone is deprived of sleep? What do we know about sleepwalking and disorders of sleep like insomnia and narcolepsy? Do dreams have meaning? What are approaches to dream interpretation? Prerequisite: Psych 125 (Principles of Psychology).
Culture and the Self: I taught this course when I led Global Semester in Fall 2006. “Culture and the Self” examines ways in which culture influences the person, including sense of self, personality and identity, social behavior and gender roles, and psychological well-being. We also consider the psychological impacts of affluence/ poverty, globalization, and development. We evaluate the effects of Western materialistic values, investigating the impacts of modernization on sense of identity and well-being of people in developing countries. Throughout the course, we seek to understand the perspectives of other cultures while engaging in self-reflection and consideration of ourselves as products of American culture.
Women and “Madness” (Psychology 390): (Note: Because of other course scheduling demands, I haven’t offered this course for several years.) This course focuses on understanding psychopathology to which women seem particularly prone, such as depression and eating disorders. We explore issues in the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of women’s psychological difficulties, comparing traditional and feminist viewpoints. We pay particular attention to sociocultural influences on women’s mental health and the ways in which society and the mental health system conceptualize women and their psychological problems. Prerequisites: Psych 230 (Research Methods) and Psych 247 (Psychopathology) OR Women’s Studies courses.
