Controversy in the Psychology Classroom: Using Hot Topics to Foster Critical Thinking

In the classroom, vigorous engagement with psychology's-and society's-flash points can help students learn the critical thinking skills they will need as future psychologists. Yet some teachers feel ill equipped when it comes to broaching disagreeable topics, managing the resulting heated debates, and helping students to separate their personal feelings from objective scientific evidence. This book provides guidance for faculty who want to open debates on controversial topics while creating and maintaining a safe classroom Environment for discussion.

The first section provides teachers with guiding frameworks for blending rigorous discussion with careful analysis. The second section of the book explores ways to help students develop empirically based conclusions on such topics as evolutionary psychology, spanking and child fearing, sexual orientation and same-sex marriage, and animals research in psychology. In the third section, readers learn how to consider multiple points of view regarding the psychology of evil; diversity and social justice, gender, race and ethnicity; religion and spirituality; disability; and health psychology and policy.

Throughout the volume, educators are instructed in the intentional use of controversies to help students experience complex social dynamics while sharpening their skills in critical thinking.