Public lecture series produced by Hiroshima University

What are some of the compelling explanations behind our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions? Do you ever wonder about our values as individuals, or what creative responses to the state of the human condition convey about the state of both Japan and our global society? The “hub” nature of psychological science means that the discipline intersects with theories of behavior, philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience, and other areas of the social sciences.

This eight-part lecture series illustrates some of these connections with four big questions grounded in a throughline of characters and culture. Leaning on critical evaluations of the empathy technology of books, we will engage in topics from research in fiction, personality, well-being, and morality, and reflect on their contributions toward cultivating your interest in the cognitive and social sciences.

1. The Power of Fiction

2. The Puzzle of Personality

3. Cultural Questions of Well-being

4. The Taste Buds of Morality

Open lecture produced by Hiroshima University

The online lecture series called Enhance Your Knowledge - Hiroshima University’s 100 Special Lectures was developed to broaden access to courses and topics that are available for study at our university.

Among the few with a focus on English language support in this limited series, English Communication in Context: Language, Nonverbal, and Social Features as Cross-Cultural Learning Opportunities, was selected to be filmed for asynchronous online learning via YouTube.

We would like to thank the media team on campus for their hard work in shooting, editing, and clearing permissions to use materials for educational purposes, as well as the English Education majors who kindly cooperated by sharing their stellar assignments and student products.