Description:

Food and alcohol are unique among all other substances which humans abuse because unlike other substances, (1) they contain calories and (2) humans have been exposed to and used these substances since antiquity. This class will explore commonalties between these substances within an evolutionary perspective, and attempt to identify underlying causes for their use and abuse. Issues to be discussed include: sex differences in food abuse (obesity, bulimia and anorexia); biological, cognitive, social causes of body image disturbances; food as a drug; predisposing factors for alcohol abuse; coexistence of food and alcohol abuse, their causes; biological, and cognitive theories of addiction.

Texts:

To be announced.

Grading and Requirements:

Exams: 3, objective.
Exams based on class lectures and assigned readings.
No comprehensive final exam.

Prerequisites:

Psychology 301 with a grade of C or better, Psychology 418 or an equivalent statistics course with a grade of C or better, and upper division standing.

Updated 19 October 1998
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
University of Texas at Austin

Some graphics courtesy of Ann Pommerehn