Willingham was a great professor and definitely my favorite after my first year. I feel like I've learned a lot (although mostly theories). The content is great and Willingham presents it with a cool and humorous spin.
The tests were difficult, but don't take this class because you think it will be too hard. It's a good challenge and I don't think this was THE hardest class I've taken my first year. Anyway, the enjoyability makes up for the difficulty.
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Sections
1Lecture (1)
This class runs entirely on exams, so you will need to read the assigned textbook thoroughly and attend every lecture to handle the highly specific, memorization-heavy tests. Lectures are widely praised for being engaging and clarifying complex ideas, but the posted slides are too vague to rely on alone. A generous class curve typically pushes average exam grades into the B range, though the grading system is notoriously confusing and keeps your actual standing hidden until late in the term. If you are genuinely interested in cognitive psychology, the material is fascinating and rewarding, but the lack of assignments and relentless exam focus make this a serious challenge for anyone expecting an easy A.
130 Reviews
Willingham is hilarious and class itself is fun. The tests are very tough. There is a curve at the end though which helps.
Hardest class ive ever taken at UVA.
Willingham is an extremely funny person, a very engaging lecturer. However, his tests are VERY difficult, to the point I thought it was rather unfair. This class is by no means an easy class, you have to work very hard to even get by. I recommend this class because of the professor, not because of the class itself. If you want an easy psych class this is by NO means it.
Overall a good class. Willingham is very helpful in making sure you understand the material and lectures are very engaging. 3 midterms and a final, the lowest midterm gets dropped. The material is all theory based, so it gets fairly abstract sometimes. The tests are really tricky, but luckily there is curve.
Do not take this class as an elective, "easy" course. Tests can be confusing because they are more "the best answer" than "the right answer." Willingham's a nice guy, but if taking with other difficult or major classes, don't take this class.
Willingham the best professor I have encountered at the University so far. He is witty and explains the material well, always pausing and entertaining questions from the crowd. While the midterms are challenging, if you put the time in, you should be OK. I have no interest in pursuing a Psych major, but I would still recommend this class to anyone due to its incredible intrigue.
This class is very difficult. However, Willingham is an amazing professor and makes the class highly enjoyable. The tests are about 75% lecture material and 25% book material, so make sure you study both.
I read the reviews here and thought "I have to take this class!"
Professor = Incredible, awesome, one of my favorites ever, like him a lot.
The class itself = He doesn't provide the ppt's beforehand, which means in class you're struggling to write down everything on the slide, plus determining whether to write down what he's saying because it's pertinent, or not because he's just telling a funny aside example or interesting experiment you won't have to know later.
It's impossible to know how you're doing in the class since the lowest of 3 midterms is dropped and then curved overall at the end (but not always curved up--he curves to a 3.0 GPA average). The midterms are all multiple choice, but hard hard hard and you need to study A LOT for them. I honestly think this should just be taken C/NC.
Lastly (and this could just be me), taking this class really turned me off from psychology as a "science." It's all theoretical and there's no way of actually knowing how your brain works, and so this entire class is devoted to how psychologists have interpreted experiments and hypothesized. But concepts like a "central executive" in my brain controlling "demons" telling it what to perceive? I remain suspect about it all. Some of it is interesting, but a lot questionable science.
Willingham is definitely an engaging lecturer is absolutely hilarious. He made going to class in the morning worthwhile. For the most part, material is interesting as well. The biggest grades in the class are the 3 midterms, which are difficult, but are made easier if you remember the readings well. The lowest midterm is also dropped and Willingham usually curves test scores toward a B. This is a really good class to take while at UVA, no matter what your major is.