This class is very tough, if you want an easy A this is not the class. The class is interesting but once you get to the test you will regret ever taking the class. The test are so specific and you really need to study or else you will cry during the exams. He is very unclear of what is going to be on the exams and when you ask him what is going to be on the exam he just says to study everything. The class include a lot of reading and the textbook is for essential to pass the class and is a little expensive. Do not take this class if you want a high GPA. Interesting but a lot of material you will need to retain.

I kind of regret taking this class honestly even though I did learn a lot of information regarding intimate relationships. The material is useful and interesting and Prof Karney himself is an enthusiastic lecturer. However, there isn't any structure on what important topics you have to focus on in the class to be successful with exams. You have to read a book that's about 1000 pages and for the exams, anything in it is fair game. That's about 7 or 8 long chapters for each exam. Like others have said, the exams can include tiny obscure details from the book. So, you can read the book and take good notes of every chapter and still barely pass exams. The study guides aren't helpful whatsoever. Keep in mind, there is also no extra credit offered in the class. If you want to maintain your GPA and take a course just for upper division credit, then this class is not for you.

This review will not reflect in-person teaching as I had taken it during the pandemic. However, he used lectures from last spring which means there would be no captions available like most zoom lectures. Additionally, one of the lecture have last 15 minutes cut off due to battery issue at the time of recording. His recorded lectures are still funny and engaging, but I thought he could at least re-record that particular lecture. On his last lecture, he would take questions from students and answer them and I would have appreciated if he at least did that part either through discussion forum or zoom. I know that he used same lecture on last quarter (spring) so hopefully it will get better on the future.

The textbook is must for the course. The test questions are tricky, detail oriented, and contain a lot of information from the book which won't be covered on the lectures. You will have to know inside out of the book as test questions are tough. There is no extra credit opportunities for this class so it was based on 2 exam consisting of 50 MC questions. I think for summer quarter the written assignment was removed as due to fast pace of summer quarter.

Took this class for Summer Session A and overall, it was a great and engaging class to take. All the lectures are bruincasts from 2019 if I'm not mistaken but Professor Karney doesn't speak in a monotonous tone so his lectures were easy to follow and engaging. Best suggestion is to read the textbook religiously (like literally read everything -- tho it isn't hard, I often flew past a couple of chapters a day), and then watch lectures on 1.5x - 2x speed. Everything from the tests was from the textbook or lecture so it is all fair game but honestly, if you pay enough attention, it should be fine.
Would definitely take a class with professor Karney again (hopefully in person!)

Prof. Karney was one of the best lecturers that I have ever had the opportunity to have. I am so sad I wasn't able to take him personally and listen to his live lectures. The lectures were pre-recorded and even though he said the book was most important I still watched every single lecture that he uploaded because the way he would talk and explain the topics was extremely interesting. The exams are very fair if you read the book and listen to the lectures. Keep in mind that you HAVE to read EVERYTHING in the book because it will probably come up on the exam. I read the entire book at least 2 times. Overall, I am so so glad I took this class and I hope I can take another class with him.

I thought this class was super interesting, and Dr. Karney delivers it in a way that is very entertaining. Unfortunately, I took this class during quarantine, and instead of zoom he just posted old bruincast videos. I would have preferred zoom but there is a chance that that may have been worse. The exams are kinda tough. He says that no dates or names will be on the test, but a few of the questions do mention specific people and their definitions of things. Overall, I do recommend this class! It is definitely doable and worth it.

what a fucking guy! love his office hours and lecture, but his textbook is expensive! you need that to pass the exams and class. the lectures you dont have to go to but i suggest bc he is just so funny and cool. one of the best and easiest courses i have taken at ucla. 10/10 professor. if my parents at ucla were karney and bonnie goff, call me a happy child.

Karney is one of the best lecturers I have had & I really recommend this class. His lectures are engaging, and he has the whole class laughing like we are at a stand up comedy show almost every lecture. The topics are interesting. Karney always made sure to learn people's names [either when they answer/ask a question of if you go to office hours], and it is not a small class, which I thought was very considerate and impressive. He is very personable. Most of what you need to know is at least touched on in lectures, but some is only in the book, which he is one of the authors of; usually I think it's annoying when professors have you buy their book, but I purchased a used hard copy online for less than $20, and it was not unpleasant to read. You can tell which chapter he wrote, because his humor comes through, which I found entertaining. I can see how this class would be a lot harder if you are taking it as a random Upper Div class, but I am a Psychobiolo major, and I took it just to fill extra Upper Div units, but found it fun and not to tricky; I would rather have an engaging class that requires some work than one that I don't pay attention to all lecture just because it is an easier A. I highly recommend going to Karney's office hours to talk to him, at least once.

BEST CLASS AT UCLA WITH THE BEST PROFESSOR AT UCLA.

Do yourself a favor and TAKE THIS CLASS! Read the textbook, watch the lectures, and you'll be fine.