He's friendly and very approachable, and he has lunches with students! :)

He's real nice, not scary like other profs. Tests not easy, but ok.

If you sit in the first row, he will learn your name. Very nice guy, exams (multiple choice) can be tricky. Good class

nicest prof, really really smart, passionate, funny, cute, and fair! hard tests, but lots of extra credit ops and will make final EITHER 30 or 60%, whichever gives you personally a higher mark. i love him. all profs should be like this.

As others have written he is extremely nice and helpful, and as an added bonus he is perhaps the best looking prof at Mcgill.

A wonderful prof. He has great rapport with the students (i.e. tries to know our names, organizes lunches), and even offers bonus points. A total sweetie (and a cutie ;p), but his tests are very difficult. This course is only interesting half the time.

AWESOME TEACHER! Besides the class being really interesting, he tries to make everything relevant and is really sensitive to the plight of students. Works out a grading scheme that benefits you the most. Really nice!

Lydon is wonderful... the material is great, you can tell he thinks highly of his students because he seems to like having people ask questions in class and is willing to get to know people out of class... he is GREAT

Good teacher as he expects us to be able to learn a lot of not easy concepts. Also, I think he helps to improve our "quality" as student as he forces you to think deeply about the various subjects in order to learn them.Easier said than done,pro

Love him! The course is amazingly interesting (much better than personality and way up there with social psych.) The prof is obviously interested in what he's teaching ad that makes it even better.

Amazingly clear! Exciting!

he does try to help you do better, but that doesn't account for the fact that the averages on the exam are SO low. he presents many studies each class but never tells you how he picks those ones and not others... hmmm... a seeming bias?

great!

The exams can be a b*tch, but he gives plenty of opportunity to get bonus marks. His slides don't make sense unless you pay close attention to the way he explains them in lecture. Otherwise, interesting course, nice prof, entertaining lectures.

A great course if you want to get to know better human beings and why we so often don't understand each other. The material is really not hard (maybe, because it's so interesting and totally makes sense!)Also, Prof. Lydon has a sweet smile!

his slides such... no clarity

I really liked this prof.It's true that he gives hard tests to challenge his students, but he also comes up with various bonus opportunities and ways to help them raise their grade. I'm definitely taking another course with him.

I LOVE YOU PROF. LYDON!!!

Excellent!

he's the absolute best teacher in Psych. So Cute and endearing! Classes are interesting and has a very compassionate/human approach with his students.

Sure the midterm average was low, but he felt really bad. Lydon is a GREAT prof and he tries his best to make the classes interesting (which isn't too hard since it's interesting material) I would definitely suggest taking this class.

material is SO interesting, and you learn alot from this course. although there three midterms and they are tricky, it's worth taking!!! He is very clear and care about students. Great class!!

I really learn a great deal in this course. He's really amazing and he did put effort in it. Highly recommended!!

readings are very interesting, material applies to everyday life. professor is good.

great teacher

great great great teacher. his tests were harder than i thought they would be but i loved him anyway. he was almost always able to keep my attention and had great anecdotes to go with his well organized and clear lectures

At first I was really annoyed with his disorganized style, especially with the confusing slide arrangement on webct, but after a while I guess I got used to him and even started to like him.He is friendly and funny.He's rather obsessed with prof Taylor, ha!Tests are hard but if you study a lot and are used to other psyc tests, you'll be fine.

Although there is alot to know and it is a very hard class, he is a great teacher; funny, energetic, and interesting. I'm taking his other class just because I like him as a teacher.

Cool prof, cool class. The key to succeed in this class is to listen carefully to the lectures and read the book chapters at least twice. Summaries help so form note-taking groups. I know that helped me a lot.

good prof but boring class for upper year psyc students. it should NOT be a 400 level class...anyone who has taken a few psyc classes will have already encountered all of the material, and the tests are just like those of introductory classes where you need to know stupid irrelevant details

Prof Lydon loves to teach and interact with students. He is personable and approachable. Thats more than I can say for most profs in the department.

Some of these comments are unfair. Lydon is interesting and definitely not cocky. He can be a little confusing at times. His exams are really not THAT bad. Don't worry if you do poorly on the first exam; he really tries to curve it. It's true though, that he's very busy and sort of hard to approach if you can't make his office hours.

If you're coming from social psych or inter group beware, this is a real class. I like Taylor's stories, and he's made a real contribution to research, but his classes are BS. You will learn a ton more than with Taylor. He is very clear, but the material can be overwhelming. Also watch out, A-F type II multiple choice. Well worth the challenge!

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Sweet, funny, clear and open to questions. Going to class is a pleasure.

tough exams, though the paper is easily graded & you can get an easy 2% bonus. Make sure you know the experiments from the lectures by heart, and that you read the chapters in the book about 3 times!! otherwise, the prof is very friendly & approachable

A superb professor, but damn, his tests are tough!!! Regardless, I would take another course with Lydon in a heartbeat; thought-provoking course content, and interesting lectures...

An interesting professor, he makes quirky little jokes every class. Interpersonal was actually easier than 333; there's only a research assignment and very short final paper. That said, the MC tests are very tough and detailed. His class slides are confusing, so study with friends to compare notes.

One of the most challenging class I've ever taken in Psyc. I learned a lot though and the topic of the class was very interesting. Lydon's tests are very tricky.U need to know the materials and be able to apply them to real life situations.Do the reading, go to class and study in group and u'll be fine. Great class although challenging.

One of the best classes I've taken at McGill. His exams are killer, so make sure that you really understand the material...

Prof. Lydon is amazing. The class is interesting (but I have to admit that I do love his PSYC 333 class more than this one). For those who are familiar with his MC exams from PSYC 333, this class shouldn't be hard at all.

I found the material covered to not be that interesting, and I found the MC exams to be extremely difficult. However, he is pretty fair about grading, and obviously he is very interested in teaching and for you to ask questions. If you love social psych you'll love this class, but you'll definitely have to work for the grade.

This teacher is absolutely awesome! it is true that his exams are hard but after the first mid-term it gets easier and the paper is fairly graded. Just read the chapters a couple of time and make sure to take good notes during the lectures and you'll get an A! I really enjoyed his class it is definitely one of the best class I have had so far.

im IN LOVE with the prof! hes amazing. yes, his testing is really hard, but you will get a lot out of it, which is what counts, right? one of the BEST profs.

His tests are indeed difficult, but I find them thought provoking. He also scales them up, and grades the paper leniently so the averages are about the same as other psych classes. When you speak to his in person he is truly engaging and it is clear he loves the field and appreciates student enthusiasm.

His tests are indeed difficult, but I find them thought provoking. He also scales them up, and grades the paper leniently so the averages are about the same as other psych classes. When you speak to his in person he is truly engaging and it is clear he loves the field and appreciates student enthusiasm.

The material itself is easy but the prof is tricky. Class seems simple and fun and the prof is charismatic. Do all the extra & optional work he gives to manage to get a good grade - it's a tough class. You're usually disappointed by your exam results, because the answers are always subtly tricky. The material isn't as interesting as I'd hoped.

One of the best profs I have had at McGill. His tests are hard, but fair. You will definitely have to study, but this class is worth it. His lectures are always interesting and engaging, and he is very knowledgable about the material. If you get the chance to take this class with him DO IT.

Awesome teacher! Hard and TRicky tests but honnest to god, one of the most interesting class I've ever taken at Mcgill. Hes new at teaching this class but he's already doing a Wonderfull job!

i love this prof hes one of the best ive ever had. take his class! hes not easy at all but if you study its unbelievably worth it.

Best prof I've ever had, but go to class even if it's 3hours. Study hard. The tests are really tricky and I don't think they're fair though. Don't take this class if you are in U1 (my opinion).

I thought this course was fair and pretty straightforward! Lydon offers tons of opportunities to bring up marks, including an essay and extra-credit. Material is easy, no need to go to class! Just watch lectures and read textbook. honesty one of my easiest courses this semester...he curves the exams too!

John Lydon is an amazing professor. His lectues are brilliant and mandatory to attend. The tests he gives are extremely hard, but engaging; don't expect to do well. Many MC questions have F options. This class will teach you a lot, but you will most likely get a very poor grade as the tests cover all class+book+cumulative. Unfair professor.

The exam grades will not reflect the amount you have learned for the class. The questions are ambiguous. Lydon speaks very slowly and with many side notes which makes it very difficult to be interested by his attempt at saving his dry lectures. His slides are useless.

He is a tremendous lecturer--take him if you can!! He is not easy, but this is university. If you were spoonfed in other courses consider yourself lucky. His slides are not meant to be notes for you--they guide the lecture. You must take notes in class. You can get an A, but you must put the time in; study both the book and the lectures.

The lectures were 3 hours long and started at 5:30pm, and I STILL didn't mind attending them. Awesome lecturer! However, if you're looking for an easy A, this is definitely not the class to take. If you're looking to learn things that can change your views, go for it!

Fave prof at McGill so far. Great lecturer.. however, the exams are not easy, so if you're looking for a bird course this is not the one to take. Lots of emphasis on textbook readings (~60% of exam material) and lots of information to learn. Material may seem like common sense in class but beware. GREAT CLASS GREAT PROF.

Really nice and entertaining professor, with high enthusiasm in his subject. Watch out; since the lecture does not follow the material on the textbook, you should take notes for both. Not an easy A nor a bird course. If you want a good grade, work for it; it's a subject you cannot just learn and repeat it on the exams like most 200 levels.

Lydon's a great lecturer and the material is really interesting. The exams are not nearly as hard as some of these reviews suggest. If you study for the exams there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get at least a B+ in this course.

ok prof; boring class; difficult exams.

One of the best professors I have had at mcgill...exams are extremely challenging and deceptively so

Prof. Lydon teaches the material with a lot of enthusiasm. If you pay enough attention you will learn a lot. Exams are a bit difficult though, but if you go through the book a couple of times and listen to lectures attentively you will do just fine. Great prof

tough exams, but really fascinating and engaging lectures. Study the book and lectures inside out!! You need to know the smallest details for his exams. Extra credit helped! GO TO CLASS! worth taking the course though

This class provided me with an understanding of the human mind that has very much shaped my worldview. However it also killed my gpa. take it if you want to learn something, but be prepared to study upwards of 4 hours a week.

Every hard class. This is not a joke don't take him. it still remains a very interesting class

Prof is great. Material is interesting. Textbook is clear. Exams are death.

Sweet man, impossible exams. He's very tricky, and tests material inside out. I took pt by pt notes for every chapter, and studied them non stop before the exam. Do the 2%,attend exam review session, speak to him, use the forum, email TAs,ask questions after lecture. The little "boost" essay did not help me much. Be prepared to work very hard.

He is a great prof!!! His classes are very very interesting. I really recommend that class. But the tests are quite difficult and you really have to know both the lecture material and the textbook.

One of the most interesting lecturer i have ever had, he makes the class amusing, be prepared to put it in a good amount of work, attend all lectures, do all of this and u can get an A, the lectures do not really follow through with the textbook, the exam questions are half from the lectures and half from the textbook, his exams are very tricky,

Very engaged lecturer who clearly enjoys teaching and goes a long way to make the class appealing to students. Unfortunately, the course is easier than it needs to be; more depth and fewer videos would have been cool. The exams are a joke.

YOU MUST TAKE THIS CLASS! Lydon is adorable and he makes you so excited to go to class. The material is super interesting and the text is great. He can be a bit unclear at times tho. If you get 80+ on both midterms you're exempt from the final. Midterms 1 was easy, midterm 2 was slightly challenging; he curved both by 5%. Study the text. Easy-ish A

Very interesting class - esp. if you're into psychology. He's a great lecturer, makes his material interesting, and you learn a lot for everyday knowledge with him. However, be prepared to work. Exams are hard, questions are very subtle, you need to know all from textbook and class - both a tested and different.

Such an interesting course topic, and this class was even better with Professor Lydon teaching it! Every class was very clear and he had plenty of very helpful examples/stories he explained with the concepts. Yes, it's not an easy A, but it's obtainable if you pay attention to lectures and the textbook. Highly, highly recommended!

I have taken Lydon for both Social and Interpersonal relations. What stayed the same was his captivating lectures. The topics he covers are interesting, and he's super engaging. The trickiness of exam questions, however, differed. 215 prepared me for really hard exam MCs. Fortunately 474 exam questions were more straight forward!

Lydon rules. A lot of people whine about how tricky and deceptive his exam questions can - which is definitely not unfounded - but he's an excellent, engaging lecturer who really brings the material to life.

He is very passionate about his job and always illustrates complex terms with his life experiences, making it easier to understand. However, be ready to read as the textbook is tough and the preparation for the exams are hard. All-in-all he is so nice and kind he really wants his students to succeed.

Prof Lydon is great, content of class is very interesting and he is clearly passionate. But... exams are almost entirely based on the textbook. I'd say 70% of questions are just from the textbook itself, then the lectures cover only a little bit of that, & the rest is used for extra/extended information. So essentially, you are teaching yourself.

very dense and sometimes confusing lectures, but he is clearly very knowledgable and if you put the work in you will end up learning alot. Exams are extremely difficult with very tough worded questions about material mentioned very briefly either in textbook or lecture.

One of my favorite profs. I found his exam questions to be fairly easy if you had done the readings and attended lectures. He is very caring and has the best stories and examples! There is a lot of memorization - but the textbook and content are honestly super interesting if you like social psych.

PSYC215 is a really interesting class and Professor Lydon is great. The only downside is that he is quite disorganized. Lecture slides are barely comprehensive so you have to pay attention during lectures and do the readings but he is very passionate and knowledgeable on the subject.

The course was super interesting and the professor was very passionate and approachable. However, the lectures didn't feel very organized, and the tests consisted of a lot of questions about the results of experiments and comparing theories. This generally made it difficult to study for. BUT, there was a lot of opportunity for extra credit.

I always enjoyed prof. Lydon's lectures. Lots of fun anecdotes! Also lots of opportunities to gain extra credit (I HIGHLY recommendt you take them). However, his tests are quite difficult. He DOES curve very generously, though. Keep up with the textbook readings every week so as not to be overwhelmed. And don't rely on his slides.

Prof. Lydon was sometimes entertaining in lectures, especially early on in the semester. I had to take PSYC 215 as a requirement for my major and I had to do TONS of reading of the textbook in order to attain the grade I wanted. If this is not a required course I don't recommend taking it unless you're up for a challenge.

Cool prof. A lot of readings to do tho. Exams were fairly difficult.

The lectures were a bit hard to seize at first, but pasted the first midterm you get a clearer way into it

Professor Lydon's lectures are engaging, but the course material can be overwhelming. Staying on top of the textbook and attending class is crucial. unstuckstudy proved helpful for effective study prep. His tests are challenging, but the generous curve makes it manageable.

Such a sweet man. Hard class but not if you put the work in. Amazing lecturer. I miss him.

He is so sweet and wants you to succeed but a monster on exams. His tests consists of textbook chapters AND his own lecture materials. You have to memorize 5 (30-page) chapters and his stuff for tests. He has lots of extra credit and curves generously. Get ready to osmosis that textbook into your brain because you will fail if you don't read it.

The professor is kind and explains material clearly. Exams are easy if you pay attention during lectures and read the textbook.

He is an engaging lecturer (most of the time) with great passion and knowledge for the subject. However, his lecturers can be rambling and eclectic, and the tests questions are challenging (although not impossible).

Prof Lydon is extremely knowledgeable, funny and engaging. Yes, his exams are textbook heavy, but they're really not impossible. I would wait until 3 days before the exam to get my readings done, that way I could just regurgitate everything. Write down all he says, and review/straighten out the details after every class. Final hard, 10% curve.

Lydon is a great professor, very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the material. However, it is important to know that the readings are very heavy, and the material in the textbook composes 50% of the exams. The questions in exams are extremely specific (whether it be about case studies, definitions, understanding).

If you read the textbook in advance and take notes on every case study you'll be fine. Also show up and listen to the lectures because the powerpoints are not enough to understand the studies. If you study well the exams are easy but very focused on specific examples.

Took his course last semester (fall 2024). His PowerPoints are terribly made, but he is very entertaining! I heard some people say his exams are tough, but I didn't find that to be the case. Some questions of the midterm are even on the final verbatim. He's a really fun prof to have, so I highly recommend taking PSYC215 :)

Definitely read the textbook. Lectures can be a bit disorganized but as long as you know the studies he presents and read the textbook you should be fine. He's really nice and super engaging. Lectures are definitely not boring

Lydon is one of the best profs I've had at McGill so far. He's so passionate and makes class fun and engaging. Social Psych is a very interesting course, and it's not difficult to do well as long as you really commit yourself to the readings (exams are 60% reading based). Definitely would take again, and you learn very valuable information

Absolutely loved his class. He's funny, makes lectures engaging, and the textbook is easy to read + annotate. TAs were also super helpful. 10/10 would recommend :)

The absolute goat, I loved his class so much. Very funny and engaging, lots of extra credit available. The course is very reading heavy, it is NOT a class where you can cram. Many people complain about the poorly made powerpoint presentations, however if you listen to the lecture recordings you can easily get all the info you need.

These reviews made me fear Lydon before taking the class but he ended up being my favorite professor of my semester. You can easily get 3+ points of extra credit on each exam (very generous). Most of the exams are based on the textbook chapters (60 ish pages per chapter) so pretty heavy but very doable (i'm usually not an A student so believe me).