Social Psychology

PSY 3613

Spring 2008

 

Instructor:      Dr. David Dietrich

Office:             207E Varnell-Jones Hall

Phone:             425-3445        

e-mail:             dietrich@lambuth.edu

 

Text:               Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Akert, R. M. (2007).  Social psychology (6th Ed.).

                                    New York: Longman.

 

                        Aronson, J., & Aronson, E. (Eds.).  (2007).  Readings about the social animal (10th.Ed.).

                                    New York:  Worth.

 

Course Description:

            The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the concepts of social psychology.  Within this introduction it is hoped that each student will learn how to think critically when reading social psychology material and when viewing themselves and others in the world.  To this end, the course is designed to challenge the students to read, comprehend, and to analyze the material, rather than to absorb a lecture, memorize facts, and spew them out mechanically on an examination.  I recognize that many students are most comfortable with the "memorize and spew" routine.  However, I also recognize that comfort is not the goal of a liberal arts education.  Exercising your mind, expanding your ability to think creatively and confidently, and questioning what is put before you are much nobler goals, and considered more beneficial to you in the long run.  In other words, prepare to become uncomfortable, if you are not used to this type of learning.

            Class time will be spent in a variety of ways, each method attempting to either introduce or elaborate on major social psychological concepts.  Lectures, discussions, small group work, and audio-visual aids will all be used to make the class interesting, informative, and challenging.  You will be expected to take an active role in this course.  This includes speaking when spoken to (always a polite practice), offering opinions, asking questions, possibly presenting material, and working in groups.

            You will also be required to complete some specific tasks outside of class.  This will include reading your text, accessing various internet sites, and completing application assignments (these will be fully explained later).   The point of these outside activities is to enable you to more completely understand the material in the course by applying it to your everyday life. 

 

Course Objectives:

            By the end of the semester it is hoped that you will:

 

·          Be able to critically analyze social psychology research.

·          Understand the role of social psychology within the profession of psychology.

·          Be able to apply the concepts in the course to your own life.

·          Recognize and apply the various methods of social cognition.

·          Understand the dynamics of conformity.

·          Understand the concepts of persuasion and propaganda.

·          Understand the dynamics of self-justification.

·          Be able to explain and recognize the various forms and causes of prejudice.

·          Be able to describe and explain the role of aggression in our society and the many factors involved in aggressive behavior.

 

 

Course Requirements:

            Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

 

17.       Attendance and participation in class.  Following Lambuth University guidelines, attendance is required for students enrolled in this course.  It is also in your best interest to attend and participate in all classes.  Class is your time to clarify your understanding of concepts, ask questions, etc.  While the text gives us a starting point in exploring social psychology, often material not in your text will be presented in class (and included on your exams).  The fact that you are physically present in class is helpful, though your full participation is necessary if you want to get the most out of our time together.  I will give you a participation grade commensurate with your attendance and level of activity in class.   Attitude in class is a determining factor in your participation grade.  Cell phones are not to be used in class.  Use of cell phones in class will result in a reduction in your participation grade.  Coming late to class will also reduce your participation grade.

            We will be discussing articles from a book of readings (Aronson & Aronson, listed above).  A substantial part of your participation grade will come from your active involvement in these discussions. 

 

8.         Written Examinations.  You will be given four examinations.   The examinations will consist of a combination of objective and subjective questions.  The intent of the examinations is to assess your understanding of the concepts as well as your ability to apply these concepts to real world situations.  Since application of concepts is a pivotal goal of this course, rote memorization will not be sufficient to show good progress in the course.

 

33.       Application Assignments.  Social psychology is reflected in our everyday lives.  To assist you in bridging the gap between the seemingly abstract concepts in your book to the more concrete social world in which you live, application assignments are offered as extra credit.

You will have the opportunity to complete up to two “Try It” exercises from your text in the chapters covered for each exam.  I will identify which “Try It”s you may complete.  From my list choose up to two of them to complete.  You can earn up to 5 extra points added to your exam grade for each exercise you turn in.  Full credit depends on the quality of your work and your ability to meet the above criteria.  You do not have to do two exercises, but you can do no more than two per exam.  The exercises are due on the date of the exam you are hoping to apply the extra credit to.  These will not be accepted late for any reason.

You must document your completion of the assignment in a 2-3 page paper.  The paper MUST be: double-spaced, typed, 12-point font, one inch margins, a heading composed of only your name (your paper should begin on the fourth line of the paper, in other words).  This paper should describe what you did, what social psychological concepts were involved, and your reaction to the assignment.   Just listing the social psychology concepts is not sufficient, you must explain them, describe them, thereby showing an understanding of them.  Your extra credit will be based on your following the above guidelines.  The deeper the understanding of the concept exhibited in the paper, the higher your grade. 

           

 

 

Assignments and your final grade:

 

            Exams                                                 =          70%

            Attendance/Participation                   =          30%

 

Grading Scale:

 

90-100 = A      80-89 = B        70-79 = C        60-69 = D        below 60 = F

 

Academic Honesty:

            Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated in this course.  If you cheat on an exam or assignment, you will be given a "0" for that assignment.  If you cheat on a second exam or assignment, you will fail the course and your name will be given to the Academic Dean.  Cheating and plagiarism are defined in the student handbook.  These definitions will be followed in this course.

 

Making up missed work:

            Make-up exams will be given only in extreme circumstances (severe illness, family emergency) and documentation of your absence will be required.  Thus if you are sick, a doctor must write a note indicating that your illness was severe enough to prevent your attendance.  Failure to provide proper documentation will result in denial of the make-up exam.  Falsification of this documentation will result in a "O" on the exam and your name may be turned in to the Academic Dean for further disciplinary action.  Make-up exams will generally be of a different nature than the original exam, changing in format, content, and/or length.  Application assignments and critical thinking questions will not be accepted past their due dates for any reason. 

 

Letters of Recommendation

            Many psychology majors plan on attending graduate school.  Most graduate programs require letters of recommendation from professors as part of the application process.  Other psychology students may plan on finding a job immediately after graduation.  Some of these employers might also require letters of recommendation as part of the application process.  If you are planning on asking me for a letter of recommendation for you, it may be helpful for you to know the things I consider when writing such a letter.  I take into account:

 

            y         your academic performance (grades)

            y         the apparent effort you put into you studies

            y         your attitude and motivation toward school, including attendance, tardiness, and

persistence

            y         the quality of your writing

            y         your level of responsibility and dependability

            y         the nature of the questions you raise in class and the comments you make in class

            y         your ability and willingness to take part in out-of-class activities both within

psychology (Psych Club, Psi Chi) and outside psychology

 

            When asking for a letter of recommendation from any professor, it is proper to:  1.) ask the professor if he or she would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation; 2.) provide the professor with all of the necessary forms and information at least two weeks before the due date; and, 3.) provide stamped, addressed envelopes for any material that the professor must mail. 

 

 

 

Special accommodations:

            If you have a documented learning disability, or other handicapping condition, which will affect your performance in this course, notify me by the end of the first week of the semester so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

            Free tutoring is available if you are having difficulty with this course.  See me for more information.  I am also always willing to answer questions, clarify misunderstandings, and solidify your grasp of course content.  Call me, e-mail me, or drop by my office.

 

 

Proposed Class Schedule:  (subject to change by the instructor)

 

Page numbers listed refer to pages from your main text.  Article numbers listed refer to your book of readings, which are numbered 1-38.

 

Date                                                        Topic                                                                                      Reading  

Jan. 11                    Introduction of course/Critical Thinking                                                         None

 

Jan. 14                    What is Social Psychology                                                                                                pp. 3-27

 

Jan. 16                    Research Methodology                                                                                      pp.29-56                

 

Jan. 18                    Research

 

Jan. 21                                    NO CLASS/MLK DAY

 

Jan. 23                    Schemas/Context/Heuristics                                                                              pp. 57-79

 

Jan. 25                    Controlled social cognition                                                                                pp. 80-90

 

Jan. 28                    Nonverbal Behavior/Impression formation                                                     pp. 91-103

 

Jan. 30                    Causal Attribution/Accuracy                                                                            pp. 104-119

 

Feb. 1                     Culture/attributions                                                                                             pp. 120-124

 

Feb. 4                     Readings discussion                                                                                           Articles 11, 13, 15

 

Feb. 6                     First Exam

 

Feb. 8                     Self-knowledge I                                                                                                 pp. 125-143

 

Feb. 11                   Self-knowledge II                                                                                 pp. 143-158

 

Feb. 13                   Cognitive Dissonance                                                                                         pp. 159-168

 

Feb. 15                   Self-justification                                                                                                   pp. 168-188

 

Feb. 18                   Self-Justification

 

Feb. 20                   Attitudes/attitude change                                                                                  pp. 189-207

 

Feb. 22                   Resistance to attitude change/Other issues                                                    pp. 208-226

 

Feb. 25                   Conformity                                                                                                            pp. 227-2238

 

Feb. 27                   Conformity                                                                                                            pp. 238-260

 

Feb. 29                   Obedience                                                                                                             pp. 260- 270

 

Mar. 3                     Readings discussion                                                                                          Articles 7, 17, 20

 

Mar. 5                     Second Exam

 

Mar. 7                     NO  CLASS (SEPA)

 

Mar. 10-14                             SPRING BREAK

 

Mar. 17                   Group Processes                                                                                                  pp.272-285

 

Mar. 19                   Group Processes                                                                                                  pp.286-304

 

Mar. 21                   NO CLASS – Good Friday

 

Mar 24                    Antecedents to Attraction                                                                                 pp. 305-320                                                                           

Mar. 26                   Close Rels/Causes of Love                                                                                pp. 320-342

                               

Mar. 28                   Prosocial Behavior                                                                                               pp. 343-356                           

 

Mar. 31                   Prosocial Behavior                                                                                               pp. 357-372

 

Apr. 2                     Readings discussion                                                                                           Articles 34, 35, 38

 

Apr. 4                     EXAM THREE

 

Apr. 7                     Aggression                                                                                                           pp. 373-496

 

Apr. 9                     Aggression

 

Apr. 11                   Reducing aggression                                                                                          pp. 397-412

 

Apr. 14                   Prejudice                                                                                                                pp. 413-422

 

Apr. 16                   Causes/Reducing Prejudice                                                                               pp. 422-458

 

Apr. 18                   Making a Difference with Social Psych                                                            pp. 459- 476          

 

Apr. 21                   Making a Difference with Social Psych                                                            pp. 477-482

 

Apr. 23                   Social Psych and the Law                                                                                   pp. 513-530

 

Apr. 25                   Juries                                                                                                                      pp. 530-540

               

Apr. 28                   Readings discussion                                                                                           Articles 26, 28, 30