PSY 202 Social Psychology, Fall 2010


> Course Syllabus *Note - Reading Assignments for 11/23 now posted

> Connie's Office Hours & Contact Information

> Link to Moodle


Review exercises are available at the textbook's web site. The Situationist Blog
EXAM Information Understanding Prejudice.org
Links to Helpful Studying & Writing Resources Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Avoiding inappropriate paraphrasing (REQUIRED READING) Social Psychology.org


Tentative Reading/Assignment Schedule

Assignments and supplementary readings are due on the date listed. For textbook chapters, you should familiarize yourself (i.e., skim) the entire chapter in preparation for the class unit, and carefully read the chapter during the unit. It is important to keep up with readings, so plan to have each chapter finished before we move on to the next chapter. Check often (weekly) for schedule revisions/updates/additions. Supplementary class readings are available via Moodle. See the syllabus for instructions on how to access Moodle. The file for each reading is a "PDF" file.   If you would like to download Acrobat, visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html.  Acrobat is a free download (though large) and should be on all campus computers.

Please bring a copy of supplementary readings to class with you on the day we discuss them.

Date Topic Readings Assignments
  OVERVIEW & METHODS
T 8/31 Intro Chapter 1  
R 9/2
Methodology Exercise
Chapter 2 Blog Report Topics: please turn in a piece of paper with 3 choices (in order of preference). You will be assigned to one topic.
 
THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE SOCIAL WORLD
T 9/7

The Self

Chapter 3

 
R 9/9
"

Chapter 2, Apply It! Exercise: "Recession Causes Increase in Teen Dating Violence" (Questions 5 & 6)

(Carefully review & follow the Apply It Exercise instructions in the Course Syllabus; Turn in your work via Moodle.)

T 9/14
Self-Esteem
 

Culture & Self Blog Reports (See syllabus for instructions; Turn in your work via Moodle.)

(11 am) Dahlia W., Shana
(3 pm) Mackenzie, Jill P.

R 9/16
"

Leary (1999);  and  Solomon, Greenberg & Pyszczynski (2000)

(Unless otherwise noted, supplemental readings are available via Moodle.)

Reading Guide Questions:
1.  Explain sociometer theory and its underlying evolutionary reasoning
2.  Explain terror management theory.  Be sure you understand what the “terror” is and where it comes from and how it is that the theory proposes we manage it.
3.  How does each theory answer the question: "What is the purpose of self-esteem?"

Self-Esteem Blog Reports

(11 am) Keri S., Kim Y.
(3 pm) Katie S., Jill F.

T 9/21
Attribution Theory
Chapters 4 & 5  
(You will be responsible for the material in Chapter 5, though we will not cover it in class)
 
R 9/23
Fundamental Attribution Error
 

FAE Blog Reports

(11 am) Maggie R., Cristina G.
(3 pm) Jess E., Zach

T 9/28
Self-fulfilling Prophecy

Snyder, Tanke & Berscheid (1977)

Chapter 3, Apply It! Exercises: Questions 3 & 4 (be sure to read both of the relevant links)

SFP Blog Reports

(11 am) Kimberly K.
(3 pm) Judy

 
INFLUENCING OTHERS
R 9/30
Attitudes & Persuasion
Chapter 6 & pp. 316-327 of Chapter 9  
T 10/5
Cognitive Dissonance
   
R 10/7
"
 

Cognitive Dissonance Blog Reports

(11 am) Heather S., Genna W., Will K.
(3 pm) Jeremy, Emily T., Ali L.

T 10/12
Catch up Day
  Apply It! Exercise:
Watch:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-9-2009/bill-o-reilly-s-right-to-privacy

Answer these questions:
1. Jon Stewart is suggesting Bill O’Reilly should be experiencing cognitive dissonance. Explain the source of that cognitive dissonance.

2. Assuming O’Reilly actually does feel the dissonance, explain one way he might be relieving it and, thus, allowing his television program to air the contradicting stories Jon Stewart pointed out.
R 10/14
Exam 1
 
Fall Break
R 10/21
Conformity & Obedience
Chapter 8

Conformity Blog Reports

(11 am) Erin W., Samantha F.
(3 pm) Jessie C., Shakira

T 10/26
"
   
R 10/28
"

Sabini & Silver (1982)

Hersh (2004) linked here:  http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/10/040510fa_fact

Obedience Blog Reports

(11 am) David K., Zach W.
(3 pm) Caitlin S., Ashley

  SOCIAL RELATIONS
T 11/2 Aggression
pp. 484-520 of Chapter 13
R 11/4
Media Violence
 

Aggression Blog Reports

(11 am) Jen T., Stephen L.
(3 pm) Josh, Ian

T 11/9
Helping Behavior

Watch these videos, thinking about the situational determinants of helping (about 20 minutes total):

1.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49YQhTLoGuA&feature=related
2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XsjJQ8FH70&feature=related

 
R 11/11
"

 


Altruism Blog Reports

(11 am) Michele T., Amy L.
(3 pm) Andalisa, Joe S.

T 11/16
Social Power

Chapter 12 and read this blog post.

Also watch these 2 videos (about 20 minutes total):

1.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFO1b9I-u5Q
2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cctQ54r3DNk&feature=related

Chapter 13 Apply It! Exercises: Questions 1, 2, 3, 4 (be sure to read/watch both of the relevant links)

R 11/18
Implicit Prejudice

After you've taken the assigned Implicit Association Tests, watch these videos, in this order (about 10 minutes total):

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmF8iIeOVEo&NR=1
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RSVz6VEybk

Take the "Gender-Science" and the "Race" Implicit Associations Tests (you'll need about 20 minutes) at:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/selectatest.html (Select "Demonstration" ; Note: cookies must be allowed in order to proceed with the test.)

Optionally, you may also take one or both of the following IATs: http://humanoralien.com/ ; http://deadidentity.com/
T 11/23
Jigsaw Classroom

Note: Eventually you will have to read all of these articles. For now, however, you should read and be prepared to answer the Reading Guide questions about the article that has been assigned to you. (Reading Guide)

  • Dovidio (2001)
  • Word, Zanna & Cooper (1974)
  • Johns et al. (2005)
  • Richeson & Nussbaum (2004)
  • Nier et al. (2001)

Stereotyping & Prejudice Blog Reports

(11am) Amanda M., Matt F., Andrew B., Tory M. Becca R.
(3 pm) Chelsea, Emily G., Sarah, Jessica G., Annie

Thanksgiving Break
T 11/30
Jigsaw continued & Stigma

Skim all of the articles listed above.

 

R 12/2
Stigma continued

 

Chapter 12 Apply It! Exercises:  Questions 1,2, 5, 6

T 12/7
Social Dilemmas &  Conflict Resolution

pp. 521-531 of Chapter 13 

Morality/Justice/Cooperation Blog Reports

(11 am) Molly D., Joe M.

R 12/9
EXAM 2