PSY 202 Social Psychology, Fall 2009

> Course Syllabus

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Review exercises are available at the textbook's web site:
http://www.wwnorton.com/socialPsych
Learn more about Social Psychology
EXAM Information Graduate Study in Social Psychology
Links to Helpful Studying & Writing Resources "Psychology Web" Social Links
Avoiding inappropriate paraphrasing (REQUIRED READING) Society for Personality and Social Psychology
The Situationist Blog - interesting articles about the role of social psychology in "real life"



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 that 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 at the library or in Blackboard. In Blackboard, open our class site, and click on "Course Documents."  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
M 8/31      
W 9/2 Methodology Exercise Chapter 1  
  THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIAL CONTEXTS
M 9/7

The Self

Chapter 5

 
W 9/9  
 
M 9/14      
W 9/16 (class cancelled)
Baumeister, 1999 (posted on BB)
Crocker & Knight, 2005 (posted on BB)
Self-Esteem Response Paper Due
M 9/21 finish self-esteem; Components of Attitudes Chapter 8 *please bring a copy of your SE paper to class
W 9/23      
  FALL BREAK
W 9/30 Cognitive Dissonance    
M 10/5
EXAM 1
W 10/7 Attribution Theory, Heuristics & Social Judgment
Chapters 9 & 10  
(You will be responsible for the material in Chapter 10, though we will not cover it in class)
 
M 10/12 Fundamental Attribution Error    
W 10/14 Behavioral Confirmation (Self-fulfilling prophecy)
Snyder, Tanke & Berscheid (posted on BB)  
M 10/19 Social Influence
Chapter 6  
W 10/21

 


 
M 10/26 Milgram's Obedience Studies
   
W 10/28  

Sabini & Silver & Hersh (New Yorker article on Abu Ghraib) - see BB

Conformity and Obedience Response Paper Due
*please bring a copy of your work to class
M 11/2 EXAM 2
  INTER-GROUP PROCESSES
W 11/4 Catharsis & Social Learning Theory Chapter 13 - Aggression & Altruism  
M 11/9      
W 11/11 Helping Behavior    
M 11/6 Social Dilemmas; Conflict Resolution
Chapter 14
 
W 11/18 Prejudice Chapter 11 Stereotyping & Prejudice  
M 11/23  

After you've taken the two IATs, 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-Career" and the "Weapons" Implicit Associations Tests (you'll need about 20 minutes) at:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/takeatest.html (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/
THANKSGIVING BREAK
M 11/30 Jigsaw Classroom Session 1

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

  • Word, Zanna & Cooper
  • Dovidio - Journal of Social Issues
  • Johns et al. Psychological Science
  • Aronson & Bridgeman
  • Dovidio & Gaertner - Current Directions
 
W 12/2 Jigsaw Classroom Session 2

Skim all of the articles listed above.

 
M 12/7 Stereotype Threat Theory
  Stereotyping & Prejudice Response Paper Due
W 12/9

EXAM 3