Download Social Psychology

Social Psychology
Psychology 2402
Summer 2003 M-F 10:20 – 12:00
Instructor: Ms. Anne-Marie Suddreth
Office: 314-B Smith-Wright Hall
Phone: 262-2737 Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: TWR 9:00 – 10:00 or by appointment
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TEXT: Myers, David G. (2002). Social Psychology (7th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Course objectives:
The purpose of this course is to come to a better understanding of ourselves and others as we
think, feel, and behave in social interactions. We will be looking at some of the highlights and important
findings that have come out of the field of social psychology such as why we form stereotypes, what
makes us stay in a relationship, and why we form relationships in the first place. One of the things that
makes social psychology so interesting is that, unlike some of the other areas of psychology, this is an
arena about which we all share some knowledge. However, as we will see sometimes, what we may
expect people to do is sometimes the exact opposite of what they actually do.
One of the major contributions that Social Psychology makes to the field of Psychology as a
whole is that it specifically examines how an individual is affected by the people around him or her. So,
unlike Sociology which examines groups of people, Social Psychology looks at how an individual is
affected by group and social context.
Grading:
Each Friday we will have an exam on the material covered that week. Your lowest exam grade
will account for 15% of your final grade, your final exam (which is partially cumulative) will account
for 25% and the remaining three exams will each contribute 20% to your final grade. No make-ups will
be given, except possibly under very unusual circumstances. Such circumstances must be made known
to me PRIOR TO (if at all possible) the exam in question. Also, any make-up exam will be essay in
nature, and substantially more difficult than the in-class exam.
Grading Scale:
93 – 100 = A
90 – 92 = A87 – 89 = B+
83 – 86 = B
80 – 82 = B77 – 79 = C+
73 – 76 = C
70 – 72 = C67 – 69 = D+
63 – 66 = C
60 – 62 = DBelow 60 = F
Attendance:
Roll will be taken daily. Each student is allowed two absences (excluding exam days); each
absence past two will result in five points subtracted from your final grade. Because I do not lend my
notes to students, you are responsible for getting the notes you missed from your classmates.
Class discussion:
Class discussion can really enhance the course content in social psychology. However, it’s
important that students use discretion in how they conduct themselves during discussion. Students must
be respectful to other students at all times. It’s also important that students recognize whether their
contribution to discussion is starting to monopolize class time. If I feel that a student’s behavior is
starting to negatively impact the class I will first speak to the student privately. However, I reserve the
right to ask a student to leave class if his or her behavior is inappropriate or is disrupting the learning of
other students.
Class schedule: (the instructor reserves the right to make any changes to this schedule as become
necessary throughout the semester) ***Please note: You are responsible for the material contained in
the assigned reading (i.e., it is all fair game for exams). Because the summer school timeframe is
considerably shorter, we will not have time to go over all material in class.
Week 1:
Introduction to Social Psychology (Read Chapter 1 pp. 19 – 33)
How well do we really know ourselves?
Self-perception (Read Chapter 2 )
Week 2:
Behavior and Attitudes (Read Chapter 4)
Attribution and Judging Others (Read Chapter 3)
Week 3:
Prejudice and Stereotypes (Read Chapter 9)
Gender Stereotypes (Read Chapter 5 pp. 178 – 201)
Persuasion (Read Chapter 7)
Week 4:
Social Influence & Obedience (Read Chapter 6)
Group Influence (Read Chapter 8)
Week 5:
Helping and Altruism (Read Chapter 12)
Interpersonal Attraction & Close Relationships and Love (Read Chapter 11)
Social Psychology Applied:
Social Psychology and the Sustainable Future (Read Module C, pp. 632 - 649)