Download Course Syllabus - PSY 2110H [Winter 2014]

PSY2110H – Social Psychology
Wednesdays 5:30pm to 8:30pm
LEE A130
School of Psychology
Winter 2014
COURSE SYLLABUS
Professor:
Marie Lyne Laliberté
If you have any question related to the material or the course, you can
come see me right before/after class or schedule an appointment with
me. I also answer questions by email, usually within 72 hours.
Email: [email protected]
T.A.:
Muna Osman
Email: [email protected]
Course description
This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to the field of Social Psychology. It will
cover the most studied topics within the field by focusing on both classic and contemporary theories and
results of research studies.
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
1. Identify, understand and apply fundamental principles and theories of Social Psychology;
2. Gain insight into the way situational forces and group processes shape behaviour, emotions
and cognition;
3. Understand the relevance and application of Social Psychological principles to everyday life;
and
4. Become acquainted with types of methodology used in the field.
***Last day to withdraw form the course is Friday, March 21, 2014 ***
1
Required textbook (available for purchase at the University Bookstore)
Lesko, W.A. (2012). Readings in Social Psychology: General, Classic and Contemporary
Selections (8th edition). Boston: Pearson Education Inc.
*Any other material, class notes and announcements will be posted on the virtual campus.
Absence
I do not keep track of class attendance. However, keep in mind that solely relying on class notes (i.e.
PowerPoint slides) and required readings may not be enough to do well in the course. If you do miss a
class for any reason, it is your responsibility to ask a classmate for a copy of their notes, as I will not be
sharing my own class notes with anyone, no matter the circumstances.
Absence from an exam due to illness or extraordinary personal circumstances must be justified. You
will be required to provide me with a medical certificate or other official documentation no more than 5
working days after the exam in order to be allowed to write a make-up exam. Other reasons such as, but
not limited to, travel, employment and misreading the examination schedule are not acceptable. You
may refer to Academic Regulation 9.5 for further details at
http://www.uottawa.ca/governance/regulations.html.
Evaluation
Midterm Exam (45%) : The midterm exam will cover material from Week 1 to Week 5 inclusively. It
will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.
Final Exam (55%) : The final exam will cover material from Week 7 to Week 12 inclusively. It will be
held during the examination period in April.
Proposed Schedule and required readings
Weeks
Topics + Required readings
Week 1 (Jan 8)
Introduction to Social Psychology
Documentary: The Human Behaviour Experiments
Week 2 (Jan 15)
Research in Social Psychology
- Article 1 – How to be a wise consumer of psychological research
- Article 2 – Human use of human subjects: The problem of deception in social
psychological experiments
- Article 3 – Social influences on paranormal belief: Popular versus scientific
support
2
Week 3 (Jan 22)
The Self
- Article 13 – The many me’s of the self-monitor
- Article 15 – Reducing narcissistic aggression by buttressing self-esteem
Week 4 (Jan 29)
Social Perception & Social Cognition
- Article 4 – The once-over: Can you trust first impressions?
- Article 5 – The warm-cold variable in first impression of persons
- Article 7 – Some systematic biases of everyday judgment
- Article 9 – Lasting false beliefs and their behavioural consequences
Week 5 (Feb 5)
Attitudes and Attitude Change
- Article 11 – Cognitive consequences of forced compliance
- Article 12 – The origins of cognitive dissonance: Evidence from children and
monkeys
- Article 17 – Attitudes vs. actions
Week 6 (Feb 12)
Midterm Exam (45%)
*No class on Feb. 19
Week 7 (Feb 26)
Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination
- Article 16 – Unmasking “racial micro aggressions”
- Article 18 – Interracial roommate relationships: An experimental field test of
the contact hypothesis
Week 8 (March 5)
Social Influence
- Article 25 – Revisiting the Stanford prison experiment: A lesson in the power
of situation
- Article 26 – Behavioural study of obedience
- Article 27 – The constructive, deconstructive, and reconstructive power of
social norms
Week 9 (March 12)
Group Behaviour
- Article 34 – Group decision fiascos continue: Space shuttle Challenger and a
revised groupthink framework
- Article 36 – Can high group cohesion be harmful? A case study of a junior
ice-hockey team
Week 10 (March 19)
Aggression
- Article 30 – Comfortably Numb: Desensitizing effects of violent media on
helping others
- Article 32 – Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive
models
3
Week 11 (March 26)
Prosocial Behaviour
- Article 28 – Nice by nature?
- Article 29 – From Jerusalem to Jericho: A study of situational and
dispositional variables in helping behaviour
Week 12 (April 2)
Interpersonal Attraction and Close Relationships
- Article 20 – What is beautiful is good
- Article 23 – “Playing hard to get”: Understanding an elusive phenomenon
- Article 24 – Does a long-term relationship kill romantic love?
Examination Period
in April 2014
Final Exam (55%)
4