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Course Syllabus
Psychology 195/Religion 195: Religion & Cognition, Summer 2012
Dr. Steven Hrotic, [email protected]
Office hours: before class or by appointment.
Class meetings: 18 June-13 July 2012
Monday through Thursday, 5:00p to 7:45p
Lafayette Hall, L100
Course Description:
This course combines approaches from three fields—History of Religion, Anthropology,
and Psychology—as well as evolutionary perspectives on human culture. We will work through
a number of questions, including: how can evolutionary thought be applied to cultural behaviors
such as religion? Is religion a “natural” phenomenon or something that requires special
explanation? How does culture transmit between individuals and over generations? To what
extent is religion part of an evolving cultural environment?
Previous exposure to history of religion, basic cognitive psychology, or the anthropology
of religion will be helpful. However, the course is intentionally interdisciplinary – a variety of
backgrounds would be directly relevant.
General Course Information:
Learning Outcomes:
To gain a basic understanding of religion from a behavioral perspective, and some of the
primary cognitive and evolutionary models of religion.
Course Policies:
In-class discussions will likely touch on subjects participants feel are personal and
significant. Divulgence of personal religious beliefs and/or affiliations is not required nor
expected. Students must exercise professionalism and respect for each other at all times.
Academic Honesty & Professionalism:
All students are required to be familiar with and adhere to UVM’s most recent “Code of
Academic Integrity, available at http://www.uvm.edu/policies/student/acadintegrity.pdf.
Participation:
Regular attendance and participation in classroom discussion is essential. Assigned
readings (including those listed on the schedule below and assigned in class) should be completed
before the date assigned. Expected time commitment is two hours work per hour class time.
Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice; they should submit to the
instructor in writing within the first week of class any conflicts with documented religious
holidays. Students will have three days to make up work missed for the purpose of religious
observance.
Required and/or recommended readings:
Required: Pascal Boyer, Religion Explained (Available through Amazon.com.)
Harvey Whitehouse, Modes of Religiosity, paperback isbn: 9780759106154
(Also available through Abebooks.com.)
Selections from other texts will be distributed electronically, including chapters from:
Jerome Barkow, Missing the Revolution
Evelyn Tribble & Nicholas Keene, Cognitive Ecologies and the History of Remembering: Religion, Education and Memory in Early Modern England
Submissions Format:
Suggested: Times New Roman, 11 pt., 1.5 spacing, 1 inch margins. Don’t “right justify”!
Grading:
20%
Weekly response papers (3-4 pages)
20%
Mid-course exam
20%
In-class presentation
Throughout the semester, supplementary readings will be offered on related
topics (e.g., feminism and biological approaches to culture, case studies, etc.). Students
will pick one and present it to the class.
20%
Final research paper (7-8 pages)
20%
Class preparation and participation
Instructional Sequence:
18 June 2012
‘Defining religion’
19 June 2012
‘Cognitive anthropology’
Read before class: Barkow, Missing the Revolution, chap. 1 “Introduction”
“
20 June 2012
Read before class: Sperber, Explaining Culture, chaps. 3 & 5:
“Anthropology and Psychology: Towards an Epidemiology of Representations”
“Selection & Attraction in Cultural Evolution”
“
21 June 2012
Read before class: Bulbulia, “The Evolution of Religion”
25 June 2012
‘Natural religion’
Read before class: Boyer, The Naturalness of Religious Ideas,
Part 1 (chaps. 1-3)
“
26 June 2012
Read before class: Boyer, The Naturalness of Religious Ideas,
chap. 4 “Natural Ontologies and Supernatural Furniture”
“
27 June 2012
Read before class: Boyer, The Naturalness of Religious Ideas,
chap. 8 “Cross-Strengthening, Religious Truth, and Stability”
28 June 2012
Exam
2 July 2012
‘Costly religion’
Read before class: Whitehouse, Modes of Religiosity
Part 1 (chaps. 1-3)
3 July 2012
“
Read before class: Whitehouse, Modes of Religiosity chap. 4
“The Theory of Modes of Religiosity”
4 July 2012
5 July 2012
Independence Day – no class
“
Read before class: Whitehouse, Modes of Religiosity, chaps. 5 & 6:
“Ritual and Meaning in the Doctrinal Mode”
“Ritual and Meaning in the Imagistic Mode”
9 July 2012
‘Religious environments’
Read before class: Purzycki, Haque & Sosis: “Extending Evolutionary Accounts of
Religion beyond the Mind: Religions as Adaptive Systems”
10 July 2012
“
Read before class: Tribble & Keene, Cognitive Ecologies and the History
of Remembering, chap. 1 “Introduction”
11 July 2012
“
Read before class: Tribble & Keene, Cognitive Ecologies and the History
of Remembering, chap. 5 Quakerism case-study
12 July 2012
‘Open Discussion’