Download Collective Behavior Syllabus

COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR
Sociology 470/570
Four Credits
M/W (12:00-1:50)
Winter 2012
Instructor: Professor Steven Ortiz
Office Hours: (M/W) 11:00-12:30 (and by appointment)
Office: Fairbanks Hall 310
Department of Sociology
Office Phone: 541-737-8920
E-mail: [email protected]
(E-mail will be answered during office hours)
PREREQUISITE: SOC 204 Introduction to Sociology
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Examines current theories; focuses on behavior in crowds and diverse social settings including
fads/fashions, ecstatic crowds/miracles, natural/technological disasters, urban legends, collective
delusions/mass hysteria, protest/demonstrations, riots/mobs.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Throughout the course of history people in all societies and civilizations have participated in
episodes of unique and diverse behavior such as crowds, fads, riots, disasters, hysterias, and
revolutions. Such episodes of human/social behavior have long attracted the curiosity of
sociologists in what have become the loosely defined as the field of collective behavior. This
course is divided into three major parts. In the first part, field/theories of collective behavior, we
develop a sociological understanding of what constitutes collective behavior as a field of study,
and evaluate major theories that influence the study of collective behavior. In the second part,
collective behavior and everyday life, emphasis is given to gatherings and individuals witnessing
images, miracles, and apparitions. We pay particular attention to collective delusions, mass
hysteria, and mass psychogenic illness, and emergence of and belief in urban legends. The
occurrence and characteristics of fads, fashion, and crazes are studied. In the third part, collective
behavior and threats to social order, we examine the nature and outcomes of protest and
demonstrations. We explore the origin and often violent impact of riots and mobs. We analyze
various aspects of natural and technological disasters and reactive behaviors.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective for this course is to develop within students a sociological understanding
the field of collective behavior. This course will focus on the key theories and processes that
distinguish collective behavior from other social phenomenon, gaining insight into the individual
and nature of participation in collective behavior.
Undergraduate Learning Outcomes:
As a result of fully participating in this class, students will be able to:
 identify, summarize, write, and verbalize key theories, concepts, and social issues within
the field of collective behavior,
 recall, identify, and describe substantive findings in collective behavior,
 write a critical and synthesized assessment of a range of existing research and formulate
relevant sociological questions that would address the field of collective behavior.
Graduate Learning Outcomes: Please see last page of the syllabus.
REQUIRED READINGS
Textbooks:
Miller, David L. 2000. Introduction to Collective Behavior and Collective Action. 2nd ed.
Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. (Referred to in your syllabus as Miller)
Locher, David A. 2002. Collective Behavior. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. (Referred to
in your syllabus as Locher)
Brunvand, Jan Harold. 1981. The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their
Meanings. NY: Norton. (Referred to in your syllabus as Brunvand)
Blackboard:
Course information also will be available on the university Blackboard system. If students have
not accessed their OSU ONID account, refer to this link: http://www.onid.edu/. Additional
readings are required and available on this system. (Referred to in your syllabus as Blackboard).
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
Course Policy:
No make-up midterm and final examinations will be allowed unless the instructor is contacted
before the day of the examination. Excuses will only be accepted if they are based on extreme
physical or personal reasons. Illnesses will require the student to contact the instructor. Late
assignments will only be accepted from students who have legitimate excuses. Extra credit will
not be allowed in this course. Students are expected to do all required reading and participate in
all course requirements. The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus
whenever necessary. It is the student’s responsibility to keep informed of these changes.
Statement Regarding Expectations for Student Conduct:
Students are expected to conduct themselves in the classroom in compliance with the university’s
regulations regarding civility. Students also are expected to comply with all regulations regarding
academic honesty. For further information—and to better assess student conduct expectations
(i.e., explanations and consequences of cheating, fabrication, assisting, tampering, and
plagiarism)—visit this link: http://oregonstate.edu/admin.stucon/achon/htm.
Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities:
Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty, and Disability Access
Services (DAS). Students with accommodations approved through DAS are responsible for
contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term
to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who
have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING
Attendance and Participation
19 points
Reading Assignments
20 points
Critical Thinking Exercises
10 points
Midterm Examination
21 points
Final Examination
30 points
Total
100 points
Attendance/Participation (19 points):
This course will require a great deal of interaction and participation. Student involvement is
essential, and attendance is mandatory and must be taken seriously. To receive credit for
attendance and participation, students must attend class on a regular basis. If students arrive late,
leave early, or miss any part of class they will not receive points for that day. Students will attend
class prepared to analyze the course information critically (i.e., raise questions, issues, problems,
alternative viewpoints). Participation will include class discussions, debates, group exercises,
video content analysis exercises, and other activities. All participation will require knowledge
and an understanding of the required readings. Failure to participate and excessive absences will
impact the final grade.
Reading Assignments/Critical Thinking Exercises (20 points, 10 points):
Students will attend class with the required readings completed, have key points of each article
identified and documented, and turn them in at the end of each class. Failure to complete the
reading assignments will impact the final grade. To develop a deeper understanding of the course
material, students are required to write five critical thinking papers (each will be one-two typed
pages). The critical thinking exercises are designed to provide opportunities for students to
respond analytically to issues/topics, concepts, required readings, films, and videos. The written
assignments will form the basis for exploring and analyzing diverse episodes of collective
behavior, and include the student’s reflective thoughts and understanding of both. Additional
instructions will be discussed in class.
Midterm/Final Examinations (21 points, 30 points):
There will be a midterm examination and a non-comprehensive final examination. The midterm
will take place in the classroom, and it will be a blue book and analytical essay style test. The
final examination will be very similar to the midterm examination, it will take place in the
classroom, and it also will be a blue book essay style test. Additional instructions will be
discussed in class.
COURSE CALENDAR
PART I: FIELD/THEORIES OF COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR
Wed
Introduction: Study of Collective Behavior
Readings:
(Locher) Chapters 1, 7
Fri
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Readings:
(Miller) Chapter 2, pp. 19-37
(Locher) Chapters 2-4
(Blackboard) Lewis
Video:
(Classroom) “Jonestown”
Films:
(Classroom) Excerpt from “Elmer Gantry”
(Library Reserve) “Kent State”
PART II: COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR AND EVERYDAY LIFE
Wed
Images, Miracles, and Apparitions
Readings:
(Locher) Chapter 9
(Blackboard) Tumin and Feldman, Article 15
Fri
Images, Miracles, and Apparitions
Readings:
(Blackboard) Davis and Boles
(Blackboard) Duggan
Video:
(Library Reserve) “Visions of Mary”
Film:
(Library Reserve) “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima”
Wed
Collective Delusions, Mass Hysteria, and Mass Psychogenic Illness
Readings:
(Miller) Chapters 5-6
(Blackboard) Donaldson, Cavanagh, and Rankin
Fri
Collective Delusions, Mass Hysteria, and Mass Psychogenic Illness
Readings:
(Blackboard) Jacobs
(Blackboard) Bartholomew, Article 1, pp. 281-286
(Blackboard) Bartholomew and Wessely
(Blackboard) Kerckhoff, Article 12
(Blackboard) Bartholomew, Article 2
Video:
(Classroom) “UFO’s: Then and Now?”
Wed
Urban Legends
Readings:
(Locher) Chapter 10
(Blackboard) Best and Horiuchi
(Brunvand) Chapters 1-4
Fri
Urban Legends
Readings:
(Brunvand) Chapters 5-8
Wed
Fads, Fashion, and Crazes
Readings:
(Miller) Chapter 7
(Locher) Chapter 11
(Blackboard) Anderson
(Blackboard) Kosut
Fri
Midterm Examination
Wed
Fads, Fashion, and Crazes
Readings:
(Blackboard) Goode
(Blackboard) Ben-Yehuda, pp. 1-8
(Blackboard) Salem Witch Trials
(Blackboard) McCarthyism
Video:
(Classroom) “Body Art”
Films:
(Library Reserve) “The Crucible”
(Library Reserve) “Good Night, and Good Luck”
PART III: COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR AND THREATS TO SOCIAL ORDER
Fri
Protest and Demonstrations
Readings:
(Miller) Chapter 14
(Blackboard) Racine, Truchon, and Hage
Video:
(Library Reserve) “Berkeley in the Sixties”
Wed
Riots and Mobs
Readings:
(Miller) Chapters 12-13
Film:
(Library Reserve) “Against the Wall”
Fri
Riots and Mobs
Readings:
(Blackboard) Ruddell, Thomas, and Way
(Locher) Chapter 8
Film:
(Library Reserve) “Riot”
Wed
Disasters
Readings:
(Miller) Chapter 10
(Blackboard) Johnson
(Blackboard) Cocking and Drury
Video:
(Classroom) “The Station Nightclub Fire”
Fri
Disasters
Readings:
(Blackboard) Anderson and Farber
(Blackboard) Connell
(Blackboard) Morgan, Article 3
Video:
(Library Reserve) “The Man Who Predicted 9/11”
Film:
(Library Reserve) “World Trade Center”
Mon
Final Examination
COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR
Sociology 570
Four Credits
Winter 2012
Instructor: Professor Steven Ortiz
Office Hours: (M/W) 11:00-12:30 (and by appointment)
Office: Department of Sociology
Fairbanks Hall 303
Phone: 541-737-8920
E-mail: [email protected]
(E-mail will be answered during office hours)
Graduate Learning Outcomes:
In addition to the objectives outlined for undergraduate students, it is expected that graduate
students will:
 apply an advanced level of critical thinking and synthesis regarding collective behavior;
 be able to apply sociological theories, concepts, and methods to collective behavior;
 demonstrate their advanced understanding through written assignments and interactive
discussions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
Attendance and Participation
20 points
Reading Assignments
20 points
Critical Thinking Exercises
10 points
Graduate Seminar Exercises
20 points
Midterm Examination
30 points
Final Examination
45 points
Total
145 points
Graduate Seminar Exercises (10 points, 10 points):
In addition to the reading material assigned and meeting the requirements for undergraduate
students, graduate students enrolled in Sociology 570 will be responsible for reading additional
articles (to be determined) selected from scholarly journals (to be determined). After reading
these articles, graduate students will provide a five-page typed critical analysis and synthesis of
the articles (e.g., new information learned, what is of value, what is weak or missing), discuss
how these articles relate to the course content, and present their analysis in a seminar. Graduate
students also will be responsible for reading an additional book of their choice (subject to
instructor approval). After reading this book, graduate students will provide a five-page typed
critical analysis of the book (e.g., new information learned, what is of value, what is weak or
missing), discuss how this book relates to the course content, and present their analysis in a
seminar. Graduate students also will meet regularly with the instructor during the term to discuss
the course content and writing assignments.