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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.