Sociological Approaches to Social Psychology - Syllabus | 920 319, Exams of Introduction to Sociology

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SOCIOLOGY 319

Sociological Approaches to Social Psychology Tu & Th 3:20-4:40 p.m. (T5Th5) ● Livingston Classroom Building (LCB) 108 Spring 2008

Professor: Deborah Carr Lucy Stone Hall 332 Office Phone: 932- E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: Tuesday 1-3 p.m., and by appointment http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~carrds/

Description: Social psychology is the systematic study of the nature and causes of human social behavior. This course will introduce you to the key concepts, theories, and methods of social psychology, and to some fundamental arguments about the social world. Although a semester- long course cannot be comprehensive in its coverage of social psychology, we will cover important topics including socialization, the self, perception, cognition, attitudes, interpersonal relationships, group behavior, altruism, aggression, and deviance. Students will obtain a toolkit of social psychological concepts to apply to their own life experiences, including interactions with friends, family members, and romantic partners; educational and employment experiences; and one’s own observations about the social problems in the United States and elsewhere.

Required Texts: Delamater, John D., and Daniel J. Meyers. 2007. Social Psychology, 6 th^ edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth. ISBN: 0-495-09336-X (Referred to as “D&M” in reading schedule).

Pettijohn, Terry F. 2001. Notable Selections in Social Psychology, 3 rd^ edition. New York: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-2422580; ISBN-10: 0-07-242258-0 (Referred to as “P” in reading schedule).

All readings are required. Readings denoted with (L) will be available via the online Reserves system. Books are available at the Livingston Bookstore. One copy of each book will also be available at the reserves desk at the Kilmer Library. Throughout the semester, recommended readings may be posted on the course website.

Class Format: Students are required to attend two lectures each week. Active participation is encouraged in lecture. Lecture outlines will be posted on the course website within 24 hours prior to each lecture. Assigned readings should be read prior to each lecture. Students are strongly encouraged to visit the professor’s office hours.

Requirements and Grading : Exams: Three closed-book exams will cover material from lectures, readings, film clips, and class discussion. The first two exams will be held during class (Tuesday February 19 and Tuesday April 1), and the final exam will be held on Friday May 9. Each of the three exams is

non-cumulative, and is worth 24 percent of your grade. The exams are only “cumulative” in the sense that several theoretical perspectives underlie the substantive topics that we discuss throughout the semester, and you are responsible for understanding these theoretical perspectives. A review sheet distributed one week prior to each exam will help you identify and understand the important issues. The review sheet will also describe the format of the exam. Exams may include multiple choice questions, definitions, and short answers. The final exam may also include one essay question. I will give a make-up exam only to those students who give me at least 5 days notice, and who present a valid reason for missing the scheduled exam.

Written Exercises : You are required to submit two 3-5 page written assignments. These assignments will involve the application of social psychological theories and concepts. Submissions must be type-written, double-spaced, thoughtful, and clearly written. You are expected to use proper grammar and spelling. Each written assignment is worth 10 percent of your overall course grade. Paper #1 is due on Tuesday March 11. Paper #2 is due on Tuesday April 22. Assignments will be posted on the class website at least two weeks before the due date.

Participation: Attendance and class participation are very important for what you learn and for how well you do in the class. Your attendance and informed participation accounts for 8 percent of your grade.

Summary of grading procedure: Course grades are based on the total number of points an individual earns on exams and written assignments, relative to point totals earned by others in the class. Extra credit points will be added to the final grade, where applicable, after the overall course grade distribution is established. In determining course grades, the assignments are weighted as follows:

Exam 1 [2/19/08] 24% Exam 2 [4/1/08] 24% Exam 3 [5/9/08] 24% Written Assignments [Due March 11 and April 22] 20% Discussion 8 % TOTAL 100%

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

Extra credit option: We will cover a variety of thought-provoking topics in this course, and some of you may be inspired to do additional reading on a topic you find particularly compelling. You will have the opportunity to do an extra credit project, worth 0 to 3 points based on the quality of your work. These extra credit points will be added to your overall class average. You may write an 8-10 page original research paper on the topic of your choice. The topic must be approved by the professor by March 4. The research paper should include a critical review and integration of relevant literature. In addition to adding points to your class grade, this assignment also gives you an opportunity to apply the social psychological perspective to your own major field of study. Extra-credit assignments may be handed in at any point during the semester, but any work submitted later than Friday May 2 at 5 p.m. will NOT be accepted. Only typewritten papers will be accepted. Proper grammar and spelling is expected.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND READINGS

I. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

A. Theoretical Perspectives

January 22 (Tu). Welcome and Introduction

January 24 (Th). What is Social Psychology? Introduction to Social Psychological Theories

(D&M) Chapter 1 “Introduction to Social Psychology” (Pp. 1-25).

(P) Allport, Floyd Henry “Social Psychology” (Pp. 3-6).

(P) Berscheid, Ellen. “A Glance Back at a Quarter Century of Social Psychology” (Pp. 14-22).

B. Research Methods in Social Psychology: How Do We Study People?

January 29 (Tu) through February 5 (Tu). Research Methods & Ethics

(D&M) Chapter 2 “Research Methods in Social Psychology” (Pp. 26-51).

(P) Nicks, Sandra D., James H. Korn, and Tina Manieri. “The Rise and Fall of Deception in Social Psychology and Personality Research” (Pp. 7-13).

(P) Milgram, Stanley. “Behavioral Study of Obedience” (Pp. 227-236).

II. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF

A. Socialization

February 7 (Th). Socialization

(D&M) Chapter 3 “Socialization” (Pp. 52-81).

(L) Kluger, Jeffrey. 2006. “The New Science of Siblings.” Time (July 2, 2006).

(L) Gibbs, Nancy. 2001. “Who’s In Charge Here?” Newsweek (August 6, 2001).

B. Self and Identity

February 12 (Tu) and February 14 (Th). Self, Identity, and Self-Esteem

(D&M) Chapter 4 “Self and Identity” (Pp. 82-107).

(P) Brewer, Marilyn. “The Social Self: On Being the Same and Different at the Same Time” (Pp. 54-60).

(P) Festinger, Leon. “A Theory of Social Comparison Processes” (Pp. 31-36).

(L) Milkie, Melissa. “Media Images’ Influence on Adolescent Girls’ Self-Concepts.” Pp. 46- in Inside Social Life: Readings in Sociological Psychology and Microsociology , edited by Spencer Cahill (2004). Los Angeles: Roxbury.

(P). Tesser, Abraham. “Toward a Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model of Social Behavior” (Pp. 37-47).

February 19 (Tu): Exam #

III. COGNITIVE PROCESSES

A. Social Perception and Cognition

February 21 (Th). Social Perception and Person Perception

(D&M) Chapter 5 “Social Perception and Cognition” (Pp. 108-127).

(P) Kelley, Harold H. “The Warm-Cold Variable in First Impressions of Persons” (Pp. 25-30).

(P) Dion, Karen, Ellen Berscheid and Elaine Walster. “What is Beautiful is Good” (Pp. 161- 167).

B. Attribution Processes

February 26 (Tu). Attribution Theory and Processes

(D&M) Chapter 5 “Social Perception and Cognition” (Pp. 127-140).

C. Attitudes

February 28 (Th) and March 4 (Tu). Attitudes and Attitude-Behavior Link

(D&M) Chapter 6 “Attitudes” (Pp. 141-164)

(P) LaPiere, Richard T. “Attitudes versus Actions” (Pp. 103-107).

(P) Ajzen, Icek and Martin Fishbein. “Attitude-Behavior Relations: A Theoretical Analysis and Review of Empirical Research” (Pp. 97-102).

(P) Dutton, Donald G., and Arthur P. Aron. “Some Evidence for Heightened Sexual Attraction under Conditions of High Anxiety” (Pp. 186-191).

March 18 (Tu) and March 20 (Th). No class session. Happy spring break!

March 25 (Tu) and March 27 (Th). Close Relationships

(D&M) Chapter 13 “Interpersonal Attraction and Relationships” (Pp. 338-353).

(P) Sternberg, Robert J. “The Ingredients of Love” (Pp. 192-201).

(P) Hazan, Cindy and Phillip Shaver. “Romantic Love Conceptualized as an Attachment Process” (Pp. 211-224).

(P) Sprecher, Susan. “‘I Love You More Today than Yesterday’: Romantic Partners’ Perceptions of Changes in Love and Related Affect over Time” (Pp. 202-210).

April 1 (Tu). Exam #

C. Emotions

April 3 (Th). Emotions

(D&M) Chapter 10. “Emotion” (Pp. 250-272).

(L) Smith, Allen C. III and Sherryl Kleinman. “Managing Emotions in Medical School.” Pp. 92- 105 in Inside Social Life: Readings in Sociological Psychology and Microsociology , edited by Spencer Cahill (2004). Los Angeles: Roxbury.

Read one of the following two:

(L) Martin, Susan Ehrlich. 1999. “Police Force or Police Service? Gender and Emotional Labor.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 561: 111 - 126.

(L) Henderson, Angela. 2001. “Emotional Labor and Nursing: An Under-appreciated Aspect of Caring Work.” Nursing Inquiry 8(2): 130-138.

D. Small Group Behavior

April 8 (Tu). Group Cohesion and Conformity

(D&M) Chapter 14 “Group Cohesion and Conformity” (Pp. 354-377).

(P) Janis, Irving L. “The Groupthink Syndrome” (Pp. 275-280).

April 10 (Th). Intergroup Conflict

(D&M) Chapter 16 “Intergroup Conflict” (Pp. 408-431).

(P) Allport, G.W. “The Nature of Prejudice” (Pp. 137-142).

(P) Sherif, M. “Superordinate Goals in the Reduction of Intergroup Conflict” (Pp. 143-149).

(P) Dovidio, John F., and Samuel L. Gaertner. “Affirmative Action, Unintentional Racial Biases, and Intergroup Relations” (Pp. 150-158).

April 15 (Tu). Group Performance & Leadership (Guest lecturer: Dmitry Khodyakov)

(D&M) Chapter 15 “Group Structure and Performance” (Pp. 378-407).

(P) Zajonc, Robert B. “Social Facilitation” (Pp. 251-257).

(P) Latane, Bibb, Kipling Williams, and Stephen Harkins. “Many Hands Make Light the Work: The Causes and Consequences of Social Loafing” (Pp. 258-265).

E. Social Movements

April 17 (Th). Social Movements (Guest lecturer: Elizabeth Williamson)

(D&M). Chapter 20. “Collective Behavior and Social Movements” (Pp. 524-552).

(L) Boyd, Andrew. 2003. “The Web Rewires the Movement” The Nation (August 4, 2003).

F. Helping and Hurting Behaviors

April 22 (Tu). Altruism [Paper #2 due]

(D&M) Chapter 11 “Helping and Altruism” (Pp. 273-298).

(P) Darley, John M. and Bibb Latane. “Bystander Intervention in Emergencies: Diffusion of Responsibility” (Pp. 283-292).

(P) Baron, Robert A. “The Sweet Smell of…Helping: Effects of Pleasant Ambient Fragrance on Prosocial Behavior in Shopping Malls” (Pp. 293-299).

April 24 (Th). Aggression

(D&M) Chapter 12 “Aggression” (Pp. 299-324).

(P) Bandura, Albert, Dorothea Ross and Sheila A. Ross. “Imitation of Film-Mediated Aggressive Models” (Pp. 300-307).