Social
Psychology
Psych 230
Spring, 2001
Vinai Norasakkunkit
Office hours: M-4-242, Monday, 9:30-10:30am or by appointment.
Phone: Call psych dept. and leave a message
E-mail: g4479vnora@umbsky.cc.umb.edu
Syllabus located at http://psych.umb.edu/grdstd/vinai/syllabus230.htm
Course overview:
The objectives of this course are for you to understand and think critically about basic social psychological theories and to understand the consequences of being "social animals." According to David Myers, the author of your book, social psychology is "the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another." This is a broad definition that entails a wide range of phenomena, including: how people form attitudes, how people understand and experience themselves and others in relation to the social and situational context, how people attempt to persuade and are persuaded by others, how people form close relationships, and why people help or harm each other. We will also go one step further to discuss how the larger cultural systems impact social psychological processes in cross-culturally divergent ways above and beyond what is covered in your text.
Structure of the course
Mastery of the material requires that you stay current on the reading assignments and attend class regularly. To help encourage reading and attendance, we will have both exams and unannounced in-class exercises that will be part of your grade. The lectures will assume that you have already done the reading for the week, so your understanding of each lecture will be best if you have done the reading first. On occasions, I will also be showing films in class to supplement the theories that you encounter in your readings. Although most of the cultural piece that go beyond the text book will be covered in the lectures, I will occasionally hand out supplemental readings to compliment the lectures that may require you to pay a small fee for each of those articles at the time of distribution ($2-$4). Any supplemental reading that is not specified in the calendar of this syllabus can be assumed to be fairly light and will be due on the same week as the required readings from your text.
Requirement
Total 100%
Extra Credit 3% (max)
Make-up exams
Make-up exams will only be considered in the event that a student misses an exam due to a medical, and sometimes, personal emergency. Students are expected to speak with me at my office hours before a quiz/exam day to discuss circumstances. I reserve the right to ask for documentation of the emergency should the need arise.
Extra credit
Students will be expected to concentrate on the course assignments at hand. However, the only form of extra credit assignment that will be considered is volunteering as a participant in psychological research at UMass Boston or doing a writing assignment. Each extra credit will increase your overall grade by 1% with a limit of three research participation hours in total (max 3%). Students will be responsible for bringing the research credit slips in to me for each research study they participate in. Keep in mind that opportunities to participate in research studies are contingent on how many psychological research projects looking to recruit participants are taking place in any given semester. Therefore, opportunities to participate in research may vary from semester to semester. In any event, students should not count on research participation to work as a substitute for the exams or class exercises but rather as an opportunity to slightly improve their overall grade.
INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are meant to be used in cases of extreme medical or personal emergency. These are the only situations in which an incomplete will even be considered. If a situation of this type should arise, I would need to be contacted as soon as possible so that a contract could be negotiated to outline what work would need to be finished and in what time frame. I reserve the right to ask for documentation of the emergency should the need arise. University policy states that any consideration of incompletes is contingent on the student having already completed the majority of the required course work.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
In accordance with Section 503 and 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
the University of Massachusetts Boston attempts to accommodate all
students with a documented disability. Through the Ross Center for
Disability Services various aids such as sign language interpreting,
readers, testing accommodations, etc. are available to students. If you
believe that you require such services, you should contact the Ross Center
on the first floor of the McCormack Building (287-7430) as soon as
possible.
UNABLE TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN TOPICS IN CLASS
You may note in the class syllabus certain
topics that may in some cases cause severe discomfort or other strong
emotional reactions from some students. If you believe that in- class
discussion of such material might be more than you can handle please see me
right away so that we can determine whether you should remain in this
course.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
It is assumed that in this class each student and I will act in a professional and honest manner. Therefore, any student who engages in an act of Academic Dishonesty, plagiarizing a paper (copying from any source without quotes and referencing is plagiarizing), cheating on an exam, etc., will receive a failing grade for that assignment/test and in most cases a failing grade for the course. Please review the sections on Academic Standards, Cheating, and Plagiarism (pg. 44, 45), sections II and IV, and V of the Code of Student Conduct (pg. 48-52) in the University Undergraduate Catalog 2000-2001. If you still have questions about Academic Honesty or expectations in this course see me well prior to the due date of the assignment.
Text:
Myers, D. (1999). Social Psychology, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Publishers.
Tentative Calander
Click on the relevant topic in order to view Powerpoint presentation. Click on "download" below topic in order to download presentation source.
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Week |
Topic
(* indicates film available for that topic) |
Reading before class (not including light supplemental reading assignments) |
Reminders |
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Week of Jan 29 |
Introduction / Overview |
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Add/Drop ends Tue, 2/6 |
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(download) |
Chapter 1 |
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Week of Feb. 5 |
(download) |
Chapter 2 |
Add/Drop ends Tue, 2/6 |
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Week of Feb. 12 |
The Cultural Construction of Self and Positive
Self-Regard* (download) |
Supplemental reading |
No class next Mon, 2/19 (President's Day) |
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Week of Feb. 21 |
(download) |
Chapter 3 |
Exam
1 (ch. 1-3 + lectures + supp reading) next week on Wed, Feb. 28 |
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Week of Feb. 26 |
(download) |
Chapter 4 |
1.
Exam 1 this
week on
Wed, Feb. 28 (ch. 1-3 + lectures + supp reading) |
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Week of Mar. 5 |
Culture
& Gender No lecture (demos & class discussion) |
Chapter 5 |
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Week of Mar. 12 |
(download) |
Chapter 6 |
No class all of next week (spring break) |
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Week of Mar. 26 |
(download) |
Chapter 7 |
Exam
2 next week Wed.,
Apr. 4 (ch. 4-7 + lectures + any supp reading) |
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Week of Apr. 2 |
(download) |
Chapter 8 |
1) Exam 2 this week on Wed., Apr. 4 (ch. 4-7 + lectures + any supp reading) 2) Sunday, Apr. 8 is the last day for pass/fail & course withdrawal |
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Week of Apr. 9 |
(download) (download) |
Chapter 9 |
No class next Mon, Apr. 16 (Patriot's Day) |
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Week of Apr. 18 |
Special Topic: An Alternative Perspective (download) |
supp reading |
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Week of Apr. 23 |
(download) |
Chapter 10 |
Exam 3 next week Wed., May 2 (ch. 8-11 + lectures + any supp reading) |
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Week of Apr. 30 |
(download) |
Chapter 11 |
Exam 3 this week on Wed, 5/2 (ch. 8-11 + lectures + any supp reading) |
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Week of May 7 |
Altruism |
Chapter 12 |
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Week of May 14 |
Conflict and Conflict Resolution |
Ch. 13 |
Final
exam will be cumulative and will
take place on finals week (day
and time will be announced) |