Social Psychology
PSY 422/3-credit hours
Instructor: Dr. Judith Ouellette (pronounced: Well-let)
Office: Old
Hours: Please see office door
Text: Myers,
D. G. (200X). Exploring Social Psychology..
Outlines: Course outlines may be purchased from Mandolin
Winds bookstore (downtown) for a small fee (TBA).
Course Description (from catalog): Individual behavior
as function of interaction with social groups, social institutions. Not open to
those having credit for PED 287. Prerequisite: PSY 101.
Curriculum: This course is designed to give you a broad but rigorous
overview of the field of social psychology. Social psychology is an area that
takes a scientific-based approach to the psychological processes underlying
social behavior. Topics to be covered include perception of self and others,
attitudes, interpersonal attraction, and group processes.
The
course prerequisite is introductory psychology (PSY 101). If you have not taken
this class, you cannot enroll in this one. It also is highly suggested that you have taken Experimental Psychology, or Research Methods before taking Social
psychology. For maximum comprehension of the material it is suggested that you skim
the assigned topics before class.
The instructor encourages and
expects discussion in class. Contrary to belief, the only stupid question is
the question you do not ask!
Exams: There will
be a total of 3 exams. The exams will cover the material in the book and lecture.
Each exam will likely be a mixture of multiple choice and short answer/essay.
Each exam is 1/3 of your exam percentage (i.e., each exam is equally weighted).
Dates of the exams are listed on the back page. Please note that the instructor reserves the right to alter the date of
exams and the topics covered. Make up exams will be allowed only for those
individuals who provide a College
approved excuse (these are outlined in the college handbook); these
make-ups will be scheduled at the instructor's convenience.
Grades: Each exam is worth 1/3 of your exam percentage.
Your final grade is calculated as follows:
Exams
(average of 3) 100%
Total
= 100%
v Final grades are assigned a letter from A+ through
E concordant with college policy.
Cheating: Cheating
is unacceptable. Cheating is reported to the College’s Judiciary
Programs Office via the Disclosure and Notification of an Academic Dishonesty
Charge form (see the College Handbook for more information).
Weather: You should be advised that the instructor DOES NOT have any
discretion to cancel or reschedule classes due to weather. Only the President
of the college can cancel classes. Thus, you should be prepared to get to your
classes on time.
If you are a student with a disability
and wish to request accommodations, please contact the Office of Student
Disability Services located in B-40 Van Hoesen Hall
or call (607) 753-2066 for an appointment.
Information regarding your disability will be treated in a confidential
manner. Because many accommodations
require early planning, requests for accommodations should be made as early as
possible.
Module Topic
Course Overview/Introduction to
Social Psychology/History/Theories
1 & 2 Research Methods of Social
Psychology & Ethics
v
Individual Processes (i.e., within the individual)
N/A The Self
9, 13, 12 Attitudes & Persuasion (e.g., attitude change; cognitive dissonance; models of
attitude change)
·
Exam 1:
v
Interpersonal Processes (i.e., between the individual and
others)
N/A Impression formation
4, 6, 7, & 8 Social Thinking & Social
Judgments (attribution & biases in perceptions)
25, 26 Attraction &
Relationships
27, 21, & 22 Helping & Hurting
others
·
Exam 2:
v
Group Processes (i.e., the individual within groups)
14, 15, 16, & 17 Groups processes: Social Loafing &
Facilitation; deindividuation;
group
polarization; minority influence (and pgs. 175-178)
11 Social influence;
influencing others: conformity and obedience
19, 20 Prejudice and
discrimination
[time permitting we will
play social jeopardy—which will serve as a review]
·
Exam 3
NOTE: N/A = no module in the
book covers this information separately. You will only receive this information via lecture.
Keep track of your exam grades:
Exam
1 _____
Exam
2 _____
Exam
3 _____