Psychology 360
Instructor: Dr. Linda Steiner Class Time: Saturday 10:50-1:30
Telephone: (847) 869-7117 Location: SCI-S311
E-Mail: SteinerL@AOLCom
Required Texts: Aronson, E. (1995). The social animal.
New York: W.H- Freeman & Co.
Aronson, E. (I 995). Readings about the social animal. New York,W.
H, Freeman & Co.
Additional Readings
Additional readings may be provided in class throughout the semester.
Course Objectives: This course has been designed with
the following goals in mind: j' )to familiarize students with the theories
and applications within the field of social psychology which bear direct
relevance to our understanding of human behavior as a derivative of social
interaction and experience', and, 2) to draw connections between social
psychological principles and real world social problems, with special attention
being given to the area of intergroup relations and prejudice.
Course Requirements: There will be three graded components
in this course: 1) a midterm and finalexam, 2) a written project, and 3)
a series of Real World Assignments (or RWA's). The topic areas of the
course will cover four primary aspects of social psychological study-.
1) Social Perception, 2) Interpersonal Relations, 3) Intergroup Relations,
and 4) Applied Contexts. The required assignments will correspond to
each of these areas as outlined in the course schedule. Please see the
following descriptions for details.
1) Exams: There will be two exams during the course of
the semester ( a midterm and a final). The exams will combine open and
closed ended questions designed to evaluate your understanding of the material
presented in your readings, class lectures, and discussions. Taken together,
these exams will constitute 100 points or 40% of your final grade.
2) Written Project: This assignment will require that
you apply your knowledge of the social psychological concepts presented
in class and your readings to a social issue of your choice. The paper
must be no less than 8 and no more than 10 pages in length. The written
project Will be due on the last day of class and will be worth 100 points
or 40@/a of your final grade. Detailed guidelines for the preparation of
the project will be distributed in class.
3) Real World Assignments (RWA's): Each period, a new social construct will be
introduced and examined. As an exercise in establishing the direct relevance
that these concepts have to our daily lives, you will be asked to complete
a series of 10 RWA's across the course of the semester. These assignment-its
will require you to record (in writing) an observation or experience you
encountered which exemplifies the concept under discussion. Your observations
will be openly shared in class each week in the form a class discussion
and will be turned in at the close of the class period. It is not required
that the RWA's be typed, however, all hand written assignments must be
legibly written. Each RWA will be worth 5 points each for a total of 20%
of your final grade.
GRADES: Final grades will be based on the following point distribution-.
RWA's (10 @ 5 points each) 50
Exams ( 2 @ 50 points each) 100
Written Project 100
Total 250
Academic Integrity: Please be advised that all students are expected
to originate their own work in this class. Students suspected of academic
dishonesty will be addressed according to Northeastern Illinois University's
policy with respect to academic integrity.
Course Calender
I. SOCIAL PERCEPTION
9/5 Social Categories and Schemas: Making sense of our social
world
Aronson Chapter 1
RWA#1 Discuss an instance of how a social interaction influences
one's perception of the self.
9/12 Forming Impressions of Ourselves: How do we define ourselves?
Aronson Chapter 3
9/19 Forming Impressions of Others: Social perception and the
categorization of social information
Aronson Chapter 4
In class exercise in impression formation
RWA#2 Observe and discuss an instance of how you have formed
an impression of another individual
9/24 Attitudes and Attributions: Attitudes and behavior: Does
one predict the other?
Aronson Chapter 5
RWA#3 Observe and record an instance of behavior in which someone's
stated attitude conflicted with their behavior
II. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
10/9 Attraction: Why do some people appeal to us more than others?
Aronson Chapter 8 .
Reader Section VIII
RWA #4 Observe and record an instance of interpersonal attraction
10/16 Aggression: What are the social causes of
interpersonal conflict?
Aronson Chapter 6
Reader Section VI
RWA # 5 Observe and record an instance of interpersonal aggression
10/23 Prosocial Behavior and Interdependence: How are we connected to one
another?
RWA#6 Observe and discuss an instance of pro-social behavior
(altruism vs- egoism)
10/30 MIDTERM EXAM
III. INTERGROUP RELATIONS
11/6 Stereotyping, Stigma, and Prejudice: Do I know you
enough to dislike you?
Aronson Chapter 7
Reader Section VII
RWA#7 Observe an instance of social prejudice
11/13 Social Power and Influence: Issues in obedience
and conformity
Aronson Chapter 2
Reader Section II
RWA#8 Seek out an instance of social conformity or deviance
11/20 Group Dynamics: Motivation, communication, and leadership
Aronson Chapter 2 continued
Reader Section 2
RWA#9 Record an instance of behavior which was influenced by
the dynamic.
IV. APPLIED CONTEXTS
11/20 Educational Settings: School as a source of social learning
Supplemental Readings
RWA# 10 Observe or recall an instance where learning was either
stimulated or inhibited by a social exchange within a classroom setting.
11/27 NO CLASS!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
12/4 Last Day of Class Final Projects Due
In-Class Film (please note, there will be questions on the final exam
drawn from the film viewed in class. Please make sure to attend on this
day).
12/11 FINAL EXAM