Psychology 103, Spring 2007

Social Psychology
Professor Halford H. Fairchild
Office:  203 Scott Hall, Pitzer College
Hours:  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 - 12:00 and by appointment
Phone:  909-607-3056

Email: Hfairchild@pitzer.edu

Course Syllabus

 

 

 

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Course Description and Requirements:

This course surveys the specialty of Social Psychology.  The course is writing and speaking intensive.  Tuesdays are devoted to an exploration of the main text by Franzoi (students should expect quizzes in the first five minutes of each class); Thursdays are devoted to discussions of the readings in the text by Lesko.  Short "S/R" papers are required each Thursday.  See "S/R papers," described below.


Texts:


Franzoi, Stephen L.  (2006).  Social Psychology (4th Edition).  NY: McGraw-Hill.  (Main Text for Tuesdays)
Lesko, Wayne A.  Social Psychology:  General, classic, and contemporary selections (6th Edition).  BostonAllyn & Bacon.

Additional Readings will be added during the semester and provided by the instructor.

 

Schedule of Readings:

Date

Topic

Readings

1-16-07

Introductions and - Definitions:  What is Social Psychology?

 

1-18-07

Readings in the Field of Social Psychology
S/R paper by Fairchild

Lesko, Chap. 1 (pdf file)

 

News:  Officer Faces Court-Martial for Denouncing War, LA Times 1/18/07

 

1-23-07

More on the Nature of Social Psychology.   Powerpoint Lecture  

Today's Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 1

1-25-07

Readings in Business Psychology.  S/R paper by Fairchild

Lesko, Chap. 13 (pdf file)

 

 

 

1-30-07

Research Methods in Social Psycholoogy    Powerpoint Notes

Today's Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 2

2-1-07

Readings in Social Cognition  S/R paper by Fairchild

Lesko, Chap. 3

 

 

 

2-6-07

The Self   Chapter Powerpoint AltPowerPoint

Today's Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 3

2-8-07

Readings in the Social Identity.  Fairchild's S/R Paper

Donna Lamb: Guest Lecture - Handout

Lesko, Chap. 5

 

 

 

2-13-07

Self-Presentation and Person Perception    Statistics  Primer

A Study of Person Perception. Today's Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 4

2-15-07

Readings in the Social Perception.  Fairchild's S/R Paper

Lesko, Chap. 2

 

 

 

2-20-07

Thinking About Our Social World    Chapter Highlights

Today's Quiz Chapter Powerpoint

Franzoi, Chap. 5

2-22-07

Readings in Health Psychology.  Fairchild's S/R Paper

Lesko, Chap. 15

 

 

 

2-27-07

Attitudes    Chapter Highlights

Many attitudes are implicit. Take the implicit association test.

Franzoi, Chap. 6

3-1-07

Readings in the Social Psychology of Attitudes   Fairchild's SR Paper

Lesko, Chap. 4

 

 

 

3-6-07

Persuasion   Quiz Study Guide   Chapter Highlights

Franzoi, Chap. 7

3-8-07

Readings in Forensic Psychology   Fairchild's SR Paper

Chart of Data on p. 393 - Attractive Criminals

Lesko, Chap. 14

 

 

 

3-13-07

Spring Break

 

3-15-07

Spring Break

 

 

 

 

3-20-07

Prejudice and Discrimination  Quiz Study Guide   

Kiri Davis, A Girl Like Me - Video that recreates the Clark Study - You Tube Version

Today's Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 8

3-22-07

Readings in Prejudice and Discrimination  Fairchild's SR Paper

Additional reading: Modern-Day Racism Masks Its Ugly Head (Fairchild, 2000)

Lesko, Chap. 6

 

 

 

3-27-07

Social Influence     Chapter Notes

Franzoi,  Chap. 9

3-29-07

Readings in Social Influence  Fairchild's SR Paper

Bonus Article: Southland's Third World Slums (LA Times, 3/26/07)

Lesko, Chap. 9

 

 

 

4-3-07

Group Behavior   Today's Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 10

4-5-07

Readings in Group Behavior.  Fairchild's SR Paper

Lesko, Chap. 12

 

 

 

4-10-07

Interpersonal Attraction - Quiz Study Guide     Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 11

4-12-07

Readings in Interpersonal Attraction - Today's Quiz

Bonus Articles. Notes on CRASH

Sexual Desire (NY Times, 4-10-07)

Libido and Aging (NY Times, 4-10-07)

Romance in the New Century (NY Times, 4-10-07)

A Sexual Sociologist (NY Times, 4-10-07)

Romance (NY Times, 4-10-07)

Lesko, Chap. 7

 

 

 

4-17-07

Intimate Relationships   

NO CLASS TODAY. TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT.

Franzoi, Chap. 12

4-19-07

Readings in Close Relationships

Fairchild's S/R Paper for Today

Lesko, Chap. 8

 

 

 

4-24-07

Aggression.    Quiz Study Guide    Powerpoint Notes

Quiz

Franzoi, Chap. 13

4-26-07

Readings in the Social Psychology of Aggression

Fairchild's SR Paper

Lesko, Chap. 11

 

 

 

5-1-07

Prosocial Behavior: Helping Others   Quiz Study Guide

Bonus Article: Promoting Social Harmony

Franzoi, Chap. 14
Lesko, Chap. 10

5-3-07

Course Rap Up (see description, below)

Fairchild's Closing Rap

 

 

 

Assignments


Quizzes.  Students should be prepared to take a short quiz every Tuesday at the beginning of class.  These will be multiple choice questions that examine the readings for that day.  Questions may also include material from the previous week's lectures, films, and/or discussions.

S/R Papers.  Students are required to write short "S/R" papers for each Thursday class session. "S/R" stands for "Stimulus/Response."  The "Stimulus,"  is the day's reading assignment.  The "Response" is the student's reaction to that reading.  For each class session that has a reading assignment, students should write an "S/R" for each of the readings.  The "Stimulus" portion of the paper should be a very short summary or synopsis of what the reading assignment was about.  The "Response" portion may be short or long -- and should provide your insights, reflections, thoughts, reactions, and/or questions to the reading material.  These "Responses" will be shared in class as part of our class discussion.  Students should come to class, each Thursday, with their "S/R Papers" typed and ready to hand in.  These papers are generally graded on a pass/fail basis -- 100 points for being turned in on time (weak papers may receive fewer points; strong papers may receive bonus points); 50% credit for being late (turned in after class or if a student is absent).  Papers submitted by email are awarded 50% credit.

Final Rap.  On the last day of class, students will present (singly or in teams), a "rap" that defines the field of Social Psychology.  The rap should seek to integrate course materials (texts, readings, video lectures, class discussions, etc.).  The course "rap" will be ungraded, although an absence on the last day will adversely affect classroom participation points.

Grading

Students will be evaluated and graded based on their quiz scores, S/R papers, and classroom participation.  Attendance and participation are heavily weighted.  Each S/R paper can earn up to 100 points (late papers receive 50% credit).  Quizzes are worth up to 100 points.  Class participation is worth up to 500 points.   "A" students receive 92% or more of the available points; "B" students 82% or more; etc.  Students on the margins receive minuses or plusses. 

Assignments, grading and course sequencing may change.