Catalog Description

Formerly known as PSYC 3
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Study of human interaction with emphasis on the individual within a social context. Topics include development of the self, social perception, interpersonal attraction, prejudice and discrimination, attitude change, moral development, altruism, aggression, social influence, power and leadership, and interaction in groups. (C-ID PSY 170) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Explain the formation of the self and self-concept.
  • CSLO #2: Explain the psychological processes used in group formation, group decision-making and group behaviors.
  • CSLO #3: Evaluate the ethical considerations in social psychological research and critique American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) guidelines for the treatment of human participants.

Effective Term

Fall 2022

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

1. Define types of research based psychology.
2. Analyze how research is restricted by ethical considerations, bias issues, and generalizability.
3. Analyze self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem relative to culture.
4. Explain the self-serving bias and compare self-presentation techniques.
5. Analyze attributions of causality and issues around fundamental attribution errors.
6. Define and discuss the effects of basic persuasion techniques.
7. Define cognitive dissonance including how self-confirming diagnoses effect clinical judgments.
8. Analyze social cognition and optimism, social anxiety, loneliness and depression.
9. Evaluate gender differences including: independence versus connectedness, social dominance, aggression, and sexuality as well as variances with culture and across time.
10. Appraise norm formation studies, the effect of group pressure and basics of obedience research.
11. Analyze cult indoctrination, attitude inoculation and resisting persuasion.
12. Explain social facilitation, the effects of crowding, evaluative apprehension, distraction, mere presence and social loafing.
13. Analyze variables effecting deindividuation including: group size, physical anonymity, arousal and distraction, and diminished self-awareness.
14. Define group polarization, minority influence, groupthink and normative influence.
15. Discuss issues in eyewitness testimony accuracy and influences on Juries.
16. Analyze prejudice and describe types of prejudice, discrimination and implicit bias.
17. Define major explanations of aggression including: instinct, frustration-aggression, and social learning theories.
18. Analyze the relationship between media and violence including pornography.
19. Define friendship, romance, proximity, physical attractiveness, similarity, complementary, and attributions.
20. Analyze and compare social exchange theory, social norms, evolutionary theories of altruism and situational influences on helping behavior including bystander.
21. Explains social dilemma conflicts including the prisoner's dilemma and tragedy of the commons.
22. Define and compare the effects of contact, cooperation, and communication on conflict resolution.
23. Define the principles and describe the process of GRIT.
24. Analyze the research on happiness and sustainability.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Behavioral Sciences
    • AA/AS - Multicultural Studies
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - D9 Psychology
    • CSUGE-D0 Sociology/Criminology
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 4I Psychology

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: Participate in an Instructor facilitated discussion on the power of film to depict nuanced social psychological phenomenon. Graded on participation.
    • Essay Examinations
      • Example: Short Essay: Following are two short essay exam questions concerning the film "Conspiracy." Choose one and respond in a 1-2 page essay. Essay will be graded based on a rubric developed by the instructor and shared with students. A. Consider what we know from Milgram's research on obedience and discuss what factors might have occurred during the luncheon to reduce compliance to the "solution." B. Describe euphemisms utilized during the luncheon. Why would these terms be used and what are the repercussions from euphemistic language?
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: Multiple Choice Exam Example: Which of the following should lead to the GREATEST amount of cognitive dissonance? A) Ordering a pair of shoes you don't need B) Dropping a social psychology course during the first week of classes C) Staying in a romantic relationship when you, and all of your friends, know that the person has been unfaithful to you D) Selling the engagement ring after your fiancé' "wronged you".
    • Projects
      • Example: Instructor assigns the following: "In a small group, choose a film to analyze for social psychological constructs. Create a pictorial analysis of the film narrative and justify the trajectory of that narrative with as many social psychological concepts possible studied in this course with a minimum of ten concepts. Define each concept and articulate how the concept was evidenced in behavioral sequences in the film. Present your findings to the class in the form of a panel discussion." Grading will be completed using a rubric designed by the instructor.

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. (A) Instructor assigns the chapter on prejudice and discrimination. In the following class, instructor presents the film "Twelve Angry Men" and asks each student to diagram the jurors in the jury room. As the film progresses with jury votes, instructor stops the film and asks students to predict which juror will change his vote and why. Leading the class in discussion, the class, as a whole, chooses the path of juror voting and discusses how context influences cultural attitudes and behaviors. (B) Instructor assigns a follow-up reflection paper where students analyze how individual jurors' prejudices were reduced within the context of the film. During the following class session, instructor elicits this information from students and leads the class in discussion.

    Distance Learning

    1. (A) Instructor posts a Prisoner's Dilemma game prompt in the class lecture indicating a student has cheated with a another student and has been caught. There are multiple outcomes for the student based upon whether each person confesses , or not. The student does not know who the cheating partner is until after making a decision to confess or stay silent. The student reads the prompt and makes a decision. Then the following is prompted on the discussion board. (B) Student opens up online project titled "Cheater’s Dilemma” and finds their entry, which should be either to confess or withhold. They are assigned to: (1) Look at the entry directly after yours and see whether that person confessed or withheld and (2), look at the consequences of their cheating and determine their "penalty." They are asked to: "Please go to the DB and for two points explain why you made your original decision and what your outcome was. Did your strategy work for maximizing your winnings or did it optimize outcomes for the dyad? Tell your partner what you think of their decision! On the same DB, post after you complete the following game online. Go to https://serendipstudio.org/playground/pd.html (Links to an external site.) and play a couple of rounds using different strategies. Does one strategy work consistently better than another strategy? Tell us on the same DB for 1 more pt. Does it pay to compete or does it pay to cooperate in your experience." (C) Students are assigned to "Describe a situation where a zero-sum game was played and conversely, describe a situation where a mixed-motive game was played." (D) Instructor provides graded feedback to student accuracy of game theory application.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. Read chapter on "Self" in Exploring Social Psychology and be prepared for discussion. 2. Read the article "Perils of Obedience" by Milgram and be prepared for discussion.

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. Read the Rosenhan article (On Being Sane in Insane Places) and respond to the following prompts in a short essay: Consider depersonalization and discuss how it plays an essential role in institutions. Describe two positive aspects and two negative aspects and write a brief analysis on the risk inherent within any institution. 2. Watch the first 22 minutes of "The Fog of War." In a two page essay, describe how group decision making constraints where evident across the 13 days of the Cuban Missal Crisis. Name each constraint and explain how each constraint effected the decision making process as the crisis progressed.

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    1. Research Paper Assignment: There were official eugenics programs in Germany,USSR, USA and Australia. Choose one of the countries listed and write a 5-7 page research paper describing the policies relevant to social psychological theories concerning persuasion and prejudice. In particular, explain the context of these policies paying particular attention to the time period, the economic and major historical that may have influenced the rise of the policies.

    Required Materials

    • Exploring Social Psychology
      • Author: Myers
      • Publisher: McGraw-Hill
      • Publication Date: 2018
      • Text Edition: 8th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Social Psychology
      • Author: Aronson, Wilson, Akert
      • Publisher: Prentice Hall
      • Publication Date: 2018
      • Text Edition: 10th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Social Psychology
      • Author: Branscombe and Baron
      • Publisher: Allyn and Bacon
      • Publication Date: 2016
      • Text Edition: 15th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Social Psychology
      • Author: Kassin
      • Publisher: Cengage
      • Publication Date: 2016
      • Text Edition: 10th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Social Psychology
      • Author: Gilovich and Keltner
      • Publisher: Norton
      • Publication Date: 2018
      • Text Edition: 5th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.