Spring 2014
PSYC W2650: Introduction to Cultural Psychology
Tuesday & Thursday 11:40-12:55, 501 Schermerhorn Hall
Spring 2014
Professor: Valerie Purdie-Vaughns
E-mail: vpvaughns@psych.columbia.edu
Office: Schermerhorn 402-C
Phone: (212) 854-1954
Office Hours: Tuesdays 9:30-10:30AM
Teaching Assistants’ (in alphabetical order):
Chris Crew
E-mail: cmc2225@columbia.edu
Office Location: Schermerhorn 219
Office Hours: Thursdays 9:30-11:30AM
Adriana L Germano
E-mail: alg2183@columbia.edu
Office Location: Schermerhorn 200 D
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:00-4:00PM
Caroline Lobel
E-mail: cll2158@columbia.edu
Office Location: Schermerhorn 200D
Office Hours: Mondays 12:00-2:00PM
Rebecca Mohr
E-mail: rim2109@columbia.edu
Office Location: Schermerhorn 200D
Office Hours: Fridays 10:30AM-12:30PM
Kaytee Turetsky
E-mail: kmt2149@columbia.edu
Office Location: Schermerhorn 200D
Office Hours: Mondays 5:00-7:00PM
Notes:
-No prerequisites to this course. Some basic knowledge of social psychology is desirable.
-Please note that the syllabus is subject to change.
Course Description:
This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to general theories and methods related to
culture and diversity. The class will explore psychological and political underpinnings of culture and
diversity, emphasizing social psychological approaches. Principal goals of the course will include
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Spring 2014
developing critical thinking skills related to identity-based research. Students will learn basic
knowledge of course topics through the textbook and lectures. This course will begin with an
introduction to cultural psychology. During initial weeks, we will emphasize psychological theories
that link culture to mental processes (i.e., affect, cognition, attitudes). Next, lectures will focus on
specific topics that bridge cultural psychology and basics concepts related to multiculturalism. Topics
include: group and identity formation, stereotyping, prejudice, stigma, and intergroup contact. Finally,
the course will end with an interrogation of multiculturalism and psychological approaches to the study
of diversity. The course will culminate in a group project where students apply their knowledge to
critique community programs that are based on topics learned in the course.
Course requirements and grading:
Mid-Term
Group Project
Final (cumulative)
25%
37.5%
37.5%
100%
Group Project:
The goal of this project is to produce a comprehensive critique of a specific cultural or diversity
program. Moreover, the ultimate goal of this project is to experience—up close and personal—how
diversity is implemented in the metropolitan area. Diversity programs are prolific in our society. They
include kindergarten tolerance programs, Jenny Craig campaigns marketed towards women from
diverse ethnic backgrounds, police department racial profiling prevention programs, corporate
diversity mentoring programs, etc. Each group will have the opportunity to identify their program of
choice, conduct a site visit, and write an action letter critiquing the program. The written critique
should include recommendations to improve the program based on relevant empirical research that we
have examined throughout the course. This project will be evaluated in three ways:



One seven-page single-spaced action letter to the organization (1 letter from the entire group).
Each individual will also write a 2-page single spaced letter as an offshoot of the main action
letter detailing their experience with the project.
Groups will make in class presentations at end of the course.
Please note that groups will be strongly discouraged from relying on Columbia University “run of the
mill” campus resources (i.e., student groups, equal opportunity office, admissions officers).
Course Textbook (available at Columbia University Bookstore – Barnes & Nobles):
Readings on the assigned day of class should be completed by start of the class. They are designed as
background for the lecture.
Heine, S. J. (2011). Cultural Psychology (2nd ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Additional readings (posted on Courseworks):
On occasion there will be additional readings. They will be posted on Courseworks and the class will
be notified in advance.
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SECTION I. CULTURE AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES
CLASS 1
T, JANUARY 21
READINGS: No readings
Introduction
CLASS 2
R, JANUARY 23
What is culture? Perspectives on culture in psychology
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 1, Chapter 2 (32-48),
CLASS 3
T, JANUARY 28
What is culture? Perspectives on culture in psychology
(cont’d)
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 3
CLASS 4
R, JANUARY 30
Research methods: how do we study culture?
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 4 110-131
**COMPLETE SUBJECT
INTEREST HANDOUT FOR
GROUP PROJECT
CLASS 5
T, FEBRUARY 4
Research methods: how do we study culture?
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 4, 132-151
CLASS 6
R, FEBRUARY 6
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 6.
Culture, self and motivation: Part I
CLASS 7
T, FEBRUARY 11
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 7
Culture, self and motivation: Part I
CLASS 8
R, FEBRUARY 13
READINGS: NO READINGS
MOVIE DAY!: Wasteland, Directed by Lucy Walker
CLASS 9
MOVIE DISCUSSION: Wasteland, Directed by Lucy
Walker
T, FEBRUARY 18
READINGS: NO READINGS
**GROUP PROPOSAL DUE 2/18
CLASS 10
R, FEBRUARY 20
GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Natalie Brito. Culture and
Development
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 5
CLASS 11 T, FEBRUARY 25
Culture & Cognition: Part I
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 8, 285-307
CLASS 12 R, FEBRUARY 27
Culture & Cognition: Part II
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 8, 308-337
||||||**DEADLINE FOR GROUP MEETINGS WITH TAS
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CLASS 13 T, MARCH 4
Culture, Emotion and Attraction
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 14 (will note selected pages in Chapter 9)
CLASS 14
R, MARCH 6
READINGS: Heine, Chapter
13
Culture, Morality, Religion and Justice
CLASS 15 T, MARCH 11
Culture and Mental Health
READINGS: Heine, Chapter 11-12 (selected pages)
CLASS 16
R, MARCH 13
MIDTERM
**SPRING BREAK**
SECTION II. FROM CULTURE TO IDENTITY
CLASS 16
T, MARCH 25
Ethnic Identity: What does it mean to have an ethnic
identity?
CLASS 17
R, MARCH 27
Acculturation
CLASS 18 T, APRIL 1
Prejudice: “Us” vs “Them”
||||||**CONFIRMATION OF ACCESS TO ORGANIZATIONS DUE
CLASS 19
R, APRIL 3
Stigma: The Other Side of the Coin
CLASS 20
T, APRIL 8
Intergroup Contact: Bringing different worlds together
CLASS 21
R, APRIL 10
Colorblindness vs. multiculturalism in American
mainstream institutions
CLASS 22 T, APRIL 15
Group projects discussion (No formal lecture)
||||||**FIELD NOTES AND DATA DUE
CLASS 23
R, APRIL 17
Is multiculturalism bad for women? For minorities?
CLASS 24
T, APRIL 22
Do conservatives count too? The politics of diversity vs.
the science of diversity
CLASS 25
R, APRIL 24
The bottom line: Does diversity make a difference?
CLASS 26
T, APRIL 29
IN-CLASS GROUP PRESENTATIONS
CLASS 27 R, MAY 1
IN-CLASS GROUP PRESENTATIONS
||||||**GROUP ACTION LETTER DUE 5:00PM
PROJECTED FINAL EXAM: Thursday, May 15, 4:10-7:00 PM
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Spring 2014
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