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 -1- 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. -2- Spring 2014 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 -3- Spring 2014 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 -4- Spring 2014 -5-