PSY 531: Proseminar in Social and Behavioral Processes
Fall 2015
Instructor
Dr. Todd K. Shackelford
Office: Pryale 112
Office hours: By appointment
E-mail: shackelf@oakland.edu
Office phone: 248-370-2285
Web: www.ToddKShackelford.com
Course Meeting Time and Location
Fri, 9am-12:20pm, Pryale 130
Course Description
The concepts, issues, areas of research, and research methods found in the psychological science of social and behavioral
processes. Topics include social influence, persuasion, personality traits, intelligence, relationships, sense of community,
public health outcomes, cultural comparisons, gender.
Required Texts
1. Dawkins, R. (2006). The selfish gene: 30th ann. ed. with new introduction by the author. New York: Oxford
University Press. ISBN-13: 9780199291154 (paperback).
2. Tooby, J., & Cosmides, L. (1992). The psychological foundations of culture. In J. Barkow, L. Cosmides, & J.
Tooby (Eds.), The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture (pp. 19-136). New York:
Oxford University Press. [available for download at www.ToddKShackelford.com]
3. Harris, J. R. (2008). The nurture assumption: Why children turn out the way they do (revised and updated ed.).
New York: Free Press. ISBN-13: 978-1439101650 (paperback).
4. Harris, J. R. (2007). No two alike: Human nature and human individuality. New York: Norton. ISBN-13:
9780393329711 (paperback).
Course Requirements
Class discussion will focus on readings assigned for each class meeting. Students are expected to have read the material
prior to the class meeting and to be prepared to discuss and critically evaluate the material.
First, in consultation with the instructor, students will prepare a review paper and associated research proposal designed to
investigate an unresolved issue in an area of the social and behavioral sciences. Second, students will deliver TWO informal
presentations that introduces the topics covered by the readings assigned for TWO class sessions, and will help to guide the
discussion for those class sessions. Third, students will turn a one-page, typed brief reaction paper at the beginning of each
class session (cannot be emailed). These brief reactions should address the reading assigned for that class session. Finally,
students will complete a take-home final exam covering the material presented in readings and in class discussion.
Grades will be assigned according to the following weighted criteria:
Review paper/research proposal
25%
Presentation/discussion
25%
Brief reactions
25%
Take-home final exam
25%
Detailed Class Schedule and Topical Outline
Date
Topic
Reading
Sept 4
Introduction to course; discussion sign-up
None
Sept 11
The selfish gene, part 1
Dawkins: Intro to 30th ann. ed., Preface to 2nd ed.,
Forward to 1st ed., Preface to 1st ed., Chapters 1-5
Sept 18
The selfish gene, part 2
Dawkins: Chapters 6-10
PSY 531—p. 2
Sept 25
The selfish gene, part 3
Dawkins: Chapters 11-13
Oct 2
The psychological foundations of culture, part 1
Tooby & Comsides, pp. 19-73
Oct 9
The psychological foundations of culture, part 2
Tooby & Comsides, pp. 73-124
Oct 16
Guest: Doug VanderLaan, University of Toronto
TBA
Oct 23
The nurture assumption, part 1
Harris: Intro to 2nd ed., Forward to 1st ed., Preface
to 1st ed., Chap. 1-6
Nov 6
The nurture assumption, part 2
Harris: Chap. 7-10
Nov 13
The nurture assumption, part 3
Harris: Chap. 11-15
Nov 20
No two alike, part 1
Harris: Preface, Chap. 1-5
Nov 27
No class (Thanksgiving)
None
Dec 4
No two alike, part 2
Harris: Chap. 6-10
*Review/research proposal due
*Take-home exam distributed, due via email by 5pm, Dec 11