Syllabus
Sociology 344: Cognitive Social Psychology
5 credits
Spring Quarter 1999
University of Washington
Classroom: Savery 243
Class Time: 4:30 pm - 6:50 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays
Instructor:
Devon D. Brewer, Ph.D.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of social cognition. Researchers in different fields
define social cognition in various ways. In this course, social cognition refers to two
main topics: 1) how individuals think about social structure, social processes, and social
objects (such as people), and 2) how social structure influences what individuals think.
The course emphasizes an evolutionary perspective on social cognition, and focuses
on interdisciplinary empirical evidence based primarily on naturalistic studies. Classes
involve lecture and discussion.
Requirements and Grading
Class discussions will typically focus on the assigned readings. Make sure to read the
material assigned on a particular day before coming to the next class.
Attendance is not mandatory. However, you are responsible for all material presented
in class. This means that if you miss class, you must get copies of notes from a
classmate--I will not provide notes for anyone. If you need handouts given in a
previous meeting of the class, you must make copies from a classmate or get them
from me during office hours.
Exams consist of multiple choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay
questions. Each student will independently conduct a small research project and
report on it in a paper 10-15 pages long.
Requirements and Grading (continued)
Grades are based on the following components and weights:
quiz
midterm exam
final exam
research exercise
research project paper
10%
25%
30%
5%
30%
Students can earn up to 15% additional points by completing several short extra credit
assignments and participating in class discussions.
Policies

In this course, we sometimes will touch on controversial topics (such as sex
differences and evolution). In class discussions, all students are expected to
respect each other’s right to an opinion. I will guide discussions to make sure that
we move forward and cover the appropriate material.

Cheating and plagiarism (passing off someone else’s writing as your own) each will
result in failing the class.

Make-up exams will only be given to those who make special arrangements in
advance or who have medical excuses or personal catastrophes that are
documented.

If you disagree with the score given to your answer on an exam question or an
assignment and wish to challenge it, you may submit an appeal to me. The written
appeal should be a paragraph that explains why you think you are correct and cites
supporting materials presented in class or the readings.

Late research exercises and project papers will be penalized.
Readings
A packet of course readings (see next page for list) is available for purchase at
Professional Copy ‘N Print on the Ave (4200 University Way N.E.; tel. 634-2689; hours:
7 am - 12 midnight). Some of these readings are also on reserve at the Odegaard
Undergraduate Library (OUGL). There is no textbook for this course.
Readings (continued)
Dietrich, Bill. The boundaries between science and religion. Seattle Times, April 23,
1996.
Buss, David. (1999). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind. Boston:
Allyn and Bacon. (chapters 1, 4, & 5: “The scientific movements leading to evolutionary
psychology,” “Women’s long-term mating strategies,” and “Men’s long-term mating
strategies”)
Cosmides L, & Tooby J. (1998). Evolutionary psychology: A primer. Unpublished
manuscript, Center for Evolutionary Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara
(available at http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/research/cep/primer.htm).
Ellis, Bruce J., & Symons, Donald. (1990). Sex differences in sexual fantasy: An
evolutionary psychological approach. Journal of Sex Research, 27, 527-555.
Cheney, Dorothy L., & Seyfarth, Robert M. (1990). How monkeys see the world.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (chapter 3, “Social knowledge”)
Byrne, Richard W. & Whiten, Andrew. (1988). Machiavellian intelligence: Social
expertise and the evolution of intellect in monkeys, apes, and humans. Oxford:
Clarendon Press.
chapters 2, 7, & 8:
“The social function of intellect” by Nicholas K. Humphrey
“The cognitive demands of children’s social interaction with peers” by
Peter
K. Smith
“Mapping social concepts in monkeys” by Verena Dasser
Krebs, Dennis L., & Denton, Kathy. (1997). Social illusions and self-deception: The
evolution of biases in person perception. In Jeffry A. Simpson & Douglas T. Kenrick
(Eds.), Evolutionary social psychology, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp.
21-47.
Daly, Martin, Salmon, Catherine, & Wilson, Margo. (1997). Kinship: The
conceptual hole in psychological studies of social cognition and close relationships. In
Jeffry A. Simpson & Douglas T. Kenrick (Eds.), Evolutionary social psychology,
Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp. 265-296.
Freeman, Linton C., Freeman, Sue C., & Michaelson, A. G. (1988). On human social
intelligence. Journal of Social and Biological Structures, 11, 415-425.
Freeman, Linton C. (1992). Filling in the blanks: A theory of cognitive categories and
the structure of social affiliation. Social Psychology Quarterly, 55, 118-127.
Readings (continued)
Brewer, Devon D. (1995). The social structural basis of the organization of persons in
memory. Human Nature, 6, 379-403.
Freeman, Linton C., Romney, A. Kimball, & Freeman, Sue C. (1987). Cognitive
structure and informant accuracy. American Anthropologist, 89, 310-325.
White, Geoffrey M. (1980). Conceptual universals in interpersonal language. American
Anthropologist, 82, 759-781.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1
Monday, March 29
Introduction
Basic social science concepts
Read: Dietrich; Buss ch. 1
Wednesday, March 31
Evolutionary concepts and theory
Read: Cosmides & Tooby,
pp. 1-24
Week 2
Monday, April 5
Evolutionary concepts and theory
Read: Humphrey; Cosmides &
Tooby, pp. 24-32
Wednesday, April 7
Adaptations to social problems
Machiavellian intelligence
Social context for reasoning
Read: Buss ch. 4 & 5
Week 3
Monday, April 12
Mating and sex
Read: Ellis & Symons
Wednesday, April 14
Quiz
Mating and sex continued
Assigned: research project paper
Read: Smith
Week 4
Monday, April 19
Recognizing individuals
Dominance
Assigned: research exercise
Read: Cheney & Seyfarth
Wednesday, April 21
Dominance continued
Read: Dasser
Week 5
Monday, April 26
Midterm exam
Affiliation
Read: Krebs & Denton;
Freeman, Freeman, & Michaelson
Wednesday, April 28
Affiliation continued
Read: Daly, Salmon, &
Wilson; Freeman (1992)
Week 6
Monday, May 3
Affiliation continued
Due: research exercise
Due: research project plan
No reading assigned
Wednesday, May 5
Other social relations, roles
last day to turn in first 3 extra
credit reports
Read: Brewer
Week 7
Monday, May 10
Recalling individuals
Read: Freeman, Romney, & Freeman
Wednesday, May 12
Recalling individuals continued
Read: White
Week 8
Monday, May 17
Personality and other
individual characteristics
Wednesday, May 19
Personality and other
individual characteristics cont.
Week 9
Monday, May 24
Social structural influences on cognition
Wednesday, May 26
Social structural influences on
cognition continued
review for final exam
Week 10
Monday, May 31
Holiday - no class
Wednesday, June 2
Final exam
last day to turn in final 2 extra
credit reports
Due: research project papers