Social Psychology
Syllabus Example
We are all social animals. We all realize that much of what we do stems from our
interactions with other people, but we often fail to appreciate the power of these
interactions over our behavior and thought. If you consider it, you will be hard put to
find anything you do or think that is completely independent of your social
relationships. What about your values, or your ideas of what is right and wrong? What
about your preferences or your daily decisions? The list could go on and on. Social
psychology is the study of human interaction and the way it affects behavior. To put it
more formally, social psychology is the scientific study of the many ways in which
interactions, interdependence, and influence among persons affect the individual’s
behavior and thought.
Dr. John Schopler (1930-2001)
Required Text:
Myers, D. (2008). Social Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Course Overview:
This introduction to social psychology will provide an overview of many of the fascinating
topics that social psychologists study, including attitudes, aggression, altruism, attraction,
authority, attachment, advertising, anonymity, and attributions, as well as some topics that
start with other letters of the alphabet, such as conformity, persuasion, interdependence,
stereotypes, gender roles, prejudice, deindividuation, cognitive biases, and peace.
Course goals:
1. To provide a basic understanding of how social psychologists think about and study
human behavior;
2. To provide the tools to understand and critically examine psychological research;
3. To provide an introduction to and general survey of many of the theories and principles
that underlie social psychology;
4. To encourage reflection about the application of social psychological research and how
it might be used to solve real-world problems and even help understand situations we
actually encounter in everyday life.
Classroom expectations. Please be respectful of your fellow students and your instructor,
and do your part to maintain a good learning environment. Please do NOT use your cell
phone or any other electronic devices in any capacity during class. You may quietly work on
the DTH crossword, but if you manage to complete the entire puzzle during class I will know
that you were not contributing adequately to the class. Thanks!
REQUIRED WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
All written assignments will be submitted via Blackboard.
Thought Papers – Since one of the main goals for this class is to convince you of the
usefulness and everyday value of social psychology, you will be asked to complete three brief
thought papers on topics of your choice. For each paper you will choose one social
psychological topic or theory, briefly explain this concept, then apply it to either a relevant
current event or a relevant personal experience. You should be able to fulfill these
requirements adequately in about one typed page. These papers will be due BY September 8,
October 6, and November 10, but these dates will not be listed in the course schedule because
you are strongly encouraged to submit them EARLY, or whenever a topic occurs to you
during the term. No Thought Papers will be accepted after November 10.
Sustainability Project - this larger project will be submitted in three phases:
Problem Summary – After reading and discussing Chapter 16, you will write a 2-3 page
summary of the chapter and/or the main problems it describes.
Solution Summary – Based on your understanding of Chapter 16 and any other sources you
may have encountered since your initial reading, you will write a 2-3 page paper explaining
three to five potential “solutions” to these important issues.
Final Paper – in this 4-5 page paper, you will use specific social psychological concepts to
“bridge the gap” between understanding and implementing possible solutions to the important
long-term problem of sustainability.
EXAMINATIONS: You will have three exams over the semester. The exams will be a
combination of multiple choice, true-false justify, and short answer. Additional information
will be provided as each exam approaches.
Make note of the exam dates now. These dates will NOT change, so plan accordingly. If you know ahead of
time that you will be unable to attend an exam, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can make
alternate arrangements.
Participation:
You will be expected to attend class and participate actively and meaningfully. You may also
be subjected to pop-quizzes or brief homework assignments at random intervals throughout
the term. These are simply meant to ascertain whether you are completing the required
readings and staying alert and focused in class. These tasks will count as part of your
participation grade and participation will be worth up to 40 points toward your final grade.
ASSIGNMENTS and GRADING:
Examination I
100 points
Examination II
100 points
Final Examination
200 points
Thought Papers
3x20 points
Problem Summary
50 points
Solution Summary
50 points
Final Paper
100 points
Class Participation
40 points
Your final grade will be assigned based on the total points you earn across the semester. For
example, if you earn 630 total points it would be divided by the total points possible (630/700)
and equal 90% (an A-).
Academic integrity/Honor Code: Please do not engage in any behavior that you think
might be considered a violation of the University Honor Code. I am generally easy-going, but
I take academic integrity very seriously. Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. All
work must be your own. Honor Court is efficient and fair, but it is not fun. If you have
questions about academic integrity, plagiarism, or any related issues, please let me know right
away. I would much rather address your concerns now than risk facing the Honor Court later.
(Some general questions may be answered at the site for the University Honor Code
http://honor.unc.edu/).
Course Schedule*
August 19
August 21
August 26
August 28
Sept. 2
Sept. 4
Sept. 4
First Day!
Intro to Social Psychology
The Sustainable Future
The Self
The Self
Problem Summary Due
Social Beliefs and Judgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 16
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Sept. 9, 11
Behavior and Attitudes
Chapter 4
Sept. 16
EXAMINATION I
Chaps. 1-4
Sept. 18, 23
Sept. 25, 30
Oct. 2
Oct. 2, 7
Oct. 9
Genes, Culture and Gender
Conformity
Solution Summary Due
Persuasion
Group Influences
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Oct. 14
EXAMINATION II
Chaps. 5-8
Oct. 16
Oct. 21, 23
Oct. 28, 30
Nov. 4
Nov. 6
Nov. 11, 13
Nov. 18, 20
Nov. 20
Nov. 25
Nov. 27
Dec. 2
Fall Break
Prejudice
Aggression
Attraction
Altruism
Conflict and Peacemaking
Applied in the Clinic
FINAL PAPER DUE
Applied in the Courtroom
Thanksgiving Day
Last Class/Review for Final
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
FINAL EXAMINATION - Thursday Dec. 11 at 4 pm
*the dates on which various topics will be covered are approximate. Dates and chapters may be altered or
adjusted as needed, but all exams and due dates (in bold) are immutable. Please plan accordingly. If you
anticipate a conflict with your schedule, please let me know ASAP. We can arrange for you to take the exam
early, but make-up exams will NOT be offered.