PSYC 3413-001: PSYCH OF SOCIAL BEHAVIORS
Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 10:30-11:20A; Location: Stout (Basement) Rm 040
COURSE OBJECTIVE
Instructor: Angela Bell
E-mail: angela.bell@okstate.edu
Office hours: MW 11:30-12:30AM
Office location: 304 North Murray
Prerequisite:
Introductory Psychology (PSYC 1113)
Class website: oc.okstate.edu
Required textbook:
Readings in Social Psychology:
General, Classic, and Contemporary
Selections. Wayne Lesko, 8th Edition
Important dates:
Quizzes: Must be completed on D2L
by Friday at 5PM of each week that
requires a quiz.
Attendance day 1: September 4th
Attendance day 2: September 16th
Attendance day 3: October 7th
Attendance day 4: October 21st
Attendance day 5: November 23rd
Attendance day 6: November 30th
Attendance day 7: December 2nd
Debate 1: August 28th
Debate 2: September 25th
Debate 3: October 30th
Lit review topic: September 18th
Lit review bibliography: Oct 16th
Lit review paper: November 13th
Exam 1: September 14th
Exam 2: October 19th
Exam 3: November 20th
Optional Final: December 11th
Labor Day: September 7th
Fall Break: October 9th
Thanksgiving: November 25th –
27th
Psychology of Social Behaviors addresses contemporary theoretical and
methodological issues in social psychology with special emphasis on the social
psychology of the experiment and experimentation with the social aspects of
human behavior. This course is intended to familiarize students with the
dynamics of human social behavior. First, students will become familiar with the
basics of human social behavior. Second, students will gain skills at reading and
interpreting both classic and contemporary research in the area of social
behavior. Students will be expected to be active participants in the learning
process through active reading of assigned articles, participating in class
discussions, and group assignments.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS (600 POINTS POSSIBLE)
3 Examinations (300 points) - There are three unit exams, each worth 100
points. Tests are comprised of 50 multiple choice questions. The questions
included in the tests will be taken from class content, including lecture, course
readings, and course activities. A review sheet will be posted on D2L prior to
each exam to aid you in the studying process. Exam grades will be posted on
D2L, usually within 3 days of the exam. The only excuse for missing a test is a
serious illness or a very, very grave circumstance, both of which must be
verified in writing (e.g., a physician’s note) shortly after the missed exam. For
those of you who miss an exam because of one of the above reasons with the
appropriate verification, you may set up a time to make-up time with the
instructor. If you miss an exam for any other than either of the above reasons,
then you will receive a 0 for that exam.
Cumulative Final (optional) – A cumulative final (worth 100 points) will be
available but is NOT required. If you choose to take the final exam, this score
will replace your lowest unit exam grade. Thus, if you are not satisfied with your
score on one of the unit exams, you may choose to take the final exam. If the
final happens to be your lowest exam score, it will be dropped.
Literature Review (100 points) - You are required to write one paper for this
course. This is to be a 1,500-word APA style paper (meaning 1,500 words of
content, not including references and title page). You will assess and describe
a trend in social psychological research by examination of original sources
(journal articles). You must incorporate a minimum of 8 articles from peerreviewed social psychology journals. Your topic and purpose statement must be turned in by September 18th, your
annotated bibliography (with your sources) will be due October 16th, and final papers are due on November 13th at the
beginning of class. You must bring a paper copy to class as well as upload it electronically to the D2L dropbox. See your
literature review instructions on D2L for further instructions.
10 Quizzes (50 points) - Research has shown that students learn more from class when short quizzes are administered
throughout the semester. We will have 10 regularly occurring quizzes, which will involve questions from the weekly readings
and lecture. Each quiz will be worth 5 points for a total of 50 points. Quizzes will be administered through D2L with a time
limit of 20 minutes. Quizzes must be completed by every Friday at 5PM on weeks are indicated by “Quiz Week” on the course
schedule. No make-up quizzes will be given for missed quizzes.
Group Project (50 points) - The purpose of this task is to give you hands-on experience with the theories and concepts we
have talked about in class. You will be required to conduct an observational study as a group and then create a PowerPoint
presentation to present your findings. More detailed information will be provided via the course webpage. The group project is
worth 50 points. Your grade will be an average of your peers’ ratings of your involvement (30 points), as well as a grade from
me (20 points).
7 Attendance Days (70 points) - For most days, attendance is highly recommended but not required. If you miss class, you are
still responsible for the material covered that day and this may include information not found in the textbook. However, there
are classes that are reserved for in-class demonstrations or film discussions and attendance is required on these days (these exact
dates are indicated by a on the course schedule). Each required day will count as 10 points towards your participation grade.
3 Debates (30 points) - During certain weeks of the semester, you will be assigned articles to read related to the week’s topic
and will participate in a class debate. There will be 3 debates (these exact dates are indicated by “Debate” on the course
schedule) in which you will act as a speaker for one and an audience member for the other two. Both speakers and audience
members must read the articles. Debate days are worth 10 points each for a total of 30 points. On the debate day where you are
assigned as a speaker, please come prepared with a one-page typed and printed outline and be sure to speak during the debate. If
you do not, you will lose points.
If you miss a debate day as an AUDIENCE MEMBER, you may complete a 550-word paper over the topic covered that day
for 8 points. This paper must be turned into the dropbox on D2L within two days of the debate.
If you miss a debate day as a SPEAKER, you may complete a 750-word paper over the topic covered that day for 8 points.
This paper must be turned into the dropbox on D2L within two days of the debate.
Grading Procedure - A total of 600 points can be earned in this class:
Three Unit Exams (or 2 highest Unit Exams + Final)
300 points
Literature Review
100 points
Group Project
50 points
Quizzes
50 points
Seven Participation Days
70 points
Debates
30 points
Total 600 points
Grading scale:
Points
Letter Grade
536 – 600
A
476 – 535
B
416 – 475
C
356 – 415
D
0 – 355
F
I will not change the grading scale or “add” points for a student at the end of the semester. Final grades will be based on
the final number of points earned as applied to the above grading scale, no exceptions. Keep track of your points as the
semester progresses so that you can assess your grade on an ongoing basis. Please contact me early in the semester if you are
having trouble in the class. If you wait until the end of the semester, there is nothing the instructor can do.
Extra Credit – Up to 20 extra credit points will be applied to your final grade. Opportunities for extra credit will be announced
in class, and come in the form of bonus quizzes, bonus points in the exam, and other class activities. Extra credit cannot be
made up.
D2L (OC.OKSTATE.EDU) / E-MAIL
Announcements, copies of lectures, quizzes, exam grades will be available through D2L. All students currently registered for
the course automatically have access to course material on D2L. Important announcements will also be posted on D2L and sent
to the class via email. So you should check your email or D2L regularly so that you don’t miss any important announcements.
LATE PAPERS
Your literature review are due on the dates indicated on the schedule and at the beginning of the regularly-scheduled class
period (i.e., an assignment is late if handed in later in the day after class). Late papers can only be submitted in the class session
immediately following the due date and will be penalized with a 10% deduction. Papers will not be accepted after that date
unless extreme documentable circumstances arise (death in the family, severe illness, etc). If this occurs, you must provide
documentation of the emergency and complete the assignment within one week of the original due date.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT / ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Oklahoma State University is committed to the maintenance of the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct of its
members. This level of ethical behavior and integrity will be maintained in this course. Participating in a behavior that violates
academic integrity (e.g., unauthorized collaboration, plagiarism, multiple submissions, cheating on examinations, fabricating
information, helping another person cheat, unauthorized advanced access to examinations, altering or destroying the work of
others, and fraudulently altering academic records) will result in your being sanctioned. Violations may subject you to
disciplinary action including the following: receiving a failing grade on an assignment, examination or course, receiving a
notation of a violation of academic integrity on your transcript, and being suspended from the University. You have the right to
appeal the charge. See the website below for the full policy, or contact the Office of Academic Affairs, 101 Whitehurst, 405744-5627, academicintegrity.okstate.edu.
http://osu.okstate.edu/acadaffr/aa/syllabus.htm
Disrespectful behavior will not be permitted because it is disruptive. You are not required to attend lecture. Therefore, if you
need to sleep, talk with a friend, read the paper, study for another class, talk on your cell phone, or text message, then don’t
come to class. If I feel that your behavior is disrespectful to me or to the other students in class, I will ask you to leave
the class.
OFFICE OF STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES (315 STUDENT UNION)
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, each student with a disability is responsible for notifying the University of
his/her disability and requesting accommodations. If you think you have a qualified disability and need special
accommodations, you should notify the instructor and request verification of eligibility for accommodations from the Office of
Student Disability Services. Please advise the instructor of your disability as soon as possible, and contact Student Disability
Services, to ensure timely implementation of appropriate accommodations. Faculty members have an obligation to respond
when they receive official notice of a disability but are under no obligation to provide retroactive accommodations. To receive
services, you must submit appropriate documentation and complete an intake process during which the existence of a qualified
disability is verified and reasonable accommodations are identified. Call 405-744-7116 or go to: www.okstate.edu/ucs/stdis/
OFFICE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (408 WHITEHURST)
Oklahoma State University policy prohibits discrimination based upon gender, race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, national
origin, veteran’s status, disability, or sexual orientation. If you believe that you are being discriminated against, you may discuss
your concerns and file informal or formal complaints with Dr. Carolyn Hernandez, 405-744-5371.
CLASS SCHEDULE
MONDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
FRIDAYS
08/17 - Class Introduction
08/19 - Overview of Social Psychology
08/21 - Research Methods
Week 1 To Do: Quiz 1. Readings: Ch. 1 Art. 1 – How to be a Wise Consumer of Psychological Research (text) ; How to Read a
Journal Article in Social Psychology (D2L)
08/24 - Ethics in Research
08/26 - Ethics in Research
08/28 - Debate Day 1:
Is Deception Ethical?
Week 2: Quiz 2, prep for debate. Readings: Ch. 1 Art. 2 – Human Use of Human Subjects: The Problem of Deception in Social
Psychological Experiments (text); Issue 1 – Is Deception of Human Participants Ethical? (D2L)
08/31 - Attribution
09/02 - Self-Serving Bias
09/04 - Attendance Day 1:
Literature Review FAQs
Week 3: Quiz 3. Readings: Ch. 2 Art. 5 – The Warm-Cold Variable in First Impressions of Persons (text); Ch. 3 Art. 9 – Lasting
False Beliefs and Their Behavioral Consequence (text)
09/07 - LABOR DAY
09/09 - The Self & Self Esteem
09/11 - Self-Regulation / Review
Week 4: Quiz 4. Readings: Ch. 5 Art. 13 – The Many Me’s of the Self-Monitor (text); Ch. 5 Art. 14 – The Measurement of
Psychological Androgyny (text)
09/14 - Exam 1
09/16 - Attendance Day 2
Meet with groups
09/18 - Introduction to Attitudes
Literature Review Topic
& Purpose Statement Due
Week 5: Study for the exam, meet with groups to discuss final projects; turn in literature review topic in class
09/21 - Attitudes
09/23 - Obedience and Compliance
09/25 - Debate Day 2: Do Milgrim’s
studies explain the Holocaust?
Week 6: Quiz 5, prepare for debate. Readings: Ch. 4 Art. 11 – Cognitive Consequences of Forced Compliance (text); Issue 10 –
Do Milgram’s Obedience Experiments Help Explain the Nature of the Holocaust? (D2L)
09/28 - Persuasion & Influence
09/30 - Persuasion & Influence
10/02 - Introduction to Aggression
Week 7: Quiz 6. Readings: Ch. 9 Art. 25 – Revisiting the Stanford Prison Experiment: A Lesson in the Power of Social Norms
(text); Ch. 9 Art. 27 – The Constructive, Destructive, and Reconstructive Power of Social Norms (text)
10/05 - Aggression
10/07 - Attendance Day 3
Film & Class Activity
10/09 - FALL BREAK
Week 8 Readings: Ch. 11 Art. 31 – Understanding Terrorism (text); Ch. 11 Art. 33 – School Violence and the Culture of Honor
(text)
10/12 - Prosocial Behavior
10/14 - Ostracism
10/16 - Review
Literature Review Brief
Annotated Bibliography Due
Week 9: Quiz 7; turn in literature review bibliography in class. Readings: Ch. 10 Art. 28 – Nice by Nature? (text); Ch. 10 Art. 30
– Comfortably Numb: Desensitizing Effects of Violent Media on Helping Others (text); study for the exam
10/19 - Exam 2
10/21 - Attendance Day 4
Meet with groups
10/23 - Introduction to Prejudice
10/28 - Prejudice, Stereotypes,
Discrimination
10/30 - Debate Day 3:
Is stereotyping inevitable?
Week 10: Prepare for group presentations.
10/26 - Prejudice, Stereotypes,
Discrimination
Week 11: Quiz 8, prepare for debate. Readings: Ch. 6 Art. 16 – Unmasking “Racial Micro Aggressions” (text); Issue 14 – Is
Stereotyping Inevitable? (D2L)
11/02 - Group Dynamics
11/04 - Group Dynamics
11/06 - Group Dynamics
Class Activity
Week 12: Quiz 9. Readings: Ch. 12 Art. 34 – Group Decision Fiascoes Continue: Space Shuttle Challenger and a Revised
Groupthink Framework (text); Ch. 12 Art. 36 – Can High Group Cohesion be Harmful? A Case Study of Junior Ice-Hockey Team
(text)
11/09 - Business & Law
11/11 - Law & Forensics; Film Day
11/13 - Film Cont’d
Final Literature Review Due
Week 13: Quiz 10; literature reviews must be turned in online on D2L and in class via hard copy. Readings: Ch. 13 Art 38 – One
More Time: How do you Motivate Employees? (text); Ch. 14 Art. 40 – The Psychology and Power of False Confessions (text)
11/16 - Attraction
11/18 - Close Relationships
11/20 - Exam 3
11/25 THANKSGIVING BREAK
11/27 THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 14: Study for the exam
11/23 - Attendance Day 5:
Meet with groups
Week 15 Readings: Ch. 7 Art. 20 – What is Beautiful is Good (text); Ch. 8 Art. 24 – Does a Long-Term Relationship Kill
Romantic Love? (text)
11/30 - Attendance Day 6:
Group presentations
12/02 - Attendance Day 7:
Group presentations
12/04 - Optional Final Review Day
Week 16: Review for final exam; The optional final takes places in our classroom on Friday, December 11 th, 10:00-11:50AM
Note: Schedule is tentative and subject to change. All changes will be announced in class and an updated schedule will be
posted on the webpage, so please check regularly.