This course explores the social nature of individual behavior. Focus of the course is on how the individual perceives the social group and interacts in social situations. Topics to be covered include social perception and cognition, interpersonal attraction, aggression, conformity, group processes, and applied aspects of social psychology.

Required Materials:

To help reduce the economic burden my students face, I have chosen a textbook that is available to you for free on canvas under ‘files’ in the ‘textbook ‘folder.

Click ‘download’ and save the book to your desktop. Unfortunately, they do not offer a print version for purchase of this book. If you prefer printed texts, select the version that ends with ‘print pdf’ when you download the book and you are welcome to print the chapters we will be covering yourself. Each homework assignment will specify which chapters we will be covering.

Course Objectives:

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the scientific literature on social psychology. More generally, the course attempts to develop your awareness of the social nature of human behavior. Upon successful completion of the course, you will understand:

• Psychology as a science of behavior
• The social nature of people and behavior
• How people think about other people
• How people influence one another
• How relationships form, change, and effect behavior and health
• The social psychological factors underlying important everyday phenomena such as conformity, obedience, altruism, conflict, and aggression
• Factors contributing to prejudice and inequity in society
• Basic applications of social psychology to real-world problems

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe key psychological concepts across the field of social psychology
• Recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of your own, and others’, behavioral and mental processes.
• Apply social psychological concepts to help improve your own life and those around you.
• Use scientific reasoning and critical thinking to interpret social psychological phenomena and identify credible sources of psychological research.
• Be able to describe multiple studies across the field of social psychology and how they have improved our understanding of human cognition, perception, and behavior.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES (ELO’s):

Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

Information Literacy: Students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute, and share information effectively and ethically.

Evaluation Methods:

There are five modes of assessment for this course—exams, homework assignments, discussion boards, research participation, and a final paper.

• Exams: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete three exams (worth 100 points each) to evaluate your knowledge of the material being covered. Each exam will consist of multiple-choice questions based on the course readings, lectures, and assignments. Every exam for this class will be online at the testing center. These will be closed book/closed notes exams. However, if you do miss an exam there will be an optional final at the end of the semester you can take to replace your lowest exam score. See below for more information
• Homework Assignments: You will have 9 homework assignments throughout the class. You can find these assignments under the assignment tab on canvas.
• Discussion boards: There will be 2 discussion boards in this class due the week before each of your first two required exams (there will not be a discussion board associated with exam 3). You will be required to post on a class discussion board describing a psychological concept on your study guide for this unit and how you have seen it demonstrated in your own life, on campus or in the media (news sources, movies, songs, magazines, etc.). You will also be required to post on the class discussion board and reply to at least one classmate.
• Research Participation: Given that the topics we will be covering in this class often stem directly from research studies, it is important to see how this information is collected firsthand. To meet this objective, this course requires that you participate in research occurring here in our department by signing up for studies through the online research system called SONA. You will be required to complete A total of six credits. More information on how to register for SONA will be posted to canvas in the next few weeks.
• Final Research Paper: You will be required to write a 2-3 page paper reflecting on the research studies you participated in and what you gained from this experience. This paper will be due by December 5th at midnight. You will find more information about this paper on canvas at the end of the semester.
• Optional Cumulative Final Exam: The final exam for this class will be optional. If you choose to take the final, it will replace your lowest exam score. If you do not do better on the final than your previous three exams, you will not be penalized. This will be a 50-question, multiple choice, cumulative exam.

Grading:

The following shows percentages and their corresponding letter grades.

A: 94% and above | A-: 90-93.9% | B+: 87-99.9% | B: 84-86.9 | B-:80-83.9% | C+: 77%-79.9%

| C: 74-76.9%| C-: -70-73.9% | D+: 67-69.9%| D: 64-66.9% | D- 60-63.9%| F: Below 60

Grade Disputes:

If you disagree with your grade on an exam or assignment, you may submit a written dispute by email to the instructor within one week of receiving your grade. Grade disputes will not be considered after this one-week window. If applicable, include in your written dispute a reference to a page in the textbook that pertains to your rationale.

Evaluation Method Points:

Late and Makeup Policies

Makeup exams will only be granted to students who have requested them 2 weeks in advance or contact me within 24 hours of the exam with a documented emergency that clearly prevented them from making it to the exam each day it was available. Makeup exams are not a right and are not guaranteed. It is up to my discretion to approve all makeup exams and I reserve the right to deny a makeup exam request for any reason. Therefore, it is strongly recommended you do not miss any exams. However, if you do miss an exam there will be an optional final at the end of the semester you can take to replace your lowest exam score.

Late assignments will result in a 10% deduction each day for a maximum 50%-point deduction. For example, if you turn something in one day late you will receive 10% off your grade for that assignment. If you turn something in 5 days late or 50 days late you would receive a 50% deduction from your grade on that assignment. All late homework is due by December 5th midnight. Any assignments turned in after this will not be graded. Once an assignment has been graded it cannot be submitted again for a regrade.

No late discussion boards will be accepted under any circumstances.

All research credit is due by December 5th. No late research credit is accepted under any circumstances.

There will be no makeup final exams offered under any circumstances.

Communication Policy

You are welcome and encouraged to message me on canvas with any questions or comments you may have about the course material or assignments. I prefer canvas messages because I teach several classes and it’s easier for me to figure out which class you are in over canvas. If you would like to email me, you are certainly welcome to just please include ‘Psy 3370’ in the subject line. I will respond to all messages and emails within 72 hours. I don’t check my email on the weekend or holidays so please keep that in mind. I also ask that you consult the syllabus, class announcements, and assignment details for questions that have already been answered for you, such as the due dates for assignments, late submission policies, missed exams, etc.

Use of AI

I recognize that there are a variety of AI programs available to assist with writing, idea generation, content generation, etc. AI programs are not a replacement for human creativity, originality, and critical thinking. Critical thinking is a craft that you must develop over time to develop your own individual ideas and ability to articulate ideas. However, within limited circumstances, if you consult with me FIRST, AI programs may be used as an idea generation tool in this class.

Course Format

This is an in-person course. Classes will not be recorded and there will not be a zoom link for you to access. Although you will not be given class credit for attendance, attendance is required. There will be material covered in class that isn’t in your textbook. Additionally, there is information in your textbook that we will not be going over in class. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you attend class and keep up with the readings if you want to do well in this class.

The Southern Utah University Psychology Department values our students irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, nationality, capabilities, or disabilities. Our faculty and staff are committed to the intellectual, physical, and emotional health of all members of the campus community. Should anyone experience problems or issues with depression, anxiety, grief, discrimination, alienation or marginalization, helplessness or hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide, we implore you to seek us out. Our commitment is to listen, and help you find the resources you need.