Click here to read New York Times story about the origins of waterboarding (CIA decision-making could be viewed as a form of groupthink).

Click here for NPR story about cathartic anger.

Click here for NPR story and here for a Newsweek.com story about Quiverfull.

If you are interested, click here for a list that includes the academic summary of the research, two commentaries and a response from the authors.

Click here to read a New York Times article about social comparison and energy reduction.

Class will meet Tues, Thurs, 10:10 to 11:50 am in Stevenson 3046.

Course Description:

This course offers a broad introduction to social psychology. We will explore the various ways in which people think about, influence and relate to one another. We also will consider how the immediate social situation shapes people's behavior and attitudes. The course includes topics such as conformity and obedience, attitudes and attitude change, social perception, aggression, prejudice, attraction, love and altruism. In each topic area, we will examine social-psychological theory and research and consider what this discipline can teach us about human behavior and our social world.

Course Objectives:

• Learn key principles and concepts in social psychology.
• Learn how social psychologists do what they do.
• Apply social psychological principles and concepts to your own experience.
  

As a GE D1 course (Individual and Society), this course also is designed to contribute to the following SSU General Education learning objectives:

• Demonstrate understanding of how cultural diversity and social factors influence the individual, society, and social institutions.
• Demonstrate understanding of the interchange among individuals and social systems and institutions, and how these develop.
• Apply social science perspectives to social issues and problems as manifested in individuals, groups, societies, and/or internationally.
• Demonstrate understanding of the factors influencing inequality and social justice among individuals, groups, societies, and/or across nations.
  

For more general education information, go to: http://www.sonoma.edu/ge_iniative

Course Text:
Brehm, S.S., Kassin, S. & Fein, S. (2005). Social Psychology, Sixth Edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

For more information about relevant university policies, go to: http://www.sonoma.edu/uaaffairs/policies/studentinfo.shtml

Heather Smith, Ph.D.
Stevenson 3091
664-2587
smithh@sonoma.edu

PDF Versions:
Course Project 1
Course Project 2
Course Project 3
Course Project 4
Implicit prejudice reflection paper

In order to view and print the PDF versions you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader