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Psychology 452G: Advanced Social
Psychology
Course Description
This course is designed for advanced undergraduate
and graduate students in psychology and other disciplines. It
builds upon the material covered in Psy250, Human Social Behavior.
Thus, this course will not review what you know about social psychology,
but rather expand upon it in a critical manner. We will examine
social psychological principles, concepts, theories, and research
with an emphasis on how these can be used to understand problems
of living in a complex world.
The goals of this course are to:
• Provide students with an overview of major research areas
in social psychology
• Introduce students to current research in social psychology
• Provide students with a deeper understanding of the conceptual
and practical aspects of social psychological theory and research
• Provide students the opportunity explore in depth a topic
of their choice
• Give students the opportunity to learn using the project
of their choice
Prerequisite. Students must have successfully completed Research
in Psychology II (Psy323) or must obtain permission from the instructor
in order to take this course.
Textbook
Aronson, E. (2008). The social animal (10th ed.). New York: Worth
Publishers. [ISBN: 1-4292-0316-1]
Course Requirements
Because this is a "mixed" class of both undergraduate
and graduate students, assignments and evaluation will differ
for both.
Exams (60 points each)
Undergraduate Students: There will be three exams that will be
given in class. Each exam will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions.
Exams will cover both text and class material. Each exam is worth
60 points, for a total of 180 points toward your final grade.
Graduate Students: There will be three take-home essay examinations.
The exam questions are osted on the course web site under "Assignments."
You may use any written or electronic resources you wish to help
you in answering the questions. However, the answers you produce
must be your own thinking and analysis, without assistance from
anyone else. Exams must be submitted at the beginning of the class
period in which they are due (exam dates on course schedule).
You have two options for submitting exams: (1) printed and stapled
exams can be handed in at the beginning of the class period in
which they are due; or (2) exam files may be emailed to me no
later than the beginning of the class period in which they are
due. Each exam is worth 60 points, for a total of 180 points toward
your final grade.
Exercises and Assignments (30 points)
Periodically throughout the semester there will be in-class exercises,
activities, writing assignments, and/or brief homework assignments.
Homework assignments must be completed by the beginning of class
(should be typed and stapled, unless otherwise instructed). In-class
activities and assignments cannot be made up. These exercises
and assignments will be graded as “credit/no credit”
and cumulatively will be worth 30 points toward your final grade.
Illustration Papers (30 points)
Undergraduate Students: Seven times during the semester, students
will turn in a short illustration of one of the topics covered
in the current chapter. Illustrations can take the form of an
account drawn from a newspaper, magazine, web site, or academic
journal article (not already mentioned in the text). Alternately,
students may include an example from their own experience or from
a movie, television program, or novel. In a one-page report (typed,
double-spaced with one-inch margins), the example should be written
up in a way that explains the psychological principle involved
and how it applies to the example. Illustrations must be turned
in at the beginning of the class they are due (typed and stapled).
They are worth 5 points each, and your lowest illustration score
is dropped. Thus, the illustrations count for a total of 30 points
toward your final grade.
Graduate Students: Each graduate student is required to give a
presentation in class. The topic for this presentation will be
how one or more social psychological concepts relate to the clinical
diagnostic process or a specific clinical diagnosis. The social
psychological concept(s) must be pertinent to the current chapter.
Each graduate student will choose one chapter from the text (Ch.
2-8) on which to focus. Sign up for your chapter by January 25.
Presentation dates are indicated on the course schedule.
The presentation should be 50 minutes in length and should be
accompanied by a PowerPoint slide show. An outline of your presentation
should be provided for each student in the class and for the instructor
(give me your original at least 2 days prior to your presentation
so that I can have your outline copied in time for your presentation).
More information on this presentation assignment is provided in
a separate handout. The presentation is worth 30 points toward
your final grade.
Individual Term Project (60 points)
Undergraduate Students: The individual term project consists
of an assignment of the student’s choosing that will give
each student the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of the
course material in a format that showcases their own strengths.
A project proposal is due on January 25. Students with questions
or who want specific feedback should meet with me as soon as possible
to discuss their ideas. The project must be approved no later
than February 4.
I am open to a variety of projects that will capitalize on students’
individual strengths. Some options include (but are not limited
to): a theoretical paper, an application paper, a web page, a
portfolio, a journal, a biography of a famous social psychologist,
a service learning project, or a public service ad campaign. This
list is certainly not exhaustive, so if you think of something
else you want to do to “show me what you know,” see
me to discuss your ideas before February 4.
Graduate Students: Graduate students will be responsible for writing
an integrative review paper. The topic for the paper will be how
social psychological concepts are at work in current societal
problems and how knowledge of social psychology might prove useful
in offering remedies for these problems. A project proposal is
due on January 25, and your proposed project must be approved
by February 4.
More information about this paper is provided in a separate handout.
The individual term project will be worth 60 points toward your
final grade.
Class Policies
Late Assignments and Makeup Exams
Late assignments will not be accepted unless you make prior arrangements
with me and only in cases of genuine and documented health or
family emergencies. Make-up exams will be given only for documented
and approved absences by making prior arrangements with me. In-class
assignments and activities will not be announced ahead of time
and cannot be made up.
Classroom Expectations
I strive to make the classroom a positive and comfortable place.
I appreciate your help in maintaining this environment. Please
be respectful of your fellow students and your instructors, and
do your part to preserve a good learning environment. Turn off
your cell phone. Don’t read the newspaper in class. Come
to class on time. Thanks! ?
Honor Code
I expect that you, as honorable scholars, will do your own work
and not take credit for the effort and ideas of others. This includes
plagiarism, cheating, and not contributing to group projects.
Thus, all of your efforts in this course should represent completely
independent work. Any student caught cheating on a test or plagiarizing
any written work or loafing on group activities will, at the very
least, receive a zero on that assignment. Dishonest students may
receive a failing grade for the course and may be expelled from
the university. Please refer to the student handbook for detailed
information on academic dishonesty.
Students should also be aware that it is academically dishonest
and a violation of the honor code to ask for, receive, or give
information about the content of exams (e.g., studying exams from
previous semesters) or to use in any way student papers (or ideas)
from previous semesters. Violators will be referred to the university’s
discipline committee.
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