Social Psychology

PSY 104
Spring 2016
Meeting times: WF 10:05-11:20
Location: Soc Psy 130
Instructor: Jorgianne Robinson, PhD
Office hours: W by appointment and F 11:30-12:30
Phone (M): 919-434-8574
jorgianne.robinson@duke.edu
Skype name: jorgianne.robinson
Korrina Duffy
korrina.duffy@duke.edu
Office hours: WF 9-10, Soc Psy 03

Teaching assistants:
Anne Harris
adrianne.harris@duke.edu
Office hours: TW 11:45-12:45, The Link

Course Description and Goals

Social psychology is the scientific study of the way people think about, feel, and behave in social
situations. It involves understanding how people influence, and are influenced by, the others
around them. A primary goal of this course is to introduce you to the perspectives, research
methods, and empirical findings of social psychology. Topics to be covered include: impression
formation, social cognition, attitudes, social influence, interpersonal attraction, and stereotyping
and prejudice. Equally important is the goal of cultivating your skills for analyzing the social
situations and events that you encounter in your everyday lives. Finally, throughout the course,
emphasis will be placed on developing critical and integrative ways of thinking about theory and
research in social psychology.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Develop a familiarity with the major and enduring theories in social psychology.
Understand the contextual specificity (and the relatively modest degree of cross-situational
consistency) of human behavior
Understand how claims about human behavior can be put to empirical test and what are
some of the most important elements of sound research design
Understand some of the ways that people are most easily fooled by personal experience
and end up drawing invalid conclusions about others and about empirical regularities in the
outside world.
Requirements and Policies

Required Text:
Gilovich, T., Keltner, D., Chen, S., & Nisbett, R.E. (2013). Social psychology (4th ed.).
New York: Norton
Some readings are available for download from our Sakai course site. These readings are marked
*On Sakai.
Course Research Requirement:
Departmental Research Requirement

For this course and a number of others offered by the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience,
you are required to complete a 5-hour research requirement. You may participate in five hours of
studies offered through the Department, write five 400-550 word critiques of scholarly research
articles, or mix and match (e.g., participate in four hours of studies and write one critique). The
specifics of this requirementincluding all the relevant deadlinesmay be found by accessing
http://psychandneuro.duke.edu/undergraduate/subjectpool.
Take heed: You wont receive your course grade until you fulfill the research requirement.
Grading
Grades will be assigned at the end of the semester according to a straight scale (90% = A, 80% =
B, 70% = C, etc.), with pluses given for the top three percentile points (87-89 = B+) and minuses
for the bottom three (80-83 = B-).
Course grades will be determined based on: 5 in-class or online pop quizzes/assessments (10%), 3
in-class exams (20% for your lowest exam and 25% for your other 2 exams = 70%), and an
application project (20%). You will also complete number of brief, non-graded homework and inclass assignments.
Participation
Participation in class discussion is welcomed and encouraged. Bring your thoughts about relevant
readings to class discussions. You will participate in various in-class, ungraded group
assignments throughout the semester.
Exams
There will be three in-class exams during the course. These exams will be graded based on
demonstrated understanding of relevant topics. Exams will be composed of a mixture of multiple
choice, true false, scenarios and/or short answer items. In general, you cannot be excused from
taking these exams at the scheduled times. All exams are non-cumulative. All make-up exams
will be administered during the final exam period designated for this class: Wednesday, 5/4
from 7-10 PM.
**You have the option of replacing one exam with an individual or group project from an
approved list of topics available on Sakai. Note that you must submit to me via e-mail your
intention of completing a project in lieu of an exam 7 days prior to the relevant, scheduled
exam date. So, projects cannot be completed to replace scores on already completed exams.
Projects should be submitted via e-mail or thru Sakai by 11:20 AM on the relevant exam date.
(If you or your group chooses a presentation format for your project, please submit the
accompanying media for the presentation by the submission deadline). Early submissions are
encouraged. Late projects will not be accepted.
Application Project
You will complete an individual or group project for this course, due by 11:20 AM on April 27 th.
You may complete/present this project at any time during the semester. Early submissions
are highly encouraged. A list of application project ideas is posted on Sakai. You should also
feel free to generate your own idea for the application project. If you do come up with your own
idea, make sure to clear it by a member of the teaching team before you begin work on it. Late
projects will not be accepted.
Absences
Missing more than the occasional class may hurt you in that (1) there may be unannounced
quizzes; (2) there will sometimes be activities or demonstrations that are difficult (impossible!) to

duplicate; and (3) the material presented may go beyond the scope of the text. If you miss class
for any reason, please do not rely solely on the PowerPoint slides to study for exams; its in your
best interest to obtain notes from at least one classmate.
If you must miss class or lab due to incapacitating illness or injury, be sure to submit a STINF.
(Refer to http://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/illness for definitions and
additional procedures you should follow in this case.) If you must miss class due to an out-oftown varsity athletic contest, make sure to submit a NOVAP at least one week prior to your
absence. (See http://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/athletic-varsityparticipation for more details.)
Late Policy
Late assignments will not be accepted.
Requests for Regrading
If you would like us to reconsider the points awarded for any graded work, you may submit a
written request until one week after the assignment has been turned back to the class or lab.
Please be specific when making your case.
Academic Honesty
When you make references to the ideas of others, it is essential to provide proper attribution and
citation. Please ask if you are in doubt about the use of a citation. Please refer to Duke Universitys
student guide for practicing the community standard at http://registrar.duke.edu/duke-communitystandard.
Duke University is a community dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and
service and to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, and
accountability. Citizens of this community commit to reflect upon and
uphold these principles in all academic and non-academic endeavors, and to
protect and promote a culture of integrity.
To uphold the Duke Community Standard:
I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors;
I will conduct myself honorably in all my endeavors; and
I will act if the Standard is compromised.
Inclement Weather
Call 684-INFO (684-4636) or check Duke Universitys webpage at http://www.duke.edu to receive
information regarding class attendance due to inclement weather or emergencies.

Assignments and Due Dates

Introduction to Social Psychology
Jan 15

Review of syllabus and introduction to themes

Jan. 20
An invitation to social psychology
Gilovich et al., Chapter 1 (38 pgs.)
Jan. 22
Research methods in social psychology
Gilovich et al., Chapter 2 (24 pgs.)
*On Sakai: Gergen (1973) (12 pgs.)
Attitudes and Social Cognition
Jan. 27
Introduction to attribution
Gilovich et al., Chapter 5, pp. 155-168 & 184-193 (22 pgs.)
Jan. 29
Attribution in depth: Biases and errors
Gilovich et al., Chapter 5, pp. 169-183 (14pgs.)
*On Sakai, Choi & Nisbett (1998) (11 pgs.)
Feb. 3
Introduction to social cognition
Gilovich et al., Chapter 4, pp. 109-135 (26 pgs.)
Feb. 5
Social cognition in depth: Reason, intuition, and heuristics
Gilovich et al., Chapter 4, pp. 135-153 (18 pgs.)
*On Sakai, Fox, C. R. (2006). (4 pgs.)
Feb. 10
Introduction to attitudes
Gilovich et al., Chapter 7, pp. 229-238 & 251-265 (23 pgs.)
Deadline to submit intention to complete a project in place of Exam 1
Feb. 12
Attitudes in depth: Predicting attitudes from behavior (cognitive dissonance)
Gilovich et al., Chapter 7, pp. 238-251 (13 pgs.)
Feb. 17

EXAM 1
Personality Processes and Individual Differences

Feb. 19
Introduction to the self
Gilovich et al., Chapter 3, pp. 67-97 & 101-107 (37 pgs.)
Feb. 24
The self in depth: Self-regulation
Gilovich et al., Chapter 3, pp. 97-101 (4 pgs.)
*On Sakai, Carver & Scheier (1982) (skim 24 pgs.)
Feb. 26
Attitudes and behavior: Introduction to persuasion
Gilovich et al., Chapter 8, pp. 267-285 (18 pgs.)

March 2
Persuasion in depth: Persuasion contd
Gilovich et al., Chapter 8, pp. 285-301 (16 pgs.)
March 4
Social influence: Conformity and compliance
Gilovich et al., Chapter 9, pp. 303-333 (30 pgs.)
March 9
Social influence: Obedience
Gilovich et al., Chapter 9, pp. 333-345 (12 pgs.)
March 11
Introduction to emotions
Gilovich et al., Chapter 6, pp. 195-219 (24 pgs.)
Emotions in depth: Happiness
Gilovich et al., Chapter 6, pp. 219-227 (8 pgs.)
*On Sakai, Dunn, Aknin & Norton (2008) (1 pg.)
*On Sakai, Gilbert et al. (2000) (10 pgs.)
March 16 & 18 NO CLASS, SPRING BREAK
March 16, Deadline to submit intention to complete a project in place of Exam 2
March 23

EXAM 2
Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes

March 25
Introduction to relationships and attraction
Gilovich et al., Chapter 10, pp. 347-359 & 381-393 (24 pgs.)
March 30
Relationships and attraction in depth: Attraction
Gilovich et al., Chapter 10, pp. 359-381 (22 pgs.)
April 1
Aggression
Gilovich et al., Chapter 13 (34 pgs.)
April 6
Prosocial behavior
Gilovich et al., Chapter 14 (32 pgs.)
April 8
Introduction to groups
Gilovich et al., Chapter 12, pp. 445-474 (29 pgs.)
April 13
Groups in depth: Deindividuation and the psychology of mobs
Gilovich et al., Chapter 12, pp. 474-485 (11 pgs.)
April 15
Stereotyping and prejudice
Gilovich et al., Chapter 11, pp. 395-434 (39 pgs.)
Deadline to submit intention to complete a project in place of Exam 3
April 20

Stereotyping and prejudice in depth: Being a member of a stigmatized group and

reducing stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
Gilovich et al., Chapter 11, pp. 434-443 (9 pgs.)

April 22
EXAM 3
April 27
LDOC, In-class presentations
APPLICATION PAPERS DUE BY 11:20 AM
May 4

Make-up exam date, 7-10 PM