Psy 410F-B: Self and Social Psychology Capstone

Prof. Allen McConnell — Spring 2003

Class meets in 106 Benton Hall
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.
 

Psy 410F-B on the World Wide Web: http://www.users.muohio.edu/mcconnar/psy410-self.html

Readings:

• Brown, J.D. (1998). The Self. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Psy 410F-B course packet available from Oxford Copy Shop, 10 South Poplar, uptown Oxford, 523-3636, $23.46 + tax.

All students in this course are required to have internet access because class-related information will be disseminated via e-mail and the World Wide Web.  Computer accounts, free to all Miami students, provide internet access from free on-campus computer sites and from home via a modem.  If you have questions, please contact the MCIS help desk (529-7900; SupportDesk@muohio.edu; 324 Gaskill Hall) as soon as possible.

Course overview:

At first, it may seem a bit surprising to see a course in social psychology devoted to “The Self.”  Typically, when one thinks about social psychology, topics such as forming impressions, group stereotyping, persuasion, helping behavior, and conformity spring to mind.  However, the self plays a very integral role in social life, and this course will explore how thinking about the self from a social psychological perspective adds to our understanding of human behavior and social life.  Even when taking the social psychological perspective, insights into the self are greatly benefited by considering the contributions of other areas of psychology, including cognitive, personality, developmental, and clinical psychology.  Hence, it is especially fitting for this course to be offered as a capstone class in psychology because although we will examine the self from a social psychological perspective, we will draw upon other areas of psychology as well.

This course has several goals... 

•   First and foremost, students should develop an in-depth and integrative understanding of how approaching the self from a social psychological perspective improves our understanding of human behavior.

•   Although the emphasis of the course is on how social psychology illuminates our understanding of the self, this capstone course is designed to show how several diverse subdisciplines of psychology contribute to our understanding of the self.

•   Also, students should learn how theory helps to frame issues associated with the self and how research findings that examine the self speak to psychological theory, helping to build bridges among different areas of psychology.

•   Students should develop a better understanding their own behavior and sense of self though the application of relevant theories and findings.

•   Lastly, this course should help students identify and understand various self-related psychological processes that affect human behavior in the real world.  In other words, the application of findings and theories should help students “make sense” of why people do the things they do.  These insights should help students better understand the events they see in the news, in their friends, in their families, and in their communities.

Grades:

The instructor reserves the right to adjust the grading scale.  If modifications occur, such changes will only make it easier for you to get a better grade (i.e., the scale will never be adjusted against you).  However, it would be extremely unwise to anticipate that an adjustment will occur.  Final grades will be based on the final number of points earned as applied to the above grading scale, no exceptions.  There is no end-of-semester negotiation period where students plea and barter for a better grade in the class.  If students are dissatisfied with their performance in the class, they should discuss their situation with the instructor early in the term — don’t wait until it’s too late.

Exams:

Three exams (essay and short answer) will be administered periodically during the course.  Each exam will only cover the material presented since the previous exam (i.e., they are not cumulative).  Also, there is no final exam.  The exams will focus primarily on the readings, course discussions, and course lectures.  Although the exam material will primarily reflect what is discussed in class, material that is assigned but not discussed in class is fair game.  However, exams will never assess trivial aspects of the readings.  The primary purpose of the exams is to assess how well students are learning and integrating the readings and class discussions.  Their focus is on research findings and theories more so than on applications.

Self-projects:

During the semester, each student will maintain an on-going self-project.  These projects are individual projects (i.e., they are not group projects), and they must be conducted individually.  Each student must identify a topic for self-understanding and self-improvement (e.g., weight loss, community service, exercise regimen, reduction in swearing) that can be monitored on a weekly basis.  The purpose of the self-project is to provide a work-in-progress where students apply theory and findings in the course to a concrete, self-relevant situation.  Students are expected to pick a project that is meaningful and important to them, and they should select a project that they feel comfortable discussing with others because they will report on their project in three written reports to the professor and in one oral presentation to the entire class.  When students choose a topic, they assume any responsibility for potential embarrassment or self-focused attention that their project brings to them.  The instructor must approve the topic by Tuesday, January 14.  Projects that are deemed immoral, illegal, or distasteful will not be approved (at the instructor’s discretion).  Each project must have a quantifiable goal and an objectively-measurable weekly state (e.g., you may want to build to a goal of running 10 miles a week by the end of the semester, and you can measure the number of miles you run each week en route to that goal).

Throughout the semester, students will prepare three written reports (each will be 3-4 typewritten pages, double-spaced, normal fonts and margins) that present an account of their semester-to-date monitoring (less than a page) and an analysis of how themes discussed in class since the last report are being applied to your project.  In other words, you are to look for ways to integrate theories and research findings discussed in class toward your self-project goal, and discuss how you have applied them to your self-project. 

During the last week of the semester, each student will present a short (approximately 8-10 minute) oral presentation about their project, summarize how the behavior was monitored, explain how principles covered in the course were employed in the project, and discuss the project’s overall success.  When self-projects are successful, the student will provide an analysis of what made it a success.  When self-projects are unsuccessful, the student will provide an analysis for why the project failed and what could have led to a more successful outcome.

Quizzes and class participation:

During the course of the semester, short pop quizzes (10 total) on assigned readings will be administered to encourage students to keep up with their readings.  They will not be difficult.  If you do the reading, this will be the easiest 15% of your grade.  They will be administered at the very beginning of class.  If you are late to class or are sick, you cannot make them up (even with a documented excuse).  In addition to quizzes, class participation and attendance will be assessed each class during which there is a reading assignment.  Missing class will cost students 10 points per day (even if the absence is excused).  Students who habitually say nothing will lose points even if they attend (students will receive a warning from the instructor to speak up).  Because much of this class is discussion oriented, participating is essential.

Class policies:

Academic integrity:  Any act of academic dishonesty (including, but not limited to, lying, cheating, plagiarism) will not be tolerated and will be punished to the fullest extent in accordance with Miami University policy on academic misconduct (see Sections 501-507 of Undergraduate Academic Regulations, 2002-2003 Student Handbook).  Any evidence of academic misconduct by a group of students will be considered academic misconduct by all parties involved.

Assignments:  Assignment due dates are posted in the syllabus, and they are due at the end of the regularly-scheduled class period (i.e., an assignment is late if handed in later in the day after class).  In essence, this syllabus serves as a contract between the instructor and students.  The instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus at any time as warranted.  However, the instructor will make such revisions at least one week ahead of a particular due date if it entails making assignments due at an earlier date.  Any alterations will be announced in class.  Although such arrangements will be communicated in advance, it is the student’s responsibility to attend to these announcements.  Students who do not attend class assume the responsibility for missing alterations to the course.

Special considerations:  In situations where special and documented circumstances require that a student not take an exam during a scheduled time (e.g., arrangements for disabled students, being a member of an athletic team that has an official obligation during class time, religious observance), special arrangements can be made to accommodate such needs.  However, students in these situations must make these arrangements with the instructor at the beginning of the semester and provide official documentation regarding these circumstances.

Course notes:  Attending class and taking notes are each student’s responsibility.  The instructor will lend out notes under any circumstances.  If students miss a class, ask classmates to borrow their notes. 

Classroom conduct:  While in the classroom, people are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and civil manner.  It is quite all right (and downright encouraged) for people to express their opinions and beliefs in an impassioned fashion.  It is quite another thing, however, to be disrespectful or rude to students or to the instructor.  It is fine to disagree with others, and it is okay to express non-PC (politically correct) views.  However, bigotry will not go unchallenged and disrespect will not be accepted.  In class, listen to others, participate, and be involved.  If you want to read the paper, talk to friends, or sleep — stay at home.  In the same vein, turn off your cell phone, silence your pager, and leave your toys in your bookbag. 

Make-ups:  There are no make-ups if you miss an exam or a report due date because of an unexcused absence.  An unexcused absence occurs when a student (1) did not obtain prior permission from the instructor concerning the absence or (2) did not provide documented evidence justifying the absence.  Documented evidence can be one of three things: (1) a signed note from a physician stating that you were sick and unable to attend class, (2) a letter from a funeral home or clergy on their letterhead indicating that you attended a memorial service, or (3) a letter from the Dean.  There are no exceptions to this policy.  There are absolutely no make-ups for the following assignments: quizzes, class participation, oral presentations.  If students miss these assignments, they will receive a zero (regardless of the circumstances).

Incompletes:  Except for cases of documented medical or family emergencies, incompletes will not be given.  There is no need for you to do badly in this class: the instructor will be available for meetings and will answer e-mail questions promptly, and points are earned in small chunks rather than a couple of monstrous exams.  If students feel compelled to drop the class, please note that the last day to drop the course without a grade being posted is January 27.  The deadline for withdrawal from the course with a W is February 18, and the last day to withdraw from the University or to drop the class with a grade of WP or WF is April 25.  Please see the academic calendar information published by the Office of the Registrar for more, and official, details regarding these dates and university policies.

Semester breakdown: