PSY 531—p. 1

PSY 531: Proseminar in Social and Behavioral Processes

Fall 2015

Instructor

Dr. Todd K. Shackelford

Office: Pryale 112

Office hours: By appointment

E-mail:

Office phone: 248-370-2285

Web:

Course Meeting Time and Location

Fri, 9am-12:20pm, Pryale 130

Course Description

The concepts, issues, areas of research, and research methods found in the psychological science of social and behavioral processes. Topics include social influence, persuasion, personality traits, intelligence, relationships, sense of community, public health outcomes, cultural comparisons, gender.

Required Texts

  1. Dawkins, R. (2006). The selfish gene: 30th ann. ed. with new introduction by the author. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN-13: 9780199291154 (paperback).
  2. Tooby, J., & Cosmides, L. (1992). The psychological foundations of culture. In J. Barkow, L. Cosmides, & J. Tooby (Eds.), The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture (pp. 19-136). New York: Oxford University Press. [available for download at
  3. Harris, J. R. (2008). The nurture assumption: Why children turn out the way they do (revised and updated ed.). New York: Free Press. ISBN-13: 978-1439101650 (paperback).
  4. Harris, J. R. (2007). No two alike: Human nature and human individuality. New York: Norton. ISBN-13: 9780393329711 (paperback).

Course Requirements

Class discussion will focus on readings assigned for each class meeting. Students are expected to have read the material prior to the class meeting and to be prepared to discuss and critically evaluate the material.

First, in consultation with the instructor, students will prepare a review paper and associated research proposal designed to investigate an unresolved issue in an area of the social and behavioral sciences. Second, students will deliver TWO informal presentations that introduces the topics covered by the readings assigned for TWO class sessions, and will help to guide the discussion for those class sessions. Third, students will turn in a one-page, typed brief reaction paper at the beginning of each class session (cannot be emailed). These brief reactions should address the reading assigned for that class session. Finally, students will complete a take-home final exam covering the material presented in readings and in class discussion.

Grades will be assigned according to the following weighted criteria:

Review paper/research proposal25%

Presentation/discussion25%

Brief reactions25%

Take-home final exam25%

Detailed Class Schedule and Topical Outline

Date Topic Reading

Sept 4Introduction to course; discussion sign-upNone

Sept 11The selfish gene, part 1Dawkins: Intro to 30th ann. ed., Preface to 2nd ed.,

Forward to 1st ed., Preface to 1st ed., Chapters 1-5

Sept 18The selfish gene, part 2Dawkins: Chapters 6-10

Sept 25The selfish gene, part 3Dawkins: Chapters 11-13

Oct 2The psychological foundations of culture, part 1Tooby & Comsides, pp. 19-73

Oct 9The psychological foundations of culture, part 2Tooby & Comsides, pp. 73-124

Oct 16Guest: Doug VanderLaan, University of TorontoTBA

Oct 23The nurture assumption, part 1Harris: Intro to 2nd ed., Forward to 1st ed., Preface

to 1st ed., Chap. 1-6

Nov 6The nurture assumption, part 2Harris: Chap. 7-10

Nov 13The nurture assumption, part 3Harris: Chap. 11-15

Nov 20No two alike, part 1Harris: Preface, Chap. 1-5

Nov 27No class (Thanksgiving)None

Dec 4No two alike, part 2Harris: Chap. 6-10

*Review/research proposal due

*Take-home exam distributed, due via email by 5pm, Dec 11