Psychology 391H Sp 2012
California StateUniversity, Chico
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY______
Psychology 391H Spring, 2012
SYLLABUS
Course Title: Psychology of Prejudice, Hate, and Violence--Honors
Instructor: Marvin Megibow, Ph.D. Phone:898-6366 e-mail: Please use class Vista Bb e-mail
Urgent contact:
Office: Modoc 117 Office Hours:TR 2:00—3:00 p.m., and by appointment.
Prerequisites:
An introductory course in psychology is desirable.
Required Texts:
Baumeister, Roy F. (1999). Evil: Inside human violence and cruelty. New York:
W.H. Freeman and Company
Englander, Elizabeth Kandel (2007). Understanding violence. 3nd Ed. Mahwah, N.J.:
LawrenceErlbaum Associates
Jackson, Lynne M. (2011). The psychology of prejudice: From attitudes to social action..
Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association Press
Kellerman, Jonathan (1999). Savage spawn: Reflections on violent children.New York:
Ballantine
Recommended Texts:
*Allport, G. W. (1954). The nature of prejudice. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
American Psychological Association (1993). Violence andyouth: Psychology’s response.
Vols. I and II. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Anderson, Kristin J. (2010) Benign bigotry: The psychology of subtle prejudice. Cambridge,
England: Cambridge University Press.
*Baron-Cohen, S. (2011) The science of evil. New York: Basic Books.
*Derber, Charles (2004). The wilding of America. 3rd Ed. New York: Worth Publishers.
*Dozier, Rush W. (2002). Why we hate. New York: McGraw Hill.
Eberhardt, J. L. & Fiske, S.T. (Eds.) (1998).Confronting racism. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
Fromm, Erich (1961).The anatomy of human destructiveness. New York: Holt, Rinehart,
andWinston.
Gerstenfeld, Phyllis B. (2004). Hate crimes: Causes, controls, and controversies. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Gilligan, James (1999). Violence: Refelection on our deadliest epidemic. London: Jessica
Kingsley Publishers.
Gilligan, James (2001). Preventing violence. London, England: Thames and Hudson.
Goodman, Diane (2001). Promoting diversity and social justice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
Hare, Robert D. (1993). Without conscience. New York: Guilford Press.
Koss, M.P., Goodman, L.A., Browne, A., Keita, G.P. (1995). No safe haven: Male violence
against women at home, at work, and in the Community. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association Press.
Levin, J. & Rabrenovic, G. (2004). Why we hate. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books.
*Regush, N. (1997). The breaking point: Understanding your potential for violence.
Toronto:Key Porter Books, Ltd.
Stangor, C. (2000). Stereotypes and prejudice. Philadelphia: Taylor and Francis.
*Stout, Martha (2005). The sociopath next door. New York: Broadway Books.
*Sue, Derald Wing (2010). Microaggressions in everyday life: Race, gender and sexual
orientation. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
Sue, Derald Wing (2003). Overcoming our racism.San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Wallace, H. (1999).Victimology: Legal, psychological, and social perspectives. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Zehr, Howard (2002). The little book of restorative justice. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.
*Zimbardo, Phillip (2007). The Lucifer effect: How good people turn evil.New York:
Random House.
*highly recommended
Course Objectives:
The main objective of the course is to better understand the psychological bases of prejudice (bigotry, racism, discrimination) and how they contribute to interpersonal and inter-group hatred and violence. One goal of the course is to sensitize each individual to his/her own dynamics with respect to these issues and to increase awareness of their pervasiveness in the community and larger society. A further goal is to suggest ways that the individual can intervene with him/herself and with others to reduce the occurrence of prejudicial attitudes and their possible escalation to hatred and to violence. Victimology of groups who have experienced prejudice, hatred and/or violence (viz., racial groups, religious groups, females, elders, disabled persons, gay, lesbian, trans-gendered persons, etc.) will be examined with the goal of seeking possible ways to alleviate such victimization, in the family, community, workplace, and society in general. Implications of prejudice, hate and violence for the global community will also be considered.
This course meets General Education, Area D-3 and US Diversity requirements
GE requirements mandate assessment of student writing. This will be met in several ways: a term paper and term paper précis, two “issue briefs”, and small group activities.
Requirements:
(1) Twoexams in short answer (multiple choice; 50 pts. each;100 pts.)
(2) Twowritten “issue briefs” addressing selected topics in the course—(25 pts. each; 50 pts.)
(3) A term paperor book review that addresses a topic (problem or issue)pertaining to the psychology
ofprejudice, hate, andviolence.Provide a précis about the topic/book before proceeding. Book
review options are limited to the “highly recommended” list above or other approved titles (50 pts.).
(4) Participation in in-classactivities, group discussionsandbriefquizlets based on assigned
reading(s), homework, or lecture materials.(5 pts. each; 50 pts.)
(5) A series of in-class,team presentationsbased on a “hate pyramid” model that address issues and
consequences of prejudice, hate, and/orviolence. Strategies for reducing the occurrence of
prejudice, hate, and/or violence will also be considered. (50 pts.)
(6) Panel discussion series on Psychology of Hate (25 pts.)
Grading:
A percentage of best (POB) performance system will be used to establish grades. This is based upon the sum of best performance scores for each requirement. This sum will be considered the best achievable score for the course and will be used to determine percentages for assigning grades.
Psychology Research Participation bonus: Each semester the Department of Psychology sponsors psychological research. Each person is encouraged to participate in these activities; for each such certified participation you can earn an additional 5 points (up to a total of 15 bonus points).
Psy 110 Laboratory in human relations: Group experience in various topic areas. Earns 1 academic unit and 5 bonus points, when certified. Sign-up table at the main entrance to Modoc Hall.
Diversity topic series (Conversations on Diversity) and other special events: Providing a brief write-up of any special topic programs on diversity issues can earn 5 bonus points, up to 15 points.
Learning Objectives:
Knowledge/Skill Facilitating Assessment
Activities/Materials
1. Understanding of the psychological aspects of prejudice from perspective of perpetrators and victims / Readings, lecture, class discussions, special topic panels, and term paper research / Exams, discussion, panel presentations, and written work: term paper and issue briefs.2. Critical appreciation of the scientific process and the utilization of research findings / Readings, lecture, class discussions, special topic panels, and term paper research / Exams, discussion, panel presentations, and written work: term paper and issue briefs.
3. Appreciation and respect for cultural diversity and the role of culture in human behavior. / Readings, lecture, class discussions, special topic panels, and term paper research / Exams, discussion, panel presentations, and written work: term paper and issue briefs.
4. Understanding the psycho-logical effects of being a victim of prejudice, hate, or violence. / Readings, lecture, class discussions, special topic panels, and term paper research / Exams, discussion, panel presentations, and written work: term paper and issue briefs.
5. Understanding the neuro-psychological factors that con-tribute to prejudice, hate, and violence. / Readings, lecture, class discussions, special topic panels, and term paper research / Exams, discussion, panel presentations, and written work: term paper and issue briefs.
Americans with Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or chronic illness, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Please also contact Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) as they are the designated department responsible for approving and coordinating reasonable accommodations and services for students with disabilities. ARC will help you understand your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide you further assistance with requesting and arranging accommodations.
Schedule
Week of TopicReading*
1/23 Introduction and overview—Bigotry:Prejudice, Racism J: Ch.1, 2
and discrimination. Stereotyping. Violence issues.E: Ch 1
Writing sample exercise.B: Ch 1.
Handout-1
1/30Whence Prejudice? J: Ch 3, 4
The nature of “evil”: Hate=Violence? Victims andB: Ch 2
perpetrators.
2/6Explanations of prejudice: Affect and cognition; Old-J: Ch 7 fashioned racism. The nature of “evil”: Hate=Fear? B: Ch 3
.
2/13Measuring violence and crime; empowering victims;E: Ch 2
“The myth of pure evil”: Hate=Vengeance?B: Ch 4
Issue Brief 1
2/20The prejudiced personality: A type? Modern/Aversive Racism: Old wine in new bottles? Understanding violence and E: Ch 3, 4
cruelty: Clues from social science, neuroscience, B: Ch 5 psychodynamic theory.
2/27Consequences of being target of prejudice: Stigma.J. Ch 6
Hate for political ends: True believers and idealists.E: Ch 5
Forum 1B: Ch6
3/5Consequences of being target of prejudice: Anti-Handout-2
semitism. Do the media playa role in causing violence? E: Ch 6
Psychopathy and sadism.B: Ch 7
Forum 2
Midterm Exam
3/12Genocide and Native Americans Handout-3
Hate Crimes: Race, Ethnicity, Religion. B: Ch 8
How evil starts.Character/Personality Disorders:K: All
Psychopathy.Forum 3
3/19 Spring Break
3/26Women as victims: Family, work, and public arenas;Handout-4
the “rape culture,” i.e., “No safe haven”; StartingB: Ch 10 points for a culture of violence! Forum 4 E: Ch 10, 11
4/2Heterosexism—Hate crimes: GLBT victims.Handout-5
Everyday violence—competition and hate. B: Ch9
Forum 5
Issue Brief 2
4/9Ageism; Impact of prejudice/hate on identity/societyHandout-6
A “culture of violence”: How violence flourishes;B: Ch 11
Guns and violence; Substance abuse and violence.E: Ch 7, 8
Forum 6
—Team Presentations Begin—
4/16Children and elders as victims; domestic violence;E: Ch 9, 12,13. Corporal punishment/spanking; Other arenas of
violence, e.g., campus crime;workplace violence;
youth violence and gangs; prisons.
—Team Presentations—
4/23Approaches for social consciousness, sustainability,J: Ch8
restorative justice. Violence: Shame and “self-annihilation”B: Ch 12
as roots. Modulating the culture of violence—punishment vs.
restoring healthy values: respect, empathy, inclusion,
accountability, tolerance/acceptance, and the importance of
family and community; Prejudice Prevention Activity I.
—TeamPresentations—
4/30Prejudice/Hate: New directions/hopes/aspirations; J: Ch 9
Healing the culture of violence; prevention models.Handout-7
Prejudice Prevention Activity II.
—Team Presentations—
***Term Papers Due***
5/7Violence: Who benefits? Solutions: any hope? Apathy E: Ch 14
and heroism; Prejudice Prevention Activity III. Review.Handout-8
—Team Presentations—
5/14FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, 5/15, 2:00—3:50p.m.
*B=BaumeisterJ= Jackson
E=EnglanderK=Kellerman
Some websites to check out:
Understanding Prejudice:
Southern PovertyLawCenter:
Anti-Defamation League (B’nai Brith):
Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, CSUSB:
UCLA Project for the Psychological Study of Hate Violence and Pathological Bias:
Implicit Associations Test, on-line measure of racism, ageism, and sexism:
American Psychological Association report on hate crime:
Violence prevention and treatment: