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Seminar in Social Cognition – Psychology 762

(Spring, 2009)

Prof. Linda M. IsbellClass Time: Tuesday, 11:00 – 1:30

Office: 630 Tobin HallClass Location: To be announced

Phone: 545-5960

Email:

Office hours by appointment

Course Description

This seminar provides a critical overview of theory and research in social cognition. Topics to be studied include automatic versus controlled processing, attention and encoding, memory, the self, attribution, heuristic, attitudes and persuasion, stereotyping and prejudice, affect and cognition, and behavior and cognition.

In this course we will read chapters from Fiske & Taylor’s (2008) Social cognition: From Brains to Culture(McGraw Hill) as well as original research articles and/or key chapters for each of the topics covered. Fiske and Taylor’s book provides an excellent overview of the various topics and provides a context for the assigned articles. For this reason, you should read the assigned chapters in the book before reading the articles.

Course Requirements

  1. This course will be conducted in discussion format. For this reason, it is essential that everyone do all of the reading before class. When doing the reading, you should think carefully and critically about the issues raised, and you should integrate the readings throughout the course. To facilitate this and to promote class discussion, each student is required to generate four discussion questions for each class based on the assigned readings.
  • Discussion questions are due by 4 p.m. on each Monday before class. When writing questions, focus on critical issues and applications of the research. Discussion questions should be sent via email to me and to the discussion leader(s).
  • Worth 15% of your final grade (based on the quality and thoughtfulness of your questions).
  • Class Discussion Leader Students will be responsible for organizing and leading the discussions for each class. When you are the discussion leader, you should first provide a brief overview of the readings. The leader is also responsible for organizing the discussion questions according to themes. The leader should bring handouts containing the discussion questions to class for distribution
  • Worth 20% of your grade
  • Class Participation. Class participation is a critical part of this course and is required of each student in every class.
  • Worth 10% of your final grade
  1. Research Proposal. Throughout the course, you will develop a research proposal on a topic of interest to you in social cognition. You will be expected to work on this project throughout the semester and to revise and continually improve upon your work based on the feedback that you receive. At the end of the semester, you should have a very sound research project that you could actually pursue. The proposal will be completed in numerous stages, as follows.
  • Topic. You may choose any topic that you like, but you must examine it from a social cognitive perspective. You may not propose a study that is currently being conducted or planned in your research lab  you must propose something new. Before beginning serious work on your research project, you will need to submit your topic to me for approval. You should write a short description (no more than one typed page) about the project and provide a list of at least 6 empirical research articles from the social cognition literature that you may use in your paper. Be sure to look through the course syllabus and the Fiske & Taylor book for topics that we haven’t covered at the time the topic description is due.
  • Due by February 24th
  • Introduction and Hypotheses. Use at least 6 related social cognition articles and make an argument about a phenomenon of interest to you. Be sure to do this from an explicitly social cognitive perspective and be sure to develop concrete hypotheses concerning the phenomenon you are examining.
  • Due March 24th
  • Worth 15% of your final grade
  • Method and Expected Results. Revise the first paper as needed. Then take the hypotheses you discussed and develop a more specific set of predictions. Operationalize the independent and dependent variables in an experimental (or quasi-experimental) design. Describe the design, the scenario, the manipulations, and the measures in as much detail as a standard methods section. Include planned statistical analyses and expected results in a Results section.
  • Due by April 21st
  • Worth 15% of your final grade
  • Discussion Section. Revise the paper based on comments you received. Then, in a Discussion section, criticize your own design and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the choices you made. Also be sure to describe how this research will contribute to and extend existing knowledge.
  • Due by May 12th
  • Worth 15% of your final grade
  • Student Presentations. Each student should plan a 15-minute class presentation describing their research project. This presentation should be very carefully planned and should take the form of a conference presentation. As you probably know, conference presentations are typically very short. It is difficult to learn how to present your ideas concisely and clearly, so this will give you an opportunity to get some practice. We’ll allow more time for questions and answers, etc., as time permits.
  • May 5thand May 12th
  • Worth 10% of your final grade

Academic Honesty

All students are expected to adhere scrupulously to the University policy concerning academic honesty. For more information on the University’s academic honesty policy, check this web site:


Course Topics and Schedule

Please note: The schedule and readings are subject to change

(Especially if I read something particularly interesting in a new issue of a journal!)

January 27th (Tuesday)COURSE LOGISTICS, INTRODUCTION, AND

OVERVIEW

January 29th (Thursday)INTRODUCTION, OVERVIEW, & METHODOLOGICAL

ISSUES

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 1 (p. 1-22)

Nisbett, R.E., & Wilson, T.D. (1977). Telling more than we can know. Verbal reports onmental processes. Psychological Review, 84, 231-259.

Mook, D.G. (1983). In defense of external invalidity. American Psychologist, 38, 379-387.

DISCUSSION LEADER: LINDA()

February 3rd (Tuesday)DUAL MODES IN SOCIAL COGNITION

(WITH FOCUS ON IMPRESSION FORMATION)

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 2 (p. 25-50).

Fiske, Lin, & Neuberg (1999). The Continuum Model: Ten years later. In Chaiken, S. & Trope, Y. (Eds.), Dual-process theories in social psychology. The Guilford Press, NY, p. 231-254.

Macrae, C.N., Alnwick, K.A., Milne, A.B., Schloerscheidt, A.M. (2002). Person perception across the menstrual cycle: Hormonal influences on social cognitive functioning. Psychological Science, 13, 532-536.

DISCUSSION LEADER: COURTNEY ()

February 5th (Thursday)NO CLASS – SPSP CONFERENCE


February 10thATTENTION AND ENCODING

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 3 (p. 51-74)

Macrae, C.N., Bodenhausen, G.V., & Milne, A.B. (1995). The dissection of selection in person perception: Inhibitory processes in social stereotyping. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 397-407.

Forster, J., Liberman, N., & Kuschel, S. (2008). The effect of global versus local processing styles on assimilation versus contrast in social judgment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 579-599.

Smith, P. K., & Trope, Y. (2006). You focus on the forest when you’re in charge of the trees: Powerpriming and abstract information processing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,90(4), 578-596.

Stapel, D. A., & Semin, G. R. (2007). The magic spell of language: Linguistics categories and their perceptual consequences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(1), 23-33

DISCUSSION LEADERS: HECTOR ()

MINDI()

February 17thMEMORY: REPRESENTATION AND PROCESSES

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 4 (p. 75-102).

Hollingshead, A.B. (1998). Retrieval processes in transactive memory systems. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 659-671.

Smith, S.M., & Moynan, S.C. (2008). Forgetting and recovering the unforgettable. Psychological Science, 19, 462-468.

Loftus, E.F. (2004). Memories of things unseen. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13, 145-147.

Niedenthal, P.M., Barsalou, L.W., Winkielman, P., Krauth-Gruber, S., & Ric, F. (2005). Embodiment in attitudes, social perception, and emotion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 9, 184-211.

Meier, B.P., Hauser, D.J., Robinson, M.D., Friesen, C.K., Schjeldahl, K. (2007). What’s “up” with God? Vertical space as a representation of the divine. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93, 699-710.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: STEVE()

February 24thTHE SELF

** RESEARCH PROPOSAL TOPIC DUE **

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 5 (p. 105-133).

Gailliot, M.T., Baumeister, R.F., DeWall, C.N., Maner, J.K., Plant, E.A., & Tice, D.M., et al. (2007). Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: Willpower is more than a metaphor. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 325-336.

Pelham, B.W., Mirenberg, M.C., & Jones, J.T. (2002). Why Susie sells seashells by the seashore: Implicit egotism and major life decisions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 469-487.

Baumeister, R. F. (1990). Suicide as escape from self. Psychological Review, 97, 90-113.

Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, andmotivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224-253.

Gardner, W.L., Gabriel, S., & Lee, A.Y. (1999). “I” value freedom, but “we” value relationships: Self-construal priming mirrors cultural differences in judgment. Psychological Science, 10, 321-326.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: ARI()

MIKE()


March 3rdATTRIBUTION

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 6 (p. 134-163)

Gilbert, D.T., Pelham, B.W., & Krull, D.S. (1988). On cognitive busyness: When person perceivers meet persons perceived. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 733-740.

Todorov, A., Mandisodza, A.N., Goren, A., Hall, C.C. (2005). Inferences of competence from faces predict election outcomes. Science, 308, 1623-1626.

HEURISTICS, SHORTCUTS, AND BIASES

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 7 (p. 164-195).

Medvec, V. H., Madley, S. F., & Gilovich, T. (1995). When less is more: Counterfactual

thinking and satisfaction among Olympic medalists. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 69, 603-610.

Hertwig, R., Barron, G., Weber, E.U., Erev, I. (2004). Decisions from experience and the effect of rare events in risky choice. Psychological Science, 15, 534-539.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: HECTOR()


March 10thMORE HEURISTICS AND FLUENCY

Schwarz, N., Bless, H., Strack, F., Klumpp, G., Rittenauer-Schatka, H., Simons, A. (1991). Ease of retrieval as information: Another look at the availability heuristic. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 195-202.

Alter, A.L., & Oppenheimer, D.M. (2008). Effects of fluency on psychological distance and mental construal (or why New York is a large city, but New York is a civilized jungle). Psychological Science, 19, 161-167.

Williams, L.E., & Bargh, J.A. (2008). Keeping one’s distance: The influence of spatial distance cues on affect and evaluation. Psychological Science, 19, 302-308.

ACCURACY AND EFFICIENCY IN SOCIAL INFERENCING

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 8 (p. 196-212)

Dijksterhuis, A., Bos, M.W., Nordgren, L.F., & vanBarren, R.B. (2006). On making the right choice: The deliberation-without-attention effect, Science, 311, 1005-1007.

Dijksterhuis, A. (2004). Think different: The merits of unconscious thought in preference

development and decision making, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 586-598.

Dawes, R. M., Faust, D., & Meehl, P. E. (2001). Clinical vs. actuarial judgment. In T. Gilovich, D. Griffin, & D. Kahneman (Eds.), Heuristics and biases: The psychology of intuitive judgment (pp. 716-729). Cambridge, U.K.: CambridgeUniversity Press.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: LINDA ()

COURTNEY ()

March 17th (Tuesday)SPRING BREAK!


March 24thATTITUDES

** INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESES DUE FOR RESEARCH PROJECT **

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 9 (p. 213-235) and Chapter 10 (236-256).

Schwarz, N. (2008). Self-reports: How the questions shape the answers. In R.H. Fazio & R.E. Petty (Eds.) Key readings in social psychology.

Henderson, M.D., de Liver, Y., & Gollwitzer, P.M. (2008). The effects of an implemental mind-set on attitude strength. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 396-411.

Petty, R.E., & Brinol, P. (2008). Persuasion: From single to multiple to metacognitive processes. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3, 137-147.

Barden, J. & Petty, R.E. (2008). The mere perception of elaboration creates attitude certainty: Exploring the thoughtfulness heuristic. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 489-509.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: JANE ()

STEVE()

March 31stSTEREOTYPES

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 11 (p. 257-283)

Maass, A. (1999). Linguistic intergroup bias: Stereotyping perpetuation through language. In M.P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 31, 79-121.

MacCrae, C. N., Bodenhausen, G. V., Milne, A. B., & Jetten, J. (1994). Out of mind but back in sight: Stereotypes on the rebound. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 808-817.

Monteith, M. J., Sherman, J. W., & Devine, P. G. (1998). Suppression as a stereotype control strategy. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2, 63-82.

Burns, K.C., Isbell, L.M., & Tyler, J.M. (2008). Suppressing emotions toward stereotyped targets: The impact on willingness to engage in contact. Social Cognition, 26, 276-287.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: JANE()

ARI()


April 7thPREJUDICE

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 12 (p. 284-309).

Dovidio, J. F., Kawakami, K., & Gaertner, S. L. (2002). Implicit and explicit prejudice and

interracial interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 62-68.

Kaiser, C.R., & Pratt-Hyatt, J.S. (2009). Distributing prejudice unequally: Do white direct their prejudice toward strongly identified minorities? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 432-445.

Salvatore, J. & Shelton, J.N. (2007). Cognitive costs of exposure to racial prejudice. Psychological Science, 18, 810-815.

Eagly, A.H., Karau, S.J. (2002). Role congruity theory of prejudice toward female leaders. Psychological Review, 109, 573-598.

Nelson, T.D. (2008). The young science of prejudice against older adults: Established answers and open questions about ageism (pp. 45-61). In E. Borgida & S.T. Fiske (Eds.) Beyond Common Sense: Psychological science in the courtroom.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: KUMAR()

MIKE()

April 14thAFFECT AND COGNITION

Fiske & Taylor (2008), Chapter 13 (p. 310-340) and Chapter 14 (p. 341-360)

Clore, G. L., & Huntsinger, J. R. (2007). How emotions inform judgment and regulate thoughts. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(9), 393-399.

Parker, M.T., & Isbell, L.M.Affect and voting: Is feeling scared better than feeling mad?

Clore, G.L., & Huntsinger, J.R. (in press). How the object of affect guides its impact. Emotion Review.

Hunsinger, M., Isbell, L.M., & Clore, G.C. (under review). Tipping the scale: Affect and

reliance on global versus local information in impression formation.

Fishbach, A., & Labroo, A.A. (2007). Be better or be merry: How mood affects self-

control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93, 158-173.

DISCUSSION LEADER: LINDA ()

April 21stNO CLASS – MONDAY SCHEDULE

** METHOD AND RESULTS DUE FOR RESEARCH PROJECT **

April 28thBEHAVIOR AND COGNITION

Fiske & Taylor, Chapter 15, (p. 361-396)

Bargh, J.A., Chen, M., & Burrows, L. (1996). Automaticity of social behavior: Direct effects of trait construct and stereotype activation on action. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 230-244.

Cesario, J., Plaks, J.E., & Higgins, E.T. (2006). Automatic social behavior as motivated preparation to interact. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 893-910.

SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE

Nicholson, C. (2006). Thinking it over: fMRI and psychological science. Observer, 19, 20-25.

Wade, C. (2006). Some cautions about jumping on the brain-scan bandwagon. Observer, 19, 23-24.

Wager, T. D. (2006). Do we need to study the brain to understand the mind? Observer, 19, 25-27.

Cacioppo, J.T. et al. (2007). Social neuroscience: Progress and implications for mental health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2, 99-123.

Todorov, A., Harris, L.T., Fiske, S.T., (2006). Toward socially inspired social neuroscience. Brain Research, 1079, 76-85.

DISCUSSION LEADERS: KUMAR()

MINDI()

May 5th (Tuesday)STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

May 12th (Tuesday)STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

AND WRAP-UP DISCUSSION

** FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT DUE **