3720F-650

Psychology 3720F-650

The Psychology of Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviour

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

1.0    CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

The course will consider the social, situational and personality factors responsible for the occurrence of antisocial behaviours such as violence and aggression, and of prosocial behaviours such as helping others in disaster or crisis situations.

 

Prerequisites: Psychology 2820E or both Psychology 2800E and 2810 (or Psychology 2780E or permission of the Department at Huron)

0.5 course

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.


2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

       Instructor:                   Dr. Stelian Medianu    

       Office:                       Social Science Centre (SSC) 6300

       Office Hours:              Because this is an internet-based course, the best way to me is by email. I will do my best to respond to your emails as quickly as possible. If you would like to meet in person, please email me to set a meeting. Please include “Psych 3720F” as part of the subject heading of your emails.

            Email:               smedian@uwo.ca

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you.  Please visit:  http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.

3.0  TEXTBOOK

       Required textbooks:

  • Dovidio, J. F., Piliavin, J. A., Schroeder, D. A., & Penner, L. A. (2006). The Social Psychology of Prosocial Behavior. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
  • Krahé, B. (2013). The Social Psychology of Aggression (2nd edition). New York, NY: Psychology Press.

 

Lessons (required): A lesson has been prepared for each topic and can be found on the course website (owl.uwo.ca) under the Lessons tab. Each lesson will contain an introduction to the topic plus additional readings, activities, and/or videos that extend your knowledge beyond the readings in the custom course books. In addition to the readings in the custom course books, all materials within these lessons (including notes themselves and any additional readings, activities, and videos) are considered testable material for the exam. 

4.0    COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this course are:

  • To teach students about key theories, methods and findings in the scientific study of prosocial and antisocial behaviour
  • To provide students with the adequate tools to generate a research idea and to write a research proposal according to APA standards
  • To encourage students to think critically and apply their knowledge through online discussions with their colleagues  

   4.1    STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Describe theories, research methods and findings regarding the occurrence of antisocial and prosocial behaviours. Measured through exams.
  • Apply theoretical principles and research findings to everyday examples of prosocial and antisocial behaviour. Measured through online discussions with colleagues.
  • Locate and critically evaluate information. Measured through online discussions with colleagues and research proposal (literature review).
  • Generate and develop a research idea as well as to communicate clearly and cogently in writing using the discourse of the discipline Measured by the research proposal.
  • Provide constructive feedback to a peer. Measured by the peer feedback assignment.

5.0     EVALUATION

Course grades will be based on five online discussions, two exams and a research proposal.


Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:

70%     1000-level and 2000-level courses
72%     2190-2990 level courses
75%     3000-level courses
80%     4000-level courses
   
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf ):

A+  90-100      One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A    80-89        Superior work that is clearly above average
B    70-79        Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C    60-69        Competent work, meeting requirements
D    50-59        Fair work, minimally acceptable
F    below 50    Fail



6.0  TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

  1. Exams (60%): Each two-hour exam will consist of “short answer” questions that test your ability to identify, conceptualize, and/or apply the course reading and lecture material. Sample questions will be provided after each lesson in form of practice questions. The midterm exam (October 22), worth 30% of the final grade, will cover material from September 8 through October 16 (weeks 1-5). The final exam (during the final exam period; date, time and location to be announced), worth 30% of the final grade, will cover material from October 24 through December 4 (weeks 7-12).
  2. Research Proposal (25%): You are required to write a research proposal, which is worth 25% of the final grade. The maximum length of the proposal is 15 typed, double-spaced pages (excluding references). It is due in APA format on December 6, 2016 at 1 pm at SSC 6300. Your goal is to propose a study (preferably an experiment) that would extend our understanding of any area in prosocial or antisocial behaviour. Note that you will not actually conduct the study. More information about the requirements for the research proposal will be provided on the course website.

    Assignment: At the beginning of the course, you will be randomly assigned to pairs. Later in the course, you will be required to provide feedback to each other on the outlines of your research proposals. Your feedback to your partner will be graded and is worth 5% of the final grade. More information about the timeline and the requirements of this assignment will be provided on the course website.
  3. Online Discussions: There will be five online discussions worth 15% of the final grade. The online discussions will take place in weeks 3, 4, 8, 11 and 12 (see also schedule below).

7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

Week

Date

Readings (Chapters)

Exams /
Online Discussions

1

08.9. – 18.9.

An Introduction to Prosocial Behaviour

 

2

19.9. – 25.9.

The Origins of Prosocial Behaviour

 

3

26.9. – 02.10.

The Context: When Will People Help

Online Discussion 1

4

03.10. – 09.10.

Why Do People Help?

Online Discussion 2

5

10.10. – 16.10.

Being the Helper and Being Helped: Causes and Consequences

 

6

17.10. – 23.10.

Midterm Study Break

Exam 1, October 22nd, TBA

7

24.10. – 30.10.

Defining and Measuring Aggression

 

8

31.10. – 06.11.

Theories of Aggression

Online Discussion 3

9

07.11. – 13.11.

Development of Aggression and Individual Differences

 

10

14.11. – 20.11.

Situational Elicitation of Aggressive Behaviour

 

11

21.11. – 27.11.

Media Violence and Aggression

Online Discussion 4

12

28.11. – 04.12.

Aggression as Part of Everyday Life

Online Discussion 5

13

08.12. & 09.12.

Study Days

 

14

10.12. – 21.12.

Final Examination Period

Exam 2, TBA

Recommended Schedule for completing the Research Proposal:

 

Weeks 1 – 3:                 Find area that interests you (skim readings).

 

Weeks 4 – 6:                 Review past research in this area (PsycInfo).
                                    Review the following:

  • Techniques to generate a research idea that extends past research
  • The structure of an outline for your research proposal

                                   

Week 7:                        Develop outline for your research proposal

 

Oct. 30th:                      Post outline of your research proposal on Sakai for peer and instructor feedback (post no later than 11:59 pm).

 

Oct. 31st – Nov. 3rd:       Provide peer feedback (post no later than 11:59 pm)
Write first draft of proposal

 

Nov. 4th – Nov 7th:         Instructor evaluation of peer feedback

 

Week 9:                        Continue writing first draft

 

Week 10 – 11:               Review the following material:

  • Writing style/organization
  • Typical problems/sample feedback

                                     Write second draft keeping these materials in mind

 

November 27:               Submit draft to Turnitin and check for matches

 

November 29:               Revise, print, and submit final draft (one week before deadline)

 

December 6, 1 pm:       Research Proposal Due (Hard Copy)

8.0     STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link:  http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com

Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.



9.0    POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2016/pg117.html

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html


10.0        OTHER INFORMATION

Office of the Registrar web site:  http://registrar.uwo.ca

Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:

    http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html

- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2016 Calendar References

No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.