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)
3 lecture/discussion hours, 0.5 course
Unless you have either the requisites 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. Kelly Barnes
Office and Phone Number: SSC 7440
Office Hours: By appointment only
Email: klbarnes20@gmail.com (preferred); kbarne2@uwo.ca
Because this is an internet-based course, the best way to contact the instructor 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 up a meeting. Please include “Psych 3720” as part of the subject heading of your emails.
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
Dovidio, J. F., Piliavin, J. A., Schroeder, D. A., & Penner, L. A. (2006). The Social Psychology of
Prosocial Behavior. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. (For Part 1 of the course)
Krahé, B. (2013). The Social Psychology of Aggression (2nd edition). New York, NY: Psychology
Press. (For Part 2 of the course)
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 textbooks. In addition to the readings in the textbooks, 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 behavior
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
At the end of 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. Measured by research proposal.
5.0 EVALUATION
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/handbook/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
Grade Breakdown
Component % of Final Grade
Exam 1 30
Exam 2 30
Research Proposal 25
Discussions 15
Total 100
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
Course grades will be based on five online discussions, two exams and a research proposal.
1. Exams: Each two-hour exam will consist of “short answer” questions that test your ability to identify, conceptualize, and/or apply the course material. Sample questions will be provided after each lesson
in form of practice questions.
The midterm exam (October 24), worth 30% of the final grade, will cover material from
September 14 through October 18 (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 26 through December 6 (weeks 7-12).
2. Research Proposal: 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 8.
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.
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 schedule below). There will also be a bonus discussion. The bonus discussion will replace either your lowest discussion mark or a missed discussion post.
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Readings |
|
Discussions |
|
Part 1: Prosocial Behaviour |
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|
1 |
Sept 14 – 20 |
Introduction to Prosocial Behaviour |
Dovidio, Ch. 1 |
|
|
|
2 |
Sept 21 – 27 |
The Origin of Prosocial Behaviour |
Dovidio, Ch. 2 |
|
|
|
3 |
Sept 28 – Oct 4 |
When will people help? |
Dovidio, Ch. 3 |
Discussion 1 |
|
|
4 |
Oct 5 – 11 |
Why do people help? |
Dovidio, Ch. 4 |
Discussion 2 |
|
|
5 |
Oct 12 – 18 |
Being the helper and Being helped |
Dovidio, Ch. 7 |
|
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6 |
Oct 19 – 25 |
Midterm Study Break |
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Exam 1: October 24, 2015 (Time TBA) – Covers all textbook chapters and lesson materials (notes, additional readings, activities, and videos) in Part 1 of the course. |
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Part 2: Antisocial Behaviour – Aggression |
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|
7 |
Oct 26 – Nov 1 |
Defining and measuring Aggression |
Krahe, Ch. 1 |
|
|
|
8 |
Nov 2 – 8 |
Theories of Aggression |
Krahe, Ch. 2 |
Discussion 3 |
|
|
9 |
Nov 9 – 15 |
Development of Aggression |
Krahe, Ch. 3 |
|
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10 |
Nov 16 – 22 |
Situational elicitation of Aggression |
Krahe, Ch. 4 |
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11 |
Nov 23 – 29 |
Media violence and Aggression |
Krahe, Ch. 5 |
Discussion 4 |
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12 |
Nov 30 – Dec 6 |
Aggression as part of everyday life |
Krahe, Ch. 6 |
Discussion 5 |
|
|
13 |
Dec 7 – 11 |
Study Days |
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|
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|
14 |
Dec 11 – 22 |
Final Exam Period |
|
Bonus Discussion |
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Exam 2: Sometime between December 11 and December 22. Exact date and time to be announced. Covers all textbook chapters and lesson materials (notes, additional readings, activities,and videos) in Part 2 of the course. |
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Recommended Schedule for completing the Research Proposal:
Weeks 1 – 4:
o Find area that interests you (skim readings).
Weeks 5 – 7:
o Review past research in this area (PsycInfo).
o Review the following material posted in the Research Proposal tab on the website:
Techniques to generate a research idea that extends past research
The structure of an outline for your research proposal
o Develop outline of a research proposal
Week 8 – 9:
o Write first draft
Week 10 – 11:
o Review the following material posted in the Research Proposal tab on the website:
Writing style/organization
Typical problems/sample feedback
o Keeping these materials in mind: Write second draft
November 29:
o Submit draft to Turnitin and check for matches
December 1:
o Revise and submit final draft (one week before deadline)
December 8: Research Proposal Due
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
The University of Western Ontario’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2015/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
- 2015 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.
