Psychology 3720G-001

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.

 

Revised Jan 6, 2022

 

WESTERN UNIVERSITY

LONDON               CANADA

Department of Psychology

2021 - 2022

 

Psychology 3720G-001

 

The Psychology of Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviour

 

  • CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

 

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

 

Antirequisite: Not Applicable.

 

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

 

 

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.

Course Weight: 0.50
 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol 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. Alex Benson                                           

Office: Zoom https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/my/abenson3

Office Hours: Virtual one-on-one appointments can be arranged via the "Sign-up" option. Once you have signed up for a time slot, register for that week's meeting using the "Zoom" tab. Virtual office hours will be held each Thursday 3:00pm-4:00pm (or by appointment)                        

Email: abenson3@uwo.ca                                   

      

Time and Location of Classes: Content modules will be posted every Tuesday by 2:30pm

Delivery Method: Online due to covid (until further notice)  SSC 3014 When classes resume inperson.

 

 

Teaching Assistant: Shruti Kumar                        

Office: Zoom until further notice                          

Office Hours: TBD                                                        

Email: skuma29@uwo.ca                                    

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

 

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 Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.

 

3.0  TEXTBOOK

 

There is no textbook for this course. Instead, a list of required readings will be available through OWL. Each reading will be available through the library either as a physical copy or digitally accessible through OWL. Weekly assigned readings, specified below, are to be completed before each class meeting.

 

4.0  COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

In this course, we will cover key theories and findings in the scientific study of prosocial and antisocial behaviour. Students will also learn about the methods used to study prosocial and antisocial behaviour. This course is organized around content-focused lectures, weekly assigned chapter readings, in-class activities, and class discussion. Students will generate a research idea and write a research proposal according to APA standards.

 

 

Learning Outcome

Learning Activity

Assessment

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.

  • Evaluate and describe contemporary theory, and methods relevant to prosocial and antisocial behaviours

Weekly lecture

Assigned readings

Class discussion

Working on summary of research proposal and final research paper

 

Multiple choice and short-answer exams

Summary of research proposal

Final research paper

Knowledge of Methodologies.

  • Critically evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to studying prosocial and antisocial behaviours

Weekly lecture

Assigned readings

Working on summary of research proposal and final research paper

Multiple choice and short-answer exams

Summary of research proposal

Final research paper

Application of Knowledge.

  • Apply concepts and theories to understand when and why prosocial and antisocial behaviours may occur

Class discussion

Working on summary of research proposal and final research paper

Multiple choice and short-answer exams

Summary of research proposal

Final research paper

Communication Skills.

Conceptualize and summarize findings from the scholarly literature on prosocial and antisocial behaviour. Communicate these orally and in writing.

Research proposal

Class discussion

 

Summary of research proposal

Final research paper

Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.

  • Understand issues around the measurement of prosocial and antisocial behaviours
  • Understand constraints on generality based on the context and the target population

 

Research proposal

 

Summary of research proposal

Final research paper

 

 

 

5.0  EVALUATION

 

Course grades will be based on two exams, a two-page research proposal summary, and the full research proposal paper.

 

First Exam (32.5%): The first exam will focus on prosocial behaviour. Testable content includes all material covered between Weeks 1-5. This includes all of the lesson materials (notes, lecture material, activities, and videos) and assigned textbook chapters. The examination will be 80 minutes in length and will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions. In the event that the exam must be held online via Zoom, the exam will consist entirely of multiple choice questions.

Second Exam 2 (32.5%): The second exam will focus on antisocial behaviour. Testable content includes all material covered since the first exam. This includes all of the lesson materials (notes, lecture material, activities, and videos) and assigned textbook chapters. The examination will be 80 minutes in length and will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions. In the event that the exam must be held online via Zoom, the exam will consist entirely of multiple choice questions.

 

Summary of research proposal (10%) - Students will have the opportunity to apply the course materials by formulating a novel research idea and proposing a study to address it. The research project you propose must address a research question directly related to prosocial and/or antisocial behaviour. For the research proposal summary, you will prepare a concise document outlining the theoretical background and rationale for the proposed research question, the objective(s) and method of the proposed work, and the anticipated findings and implications. There is a strict two-page limit for the proposal summary (double spaced, 1 inch margins on all sides, APA formatting), with a third page allotted for a reference list. The research proposal summary is due on March 1st, 2022, at 11:59pm.

 

Research proposal (25% written component) - Students will have the opportunity to apply the course materials by formulating a research question and proposing a study to answer it. The final paper should [1] provide a brief literature review, [2] outline a hypothesis (or hypotheses) you are interested in testing, [3] specify a method for examining the proposed question, [4] describe your expected results, and [5] discuss implications and plausible alternative accounts of what the research may yield. The final paper must be at least 2500 words, not including references (double-spaced, formatted with 12-point Times New Roman; 1 inch margins on all sides; written in accordance with APA guidelines) and is due on April 5th at 11:59pm. There will be a 10% per day penalty for late submissions. As a general guide, the literature review and the description of the hypothesis/hypotheses should be 4-6 pages in length, the method should be 1-3 pages in length, the expected results should be 1-3 pages in length, and the implications/alternative accounts should be 2-4 pages.

 

 

5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK

 

 

First Exam - If you have an excused absence and are unable to write the first exam (i.e., academic counselling-approved documentation), then you will write an alternative version with the time and date to be determined. The makeup exam may be in a different format from the regular exam. If you have a non-excused absence and you do not write the exam, you will receive a grade of 0.

 

Second Exam (during final exam period) - If you have an excused absence and are unable to write the final exam (i.e., academic counselling-approved documentation), then you will write an alternative version of the final exam, with the time and date to be determined. The final exam makeup may be in a different format (e.g., short-answer, essay) from the regular exam. If you have a non-excused absence and you do not write the final exam, you will receive a grade of 0.

 

Summary of Research proposal - The summary of your research proposal is due March 1st before midnight. There will be a 10% per day penalty for late submission of research proposal papers.

 

Research proposal - The final paper is due on April 5th before midnight. There will be a 10% per day penalty for late submission of research proposal papers.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.

 

This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.

 

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:

 

70%      1000-level to 2099-level courses

72%      2100-2999-level courses

75%      3000-level courses

80%      4000-level courses

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s 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

 

Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.

 

Policy on Grade Rounding: Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course.

 

6.0  ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE

 

 

Final research paper: April 5th, 2022. 

In the event that a self-reported absence or other short-term accommodation interferes with your ability to submit either the summary of research proposal or the final research paper on time, you must contact the instructor (Dr. Benson, abenson3@uwo.ca) within 24 hours of the expiration of your accommodation to obtain an appropriate extension in OWL. If you fail to arrange for an extension, you will receive a mark of 0 on the relevant course component, in accord with University policy.

 

First Exam: February 15th (in-class).

In the event that a short-term accommodation interferes with your ability to take the first exam, you may sit the make-up first exam. The make-up first exam will be scheduled at a future date with the location to be determined. If you choose to take the make-up exam, please be aware that the exam will not be the same as the original exam other students have taken. Instead, it will be equivalent in difficulty and format but will contain new multiple choice and short answer questions.

 

Second Exam: During final exam period (i.e., date, time, and location to be announced).

In the event that a short-term accommodation interferes with your ability to take the final exam, you may sit the make-up second exam (location to be determined). If you must take the make-up exam, please be aware that the exam will not be the same as the original exam other students have taken. Instead, it will be equivalent in difficulty and format but will contain new multiple choice and short answer questions.

          

 

 

7.0  CLASS SCHEDULE

 

Please note the reading list may change before class commences in January 2022. The finalized reading list will be posted on OWL during the first week of class. All articles will be made freely available to all students via OWL.

 

Week

Date

Topic

Readings

 

 

Part 1: Prosocial Behaviour

 

1

 

Jan. 11

 

Introduction to Prosocial Behaviour

 

Select pages from Schroeder, D. A., & Graziano, W. G. Introduction to Prosocial Behavior. Chapter 10 from Getting Grounded in Social Psychology.

 

2

 

Jan. 18

 

The Origin of Prosocial Behaviour

 

Zaki, J., & Mitchell, J. P. (2013). Intuitive prosociality. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22(6), 466-470.

 

3

 

Jan. 25

 

The “When” and “Who” of Prosociality

 

Fischer, P., Krueger, J. I., Greitemeyer, T., Vogrincic, C., Kastenmüller, A., Frey, D., ... & Kainbacher, M. (2011). The bystander-effect: a meta-analytic review on bystander intervention in dangerous and non-dangerous emergencies. Psychological Bulletin, 137(4), 517.

 

4

 

Feb. 1

 

Why do People Help?

-

 

5

 

Feb. 8  

 

Prosocial Behaviour in Collectives: Cooperation Within and Between Groups

Feinberg, M., Willer, R., & Schultz, M. (2014). Gossip and ostracism promote cooperation in groups. Psychological Science, 25(3), 656-664.

 

6          

 

Feb. 15                   

 

Exam 1

 

 

 

7

 

Feb. 22

No class: Reading week

 

 

 

8

 

Mar. 1

 

Defining and Measuring Aggression

[2-page summary of research proposal due]

 

McCarthy, R. J., & Elson, M. (2018). A conceptual review of lab-based aggression paradigms. Collabra: Psychology, 4(1) 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.104

 

9

 

Mar. 8

 

Theories of Aggression

 

 

10

 

Mar. 15

 

Development of Aggression

Dishion, T. J. (2014). A developmental model of aggression and violence: Microsocial and macrosocial dynamics within an ecological framework. In Handbook of developmental psychopathology (pp. 449-465). Springer.

 

11

 

Mar. 22

The “When” and “Who” of Aggressive Behaviour

 Bettencourt, B., Talley, A., Benjamin, A. J., & Valentine, J. (2006). Personality and aggressive behavior under provoking and neutral conditions: a meta-analytic review. Psychological bulletin, 132(5), 751.

 

12

 

Mar. 29

 

Media violence and Aggression

 

Przybylski, A. K., & Weinstein, N. (2019). Violent video game engagement is not associated with adolescents' aggressive behaviour: evidence from a registered report. Royal Society Open Science, 6(2), 171474.

 

13

 

April 5

 

Aggression as Part of Everyday Life

[Final paper due]

 

-

 14         

April 10 – 30 

Exam 2 (during the final exam period)

 

 

 

8.0  Land Acknowledgement

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.

 

With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.

 

 

9.0  STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

 

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence 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 offences. 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).

 

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

 

In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.

 

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

 

10.0      POLICY ON THE USE OF EXAM PROCTORING SOFTWARE

 

When examinations and tests cannot be given in person (e.g., in courses coded as Distance Studies; in the event of a lockdown order), they may be conducted using either a monitoring platform such as Zoom or a remote proctoring service, such as Proctorio. If Zoom is used for exam invigilation, you will be required to keep your camera on for the entire session, hold up your student card for identification purposes, and share your screen with the invigilator if asked to do so at any time during the exam. The exam session using Zoom will not be recorded.*

If a remote proctoring service is used, the service will require you to provide personal information (including some biometric data). The session will be recorded. The instructor will alert you to the use of this software as close as possible to the start of the term, however, in the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly canceled, you may only be given notice of the use of a proctoring service a short time in advance. More information about remote proctoring is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines. Please ensure you are familiar with any proctoring service’s technical requirements before the exam. Additional guidance is available at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf

 

* Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination. See this link for technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us  

 

11.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES

 

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12

 

The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf

 

If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:

  1. Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
  2. For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
  • For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.

 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order to be valid. It may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html

 

Students seeking academic consideration:

  • are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;  
  • are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
  • must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence

 

Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.

 

12.0     Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown: IN-Person & Blended classes

 

In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online, as determined by the course instructor.

 

 

Course delivery with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic

 

Although the intent is for this course to be delivered in-person, the changing COVID-19 landscape may necessitate some or all of the course to be delivered online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience).  The grading scheme will not change.  Any assessments affected will be conducted online as determined by the course instructor.

 

 When deemed necessary, tests and examinations in this course will be conducted using a remote proctoring service.  By taking this course, you are consenting to the use of this software and acknowledge that you will be required to provide personal information (including some biometric data) and the session will be recorded.  Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the technical requirements for this service.  More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca

 

 

 

13.0      STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE

 

In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:

  • please “arrive” to class on time
  • please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
  • please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
  • to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
  • In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
  • In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
  • Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting

 

The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:

  • If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
  • Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
  • Self-identify when speaking.
  • Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).

 

General considerations of “netiquette”:

  • Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
  • Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
  • Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
  • Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.

 

Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.

 

14.0 OTHER INFORMATION

 

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

 

Student Development Services: 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

- 2021-2022 Calendar References

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf

Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.

 

Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.