University of North Texas at Dallas Spring 2021 SYLLABUS SOCI 4340 Social Psychology and Behavior in the Social Environment 3 HRS

Department of Sociology School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Instructor Name: Dr. Adrian James Tan Office Location: 254 Founder’s Hall (Campus is closed for Spring 2021) Office Phone: 972-338-1841 (Do not call as I do not have access to my office in Spring 2021) Email Address: [email protected] (Use this as primary means of communication)

Office Hours: M, T, W, TH, and F 11:00am to 1:00pm or by appointment Virtual

Course Format/Structure: Remote (online) Classroom Location: Remote (online) Class Meeting Days & Times: Remote (online)

Course Catalog Social and cultural bases of diverse human behavior; social matrix of personality, Description: organization, and disorganization.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite: SOCI 1510 or equivalent. Advised for students planning graduate work in Sociology. Co-requisites: None Required Text: Blumer, Herbert. 1969. Symbolic Interactionism. Berkeley: University of California Press. Callahan, David. 2004. The Cheating Culture. Orlando: Harcourt Inc. Pope, Harrison G, Katherine A. Phillips, and Roberto Olivardia. 2000. The Adonis Complex. New York: Touchstone Books. Tan, Adrian James and Doug Brignole. 2012. Million Dollar Muscle. San Diego: Cognella Press. Tavris, Carol and Elliot Aronson. 2007. Mistakes Were Made (but not by me). Orlando: Harvest Books. Strongly Tan, Adrian James. 2010. Humans and the Environment. Recommended San Diego: Cognella Press Texts: Or

Tan, Adrian James. 2012. Changing Relationship: The Evolution of Marriage and Families through the Ages. Dubuque, IA: Great Rivers Technologies.

Access to Learning Resources: UNT Dallas Library: (Founders Hall) phone: (972) 780-1616 web: http://www.untdallas.edu/library e-mail: [email protected] UNT Dallas Bookstore: (Building 1) phone: (972) 780-3652 web: http://www.untdallas.edu/bookstore e-mail: [email protected]

Course Goals or Overview:

This course is a Social-Psychological examination of the causes and consequences of conformity, and loss of individuality in society. The objective is to bridge the micro-macro aspects of society, showing that choices, no matter how individual they appear to be, have social implications. Topics include Social

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Psychology, Micro-Interactionist Theoretical perspectives, Market Forces, Consumerism, Popular and Ornamental Culture. Special interest in placed on how social forces can affect individual choices, and strategies to maintain personal autonomy and individuality in a world driven by the market culture.

Learning Objectives/Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to: 1 Understand and analyze the micro-macro aspects of society, and as to how they shape individual behavior and choices. 2 Understand, analyze, and explain how and why individual choices, no matter how individual they appear to be, have social implications. 3 Understand how individuals adapt, rebel, and succumb to social pressures. 4 Understand and apply various psychological and sociological theories to human behaviors. 5 Understand, analyze, and apply sociological theories from the micro-interactionist traditions: Charles Horton Cooley, George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer, and Erving Goffman.

Course Outline (Outline the major topics covered in the course with approximate timelines. Also include the schedule of tests and other graded events) This schedule is subject to change by the instructor. Any changes to this schedule will be communicated in class or via class email or Blackboard announcement. Additional readings and activities may be added, these will be noted in the Readings and Activities/Assignments sections.

*I left this here from previous semesters to give you an idea as to how this course was conducted on a weekend format. The class meets eight times (8) during the semester, which was every other Sunday for five hours. There were films, documentaries etc., along with lively discussions.

Timeline Topics Readings/Activities/Assignments Class Individualism: a new Symbolic Interactionism (Blumer): Meeting phenomenon? Chapter 10 1 In the course of human history, Humans and the Environment (Tan): is individualism a relatively new Chapter 9 concept? Who am I? Where am I in the totality of existence? Is reality relative? Can reality be manipulated? Can we trust our intuitions? Class Meeting 1 The Age of Enlightenment: the Symbolic Interactionism (Blumer): rational mind and its ability to Chapters 8 and 9 reason Humans and the Environment (Tan): British Empiricism -British Chapters 10, 11, 12, and 13 Utilitarianism Million Dollar Muscle (Tan and Rationalism Brignole): Chapters 1 to 9 German Idealism Transition from community to the individual : The Grave Twilight Zone: Person or Persons Unknown Class Meeting 2 Individual vs. Society: Ralph Waldo Emerson: Self-Reliance American (Posted on Blackboard) Transcendentalism and Pragmatism Are we truly free or are we products of the society we live in? Can we live apart from society? Can the rugged individualist truly exist on his/her own?

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Class Meeting 2 The Self: Who am I? Symbolic Interactionism (Blumer): Alice Through the Looking Glass Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 The Looking Glass Self Mistakes Were Made ….but not by me Symbolic Interaction (Tavris and Aronson): Chapters 1, 2, 3, The Thomas Theorem and 4 Twilight Zone: Where is Everybody? Twilight Zone: In the Heat of the Night: Perversion of Justice Class Meeting 3 Games People Play Mistakes Were Made ….but not by me Transactional Analysis (Tavris and Aronson): Chapters 5, 6, 7, Cognitive Dissonance 8, and Afterword. Sigmund Freud’s Defense Mechanism Solomon Asch (1955) Experiment: Do we succumb to peer-pressure? What makes us do the things we do against our conscience? Class Meeting 3 All the world’s a stage: The Adonis Complex (Pope, Olivardia, humans as social actors and Philips): Chapters 1, 2, and 3 Erving Goffman’s Dramaturgical Million Dollar Muscle (Tan and Approach Brignole): Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Presentation of Self Impression Management Appearance over substance Documentary: Pumping Iron (1977) Class Meeting 4 When the Masks Falls: Million Dollar Muscle (Tan and Exposed Brignole): Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17, and What happens when impression 18 management goes out of control? What happens when one’s façade is exposed? Twilight Zone: Masks Class Meeting 4 To be or not to be.... (Helping The Adonis Complex (Pope, Olivardia, Behavior). Are our choices and Philips): Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 truly our own, or do they have The Cheating Culture (Callahan): consequences? Chapters 1, 2, and 3 When do we help? Variables that facilitate helping behavior Actions based on incentives The Kitty Genovese Case Rational Choice Twilight Zone: Man in a Bottle Class Meeting 5 The Difference between Good The Adonis Complex (Pope, Olivardia, and Evil…a fine line. and Philips): Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11 Will good people turn bad if put The Cheating Culture (Callahan): in the right circumstances? Chapters 4, 5, and 6 Do situations influence people? Is morality relative? Milgram’s Experiment Stanford Prison Experiment

Class Meeting 6 The Cheating Culture: winning The Cheating Culture (Callahan): at all cost Chapters 7, 8, and 9 Why do people cheat? Million Dollar Muscle (Tan and The winning culture in America Brignole): Review entire book Is it cheating when everybody is doing it? Under what circumstances do people cheat? Revised April 2016 supersedes all previous versions

Documentary: Bigger, Stronger, Faster (2008) Twilight Zone: Doomsday for Mr. Denton 4/19 Age cannot wither her nor The Cheating Culture (Callahan): customs stale her infinite Review entire book variety: Are we really good judges of character? Can we recognize evil if we see it? Can we recognize the devil? The Lucifer Effect Twilight Zone: The Howling Man 4/26 Putting the pieces together: Review all books listed for the course. are we any wiser? Overview of the entire course

Special Instructions for Spring 2021 Students (Remote Learning)

As this course is taught remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain adjustments must be made; as some of you are essential and shift workers, and I must make accommodations. Unlike the regular classes, where I can set definitive deadlines; I am leaving the deadlines open, on condition that everything is completed by the last day of the semester which is May 8, 2020 at 11:59pm.

There are some advantages to the open deadlines. Instead of reading different books concurrently like the regular semester students, you can choose to finish one book, complete the assigned Discussions, and move on to the next. Likewise, you can watch the videos like the Lucifer Effect, Stanford Prison Experiment etc. and do the Discussions at your own pace. The sooner you turn your work in, the sooner I grade them, and the sooner you can complete the course.

Your Powerpoint presentation is the outline for your Final Paper, which we will discuss more on CANVAS as the semester progresses. Needless to say, I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus during the semester as contingencies can happen.

I recommend that you start reading the books Million Dollar Muscle and Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me first, as they will provide you with the foundation you need for this course. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Course Evaluation Methods

This course will utilize the following instruments to determine student grades and proficiency of the learning outcomes for the course.

Exams: - written tests designed to measure knowledge of presented course material. Your Discussions are your Exams.

Grading Matrix: Instrument Value (points) Symbolic Interaction Text 700 points The Adonis Complex Text 1100 points Mistakes Were Made Text 800 points The Cheating Culture Text 900 points Million Dollar Muscle 1500 points Age of Enlightenment and 1000 points Enlightenment Philosophies Dramaturgical Approach: 400 points Erving Goffman Thomas Theorem 200 points The Solomon Asch 200 points Experiment

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The Stanley Milgram 200 points Experiment The Stanford Prison 200 points Experiment The Lucifer Effect 200 points Cognitive Dissonance 200 points Transactional Analysis 400 points The Bystander Effect 100 points The Invisible Gorilla 100 points Freud’s Defense 200 points Mechanisms The Halo Effect 100 points The Science of Lying 100 points Power point Presentation 700 points Final Paper 2000 points Grand Total 12,000 points

Grade Determination C = 9,599 points to 8,400 points A = 10,800 points or better D = 7,200 points to 8,399 points B = 9,600 points to 10,799 points F = less than 7,200 points and below

University Policies and Procedures Students with Disabilities (ADA Compliance): The University of North Texas at Dallas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodations must first register with the Disability Services Office (DSO) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the DSO will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, DSO notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet/communicate with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. Students are strongly encouraged to deliver letters of accommodation during faculty office hours or by appointment. Faculty members have the authority to ask students to discuss such letters during their designated office hours to protect the privacy of the student. For additional information see the Disability Services Office website at http://www.untdallas.edu/disability. You may also contact them by phone at 972-338- 1777; by email at [email protected] or at Founders Hall, room 204. (UNTD Policy 7.004)

CoursEval Policy: Student’s evaluations of teaching effectiveness is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT Dallas. This short survey will be made available to you at the end of the semester, providing you a chance to comment on how this class is taught. I am very interested in the feedback I get from students, as I work to continually improve my teaching. I consider students’ evaluations to be an important part of your participation in this class.

Assignment Policy: According to the instructor’s discretion while working in concert with the division/program’s guidelines).

Exam Policy: (Discuss any special instructions relating to exams-sample given): Exams should be taken as scheduled. No makeup examinations will be allowed except for documented emergencies (See Student Handbook).

Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is a hallmark of higher education. You are expected to abide by the University’s code of Academic Integrity policy. Any person suspected of academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating or plagiarism) will be handled in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures. Refer to the Student Code of Academic Integrity (Policy 7.002) at http://www.untdallas.edu/sites/default/files/page_level2/pdf/policy/7.002%20Code%20of%20Academic_Integrity.pdf Refer to the Student Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct at http://www.untdallas.edu/sites/default/files/page_level2/hds0041/pdf/7_001_student_code_of_conduct_may_2014. pdf Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of Revised April 2016 supersedes all previous versions other students. In addition, all academic work turned in for this class, including exams, papers and written assignments must include the following statement: “On my honor, I have not given, nor received, nor witnessed any unauthorized assistance that violates the UNTD Academic Integrity Policy.”

Bad Weather Policy: Campus facilities will close and operations will be suspended when adverse weather and/or safety hazards exist on the UNTD campus or if travel to the campus is deemed dangerous as the result of ice, sleet or snow. In the event of a campus closure, the Marketing and Communication Department will report closure information to all appropriate major media by 7 a.m. That department will also update the UNTD website, Facebook and Twitter with closing information as soon as it is possible. For more information please refer to http://www.untdallas.edu/police/resources/notifications

Attendance and Participation Policy: (Discuss your attendance and participation policy.) The University attendance policy is in effect for this course. Please refer to Policy 7.005 Student Attendance at http://www.untdallas.edu/hr/upol

Diversity/Tolerance Policy: Students are encouraged to contribute their perspectives and insights to class discussions. However, offensive and inappropriate language (swearing) and remarks offensive to others of particular nationalities, ethnic groups, sexual preferences, religious groups, genders, or other ascribed statuses will not be tolerated. Disruptions which violate the Code of Student Conduct will be referred to the Dean of Students as the instructor deems appropriate. (UNTD Policy 7.001)

Revised April 2016 supersedes all previous versions