Social Bases of Behavior

This course examines the social behavior of individuals and groups. Students will become familiar with both classical and contemporary social psychological theories, empirical research, and how to study social phenomena scientifically. Topics include prejudice and stereotyping, social perception and social cognition, attitude formation, persuasion, obedience and compliance, prosocial behavior, and fairness in social relationships. Social psychological methods will be reviewed and topics presented to provide a foundation for a deeper understanding of clinical and social psychological issues related to class, culture, gender, sexuality and race.