POLS 301: Political Psychology Online Dr. Rebecca J. Hannagan,

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1 POLS 301: Political Psychology Online Dr. Rebecca J. Hannagan, Course Objective: Political psychology as a field is defined largely by its preoccupation with the role of human thought, emotion, and behavior in politics. Political psychology speaks to so many aspects of political phenomena from American politics and voting behavior, to comparative politics, to international relations. Political psychology is important to understanding how ethnic identities contribute to state conflict and how voters react to the particular traits of leaders or campaign rhetoric, for example. We will start with the basics of human thinking and emotion and build to more specific approaches to political psychology - integrating models of human emotion, cognition, and behavior - and focusing on analytical and writing skills in response to both theoretical approaches and methodologies. Course Materials: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Political Psychology by David Patrick Houghton Articles posted on Blackboard (pdf format) Films and materials Calculation of Grades: Your grade in this course will consist of your performance on two exams (a midterm and a final exam), three short reaction papers, and class discussion via Blackboard Discussion Board. The following is a breakdown of how the grades will be weighted: Midterm Exam 25% Three (3) Reaction Papers 25% Final Exam 25% Discussions 25% Online Class Format: This class is offered in an online format, so there is not the typical opportunity for us to work out ideas collectively in the classroom each week. That does not mean we won t collectively work out ideas, however. We will be using a number of mediums to engage with the course material as well as each other. Because you are not held accountable for doing the work via having to see me face- to- face several times a week, it is up to you to keep up with the work and make sure you are participating and doing the assignments. If staying on- task and being organized is not your forte, perhaps you should consider taking a traditional classroom version of this course. In short, it is your responsibility to do the work and keep up. Write reminders to yourself. Schedule alerts in your phone. Have your buddies in the class hold you accountable. I want you to be successful but much of that falls on you! Readings and Other Media/Online Content: When there are readings and other online content I refer you to, you need to read it or watch a video and/or read the accompanying story prior to doing the assignments. In this way, the online format works just like a face- to- face class where you need to read before coming to class. It is even more important that you actually do the readings and prepare in this format since you will not have the opportunity to learn what the readings were about from other students comments as you might in a regular classroom setting. Don t be scared by the material even if it seems abstract or difficult. Part of taking college courses entails 1

2 reading difficult materials and working through them to make sense of concepts being presented. Something you can do with each reading or other media I assign is to consider (and perhaps write down responses to) the following questions: What is the main research question or puzzle presented? What is this essay/article/video about? What assumptions about the puzzle are being made by the authors or presenters? What, if any, research methods are used to find an answer to the puzzle? What are the findings of the research or conclusions being presented? What suggestions would you make for improving the research or the argument and findings presented? Why would you make the particular suggestions for improvement that you do? By doing this exercise each time you read or watch something, you will get used to focusing on what the author is trying to get across, and that will help you cut through any jargon that they may be using, or concepts they present that you do not quite understand. General Information: I do not accept late work, nor do I offer make-up exams (NO EXCEPTIONS! Don t ask). If your paper is late, you will receive a 0 on that assignment. If you have a situation that requires exception (i.e. death of a family member, you are having a baby, etc.), you must notify me and/or be prepared to produce documentation of your situation. This syllabus is a contract between me (the professor) and you (the student). The syllabus will be available on Blackboard throughout the semester for your reference. If you choose to remain in this class I assume that you agree to the policies and procedures I have set forth in the syllabus. Academic Dishonesty: The maintenance of academic honesty and integrity is of vital concern to the Department of Political Science and the University community. Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty shall be subject to both academic and disciplinary sanctions. If I find that you have plagiarized your academic work, you will receive an F on the assignment no exceptions. If you are caught cheating, falsifying, or otherwise misrepresenting your work twice you will fail the class. In addition, if I suspect academic dishonesty your name will be turned over to the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Chair of the Political Science Department who will make a determination as to further disciplinary action, which may include academic probation or expulsion. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: cheating, fabrication and falsification, plagiarism, and misrepresentation to avoid academic work. I would like to reiterate that I take this very seriously and therefore, so should you. Other Information: Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Those students with disabilities that may have some impact on their coursework and for which they may require accommodations should notify the Disability Resource Center (DRC) on the fourth floor of the Health Services Building. DRC will assist students in making appropriate accommodations with course instructors. It is important that DRC and instructors be informed of any disability-related needs 2

3 during the first two weeks of the semester. Tentative Schedule: I. Understanding the Mind via Blink Week of January 12: The Syllabus Gladwell Intro: The statue that didn t look right; and Gladwell Chapter 1: The theory of thin slices - how a little bit of knowledge goes a long way, pp Intro the Class Video Watch Jill Bolte Taylor A Stroke of Insight (TED.com) Entire class do introductions on Discussion Board Week of January 19: Gladwell Chapter 2: The locked door - the secret life of snap decisions, pp Bechara and Damasio, et al Deciding Advantageously before Knowing the Advantageous Strategy. Science, 275. (pdf on Blackboard) Gladwell Chapter 3: The Warren Harding error - why we fall for tall, dark and handsome men, pp Todorov, Alexander et al Predicting Election Outcomes from Positive and Negative Trait Assessments of Political Candidates. Political Psychology. (pdf on Blackboard) Watch Simulation from Princeton Social Cognition and Social Neuroscience Lab Week of January 26: Gladwell Chapter 4: Paul Van Riper s big victory - creating structure for spontaneity, pp McDermott, Rose. The Feeling of Rationality: The Meaning of Neuroscientific Research for Political Science. Perspectives on Politics. Video on Understanding the Mind via Blink Week of February 2: Houghton Chapter 10: Affect and Emotion, pp Mutz, Diana Effects of In-Your-Face Television Discourse on Perceptions of a Legitimate Opposition. American Political Science Review 101: (pdf on Blackboard) Watch Lie to Me 3

4 Week of February 9: Gladwell Chapter 5: Kenna s dilemma - the right and wrong way to ask people what they want, pp Houghton Chapter 12: The Psychology of Voting Behavior, pp Video on Understanding the Mind via Blink so far Week of February 16: Gladwell Chapter 6: Seven seconds in the Bronx - the delicate art of mind reading, pp Houghton Chapter 14: The Psychology of Racism and Political Intolerance, pp Richeson and Shelton, When Prejudice Does Not Pay: Effects of Interracial Contact on Executive Function. Psychological Science. 14: Watch Nate Silver - Race and Voting (TED.com) Week of February 23: Gladwell Conclusion: Listening with your eyes - the lessons of Blink, pp. 245-end Video on Understanding the Mind via Blink wrap-up ASSIGNMENT DUE First Reaction Paper Due over Blink Week of March 2: MIDTERM EXAM Week of March 9: No Classes University Spring Break II. Political Psychology Week of March 16: Houghton Chapter 2: A Brief History of the Discipline, pp Houghton Chapter 3: Behaviorism and Human Freedom, pp Watch Skinnerian Stimulus-Response Studies Week of March 23: Houghton Chapter 4: The Psychology of Obedience, pp

5 Watch the Asch Experiment Watch the Milgram Experiment Week of March 30: Chapter 5: Creating a Bad Barrel, pp Watch the Stanford Prison Experiment Watch Philip Zimbardo - Good, Evil and Situations (TED.com) ASSIGNMENT DUE Second Reaction Paper Due over Behaviorism and the Psychology of Obedience Week of April 6: Houghton Chapter 16: The Psychology of International Relations, pp Johnson and McDermott, Gender Differences in a Simulated War Game. Houghton Chapter 15: The Psychology of Terrorism, pp Victoroff, Jeff The Mind of a Terrorist. Journal of Conflict Resolution. (pdf on Blackboard) Video on Political Psychology so far Week of April 13: Houghton Chapter 6: Group Decision Making, pp Houghton Chapter 9: Cognition, pp MSNBC video on women and election aversion Week of April 20: Haidt, J. The emotional dog and its rational tail: A social intuitionist approach to moral judgment. Psychological Review. 108, Watch Jonathan Haidt - The moral roots of liberalism and conservatism (Newyorker.com and TED.com) Week of April 27: Houghton Chapter 11: Neuroscience, pp Eisenberger et al., Does Rejection Hurt? An fmri Study of Social Exclusion. Science. 302:

6 Video on Political Psychology wrap-up ASSIGNMENT DUE Third Reaction Paper Due over Emotions, Neuroscience and Politics Week of May 4: FINAL EXAM Reaction Paper Assignment A reaction paper is a four (4) page (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font) reaction to a group of readings. I want you to react to the readings and not summarize the readings. I read them. I know what they are about. I do not want a book report. I want your reaction paper to illustrate that you had some sort of an intellectual struggle with the material. I want you to take up one or more of the issues raised and talk about the problems, implications, your proposed solution, a different ( better ) way of looking at the issue, etc. Think big. This is hard, but another challenge is that it must ONLY BE FOUR PAGES LONG. You will be down-graded if you go beyond the page limit. I recommend you get your thoughts down on paper then walk away from it for a day or so. When you come back to it with fresh eyes you will be able to decipher what is important to say and what is not. [Note: papers done 20 minutes before they are due are generally really bad.] Here are some Dos and Don ts that may help you: DO Be analytical think BIG! What are the implications of the key points of a reading or readings in the short-term, long-term, etc.? Challenge the argument or assumptions being made by an author or authors and suggest an alternative Consider problems with the approach or methodology being used and suggest an alternative Integrate common themes among the readings wherever you can DON T Summarize Tell me you think the reading was long, boring, interesting, funny, etc. You are not a literary critic. State the obvious Ignore the important themes among the readings 6