POLITICAL SCIENCE 428 POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY

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1 M. Cottam Spring 2011 Office Hours: T, 8:00-9:00; 10: Johnson Tower 12:00; Th. 10:30-12: Or by appt. POLITICAL SCIENCE 428 POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY Course Description: This course introduces you to a variety of theories and issues in political psychology. Political psychology is interdisciplinary, drawing from psychology and political science to explore the psychological sources of political behavior. The course covers political behavior in American domestic politics, comparative political contexts, and international relations. We will look at individual behavior in American politics, such as decisions to vote, as well as individual decision making at the elite level, for example, decision making in foreign policy. We will also examine group psychology, stereotyping, and social identity theories. The political issues covered in this portion of the course include ethnic conflict, racial politics, and nationalism. Course Requirements: 1) Quizzes: Two quizzes will be held in the beginning of the course. They will be multiple choice questions, each quiz worth 10% of your grade. The fist quiz will be on February 1and the second on February 15. The first quiz will cover chapters 2 and 3 from the text, Introduction to Political Psychology2nd ed. and the second quiz will cover chapter 4 from the same text. 1) Exams -- Two take-home exams are required for this course. The first take-home exam covers course material from January 13-March 10. It will be due on March 22 and will constitute 30% of your grade. The second exam covers course material from March 22 through April 28. It will be due on May 3 and will constitute 30% of your grade. 2) Book Reviews One book review is required for the course. For one you may choose to review Monster by Sanyka Shakur, or My War Gone By, I Miss It So, by Anthony Loyd. Book reviews should be 7-8 pages in length and should emphasize the political psychology evident in the book. Book reviews will be worth 20% of your grade. Book reviews are due April 19. See next to last page of the syllabus for book review suggestions. Readings: Four books have been ordered for the course and are available at the Bookie. The books

2 are: Cottam, Dietz-Uhler, Mastors and Preston, Introduction to Political Psychology 2 nd ed. Don t buy the 1 st edition by mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sanyka Shakur, Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member. Anthony Loyd, My War Gone By, I Miss it So Neil Kressel, Mass Hate SYLLABUS PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY January 11: Introduction: What is political psychology? Cottam et al, Chapter 1 Jan.13-18: Foundations of political psychology: Personality Theories Cottam et al, Chapter 2 Kressel, Chapter 7 Jan 20-27: Foundations of political psychology: Cognition, attitudes and identities Cottam et al, Chapters 3, 11 February 1: Quiz #1

3 February 1-8: Foundations of political psychology: Groups Cottam et al, Chapter 4 Kressel, Chapter 6 Sanyka Shakur, Monster February 15: Quiz #2 and Discussion of Monster PART II: PATTERNS OF POLITICAL BEHAVIOR February 10-15: Political Leaders Cottam et al, Chapter 5 February 17-24: Political attitudes and behavior of the average citizen Cottam et al, Chapter 6 March 1-March 10: Race and political behavior Cottam, et al, Chapter 7 FIRST EXAM DUE MARCH 22 SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! March 22-31: Nationalism and political behavior

4 Cottam et al, Chapter 9 April 5-14: Ethnicity and political behavior Cottam et al, Chapter 8 Kressel, Chapter 2 Anthony Loyd, My War Gone By, I Miss It So BOOK REVIEWS DUE APRIL 19 April : Political Extremism: From terrorism to genocide Cottam et al, Chapter 10, 12 Kressel, Chapters 3-5 LAST EXAM DUE TUEDAY MAY 3 BY 5:00 PM.

5 Political Science 428 BOOK REVIEWS SUGGESTIONS REMEMBER, YOU ONLY NEED TO REVIEW ONE BOOK. Monster OR My War Gone By A book review should consist of a brief summary of the central themes of the book (what is it about, what events does it cover) followed by a discussion of the principle patterns of political psychology and resulting behavior that you noticed in the book (personality, groups, cognition, identity, effects of violence, etc.). The review should be 7-8 pages in length (double spaced). Approximately 1-2 pages can be devoted to discussions of the central themes, the rest to the more important part, the political psychology you observed in the book. It will help in writing the book review if you re-read the first 4 chapters of the course text book to refresh your memory of the central patterns of personality, cognition and social identity, and group behavior which you should be looking for in the description of gang behavior (Monster) and ethnic conflict and violence (My War Gone By). BOOK REVIEWS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 18. EARLY SUBMISSIONS WILL BE HAPPILY ACCEPTED.

6 Code of Conduct The University Student Handbook states that students have the right to freedom of expression but that disruptive behavior in classes will not be permitted. You are expected to participate in classroom activities in a professional manner. Private discussions with other students, ringing cell phones, passing notes, reading newspapers, disruptive eating, sleeping, and persistently arriving late or leaving early constitute inappropriate classroom behavior. If you demonstrate such behavior, you will be verbally warned in class to cease. If you persist in disruptive or distracting behavior, formal action, in accordance with WSU policy, will be taken. Expectations for student assignments and participation are set by the course syllabus and are not negotiable. Students who decline to fulfill those expectations should select another course. Statement of Disability Policy Reasonable accommodations are available for any student with a documented disability. Please notify your instructor, during the first week of this course, of any accommodations needed for this course. Late notification may cause requested accommodations to be unavailable. All accommodations must be approved through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in Administration Annex 206. For more information phone (TTY also) of send to" Mitchem@wsu.edu To receive accommodations, students must have documentation of their disability on file with the DRC. The Student must complete and sign an Accommodation Form with a DRC staff member and take it to each instructor for signature. If a student requests an accommodation and does not present a signed and completed form, the student will be directed to the DRC. Academic Dishonesty: WAC Academic Dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication in the process of completing academic work. The University expects that student organizations will accept these standards and that their members will conduct themselves as responsible members of the academic community. These standards should be interpreted by students as general notice of prohibited conduct. They should be read broadly, and are not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive forms. WAC All clear instances of academic dishonesty shall be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. The first reported instance at WSU of academic dishonesty by a student will be treated as purely an academic matter unless, in the judgment of the responsible instructor, more serious action should be taken through the disciplinary process. Any allegation of subsequent academic dishonesty will be treated as a matter to be referred to the Office of Student Affairs.