Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2023 - PSYC 361 D100

Individual Differences in Social Psychology (3)

Class Number: 2528

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2023: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Oct 10, 2023: Tue, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 11, 2023
    Mon, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Yuthika Girme
    ygirme@sfu.ca
    Office: RCB 8307
    Office Hours: TBD

  • Prerequisites:

    PSYC 201, 260.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Predicting people’s thoughts, feelings, behaviour, and happiness is complicated – it largely depends on people’s unique personality characteristics, beliefs, expectations, and motivations. Students will learn about the development and consequences of key individual differences in social psychology. Students with credit for PSYC 391 under the title Individual Differences in Social Psychology may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

The major objectives of this class are to understand how individual differences/personality traits have a distinct impact on peoples’ personal and interpersonal wellbeing.

Topics:

Fixed and Growth Mindsets, Approach and Avoidance Motivations, Self-Determination Theory, Regulatory Mode, Attachment Insecurities, Self-Esteem, RWA/SDO and Prejudice, Sexist Beliefs, and Individual Differences in Singlehood.

Lectures:

Lectures are designed to be highly interactive and include videos, iclicker opinion polls, and class and small-group discussions. Attendance and participation are STRONGLY encouraged. No lecture recordings are available.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Predicting peoples’ thoughts, feelings, behavior, and happiness is complicated – it largely depends on peoples’ personality characteristics, beliefs, and motivations. In this course, you will learn about the development and consequences of key individual differences in social psychology such as peoples’ attachment insecurities, self-esteem, endorsement of sexist attitudes, destiny versus growth beliefs, approach versus avoidance social goals, and more.

Grading

  • Weekly Mastery Quizzes: 63%
  • Term Paper/ Project: 15%
  • Final Exam: 12%
  • Group Participation: 10%

NOTES:

MASTERY GRADING: This course is designed to provide students multiple opportunities to try, face setbacks, figure out what they did not understand as well as they thought they did, and then succeed. Students demonstrate mastery by achieving 90% on a series of Mastery Quizzes and get THREE opportunities to master each quiz.

REQUIREMENTS:

THERE WILL BE NO PREREQUISITE WAIVERS GIVEN FOR THIS CLASS.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

This course requires the use of iclickers (1 or 2) to collect in-class responses from students.

REQUIRED READING:

There is no textbook for this course. Readings will be available via the SFU library.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.