Sociology 726
Interpersonal transactions
Spring 2006
Instructor: Markus Kemmelmeier, Ph.D.
Office: 304 Mack Social Sciences
Phone: 784-1287
Email: markusk@unr.edu
Times: Tuesdays 2:15 - 5:00
Location: Mack Social Sciences, Room 345
Office hours: Thursday 11:45-1:00 or by appointment
Course description
This course provides a selective review of research and literature relating to interpersonal behavior. It surveys a broad range of topics, including interpersonal cognition and perception, interpersonal expectancies, power, communication, but also various aspects relationships, attraction, aggression and helping behavior. This diversity of topics is reflected in the readings which for the most part focus on original empirical and theoretical contributions rather than review articles.
Goals
This course has two main objectives. The first objective is to provide an in-depth examination of important theories and findings pertaining to each research area. The second objective is to develop an appreciation for some of the methodological approaches used in empirical investigations in these areas. The third objective is to promote critical thinking in the evaluation of data or arguments that are advanced in order to support various theoretical positions. To accomplish these goals, the typical reading assignment for each week consists of four to five papers spanning a variety of theoretical and empirical approaches.
Format
This course will follow a seminar format. Whereas the instructor will take some time to provide some context of the readings for the day and occasionally provide a presentation, the majority of the class will be open for discussion. Your active participant is essential to the quality of the course.
Course materials
All course materials are available either via the eReserves @ the library (www.library.unr.edu) or via WebCT. If you have not yet obtained a WebCT id, you can easily do so by going to webct.unr.edu.
Reaction papers. Every participant is required to write weekly reaction papers. The reaction papers should provide a thoughtful elaboration of your ideas, questions, doubts, or concerns concerning the readings. You are free to write about anything you wish, as long as you integrate at least three of the readings. Further, it is critical that you argue clearly, support your statements, and present justifications, e.g., for suggested extensions of the present research. The reaction papers should be one page (single-spaced), with a two-page limit, and should be turned in no later than 4 PM on Monday, preferably as an email attachment. Although the receipt of reaction papers will be registered, the content will not be graded as such as long as it shows reasonable thought and effort.
Research proposals. Over the course of the semester, every participant is required to write two research proposals. The first research proposal should focus on the study of topics or issues that are related to a topic we addressed in the first half of the course, whereas the second proposal should focus on a topic of the second half. You are free to pick any topic of interest to you, as long as you can argue convincingly that your topic is related to any of the issues we discussed. You are required to provide the instructor with a brief statement of what you are planning on writing about at least one week before the final proposal deadline (earlier submissions are strongly encouraged). Alternatively, you have the option of submitting a first draft of your proposal, on which you will receive feedback. In any case, you are encouraged to meet with me to discuss your topic of interest and strategies of implementing your research question.
The format of a proposal should resemble the introduction and methods section of an article in the empirical social sciences. There are no length requirements; yet the assumption is that proposals are usually no shorter than 8 and no longer than 20 pages (double-spaced). Use APA style (5th ed.) or ASA style (4th ed.)!
The research proposals will be graded based on quality of review of relevant literature, quality of your own analysis and integration of that literature, originality/creativity and quality of writing. (The first two criteria take priority over the second two criteria).
Final presentation. All students are expected to present one of their second research proposals at the final meeting of the class. Each presentation should be 10-15 minutes allowing for a 5-10 minute discussion. It is recommended that you present your second research proposal, but presenting your first proposal is acceptable also.
|
In-class participation |
15% |
|
Weekly reaction papers |
15% |
|
Research proposal #1 |
35% |
|
Research proposal #2 |
35% |
|
Total |
100% |
Schedule and readings
|
January 24 |
Organizational meeting -- general issues
Jordan, C. H., & Zanna, M. P. (2001). How to read a journal article in social psychology. In L. L. Thompson (Ed.), The social psychology of organizational behavior (pp. 419-428). New York: Psychology Press. [reprinted in various other sources]
|
|
January 31 |
Interpersonal perception
Darley, J. M., & Fazio, R. H. (1980). Expectancy confirmation processes arising in the social interaction sequence. American Psychologist, 35, 867-881. Funder, D. C. (1987). Errors and mistakes: Evaluating the accuracy of social judgment. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 75-90.* Gilbert, D. T., Pelham, B. W., & Krull, D. S. (1988). On cognitive busyness: When person perceivers meet persons perceived. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 733-740.* Jussim, L. (1993). Accuracy in interpersonal expectations: A reflection-construction analysis of current and classic research. Journal of Personality, 61, 637-668.* Ross, L., & Nisbett, R. E. (1991). The person and the situation. McGraw-Hill. Chapter 2 “The power of the situation” & 5 “Lay personality and lay social psychology”
|
|
February 7 |
The self in interaction
Kelly, A. E. (2000). Helping construct desirable identities: A self-presentational view of psychotherapy. Psychological Bulletin, 126, 475-494.* Leary, M. R., Tambor, E. S., Terdal, S. K., & Downs, D. (1995). Self-esteem as an interpersonal monitor: The sociometer hypothesis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 518-530.* Rudman, L. A. (1998). Self-promotion as a risk factor for women: The costs and benefits of counterstereotypical impression management. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 629-645.*
Schlenker, B. R., Pontari, B. A., & Christopher, A. N. (2001). Excuses and character: Personal and social implications of excuses. Personality and Social Psychological Review, 5, 15-32.* Swann, W. B., Jr., & Ely, R. J. (1984). A battle of wills: Self-verification versus behavioral confirmation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 1287-1302.* |
|
February 14 |
Stigma and stereotypes
Cameron, J. A., & Kemmelmeier, M. (2006). Leniency bias in academic feedback to minorities: The somewhat paradoxical consequences of Social Dominance Orientation. Unpublished manuscript, University of Nevada, Reno. Frable, D. E., Blackstone, T., & Scherbaum, C. (1990). Marginal and mindful: Deviants in social interactions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 140-149.* Major, B., & Crocker, J. (1993). Social stigma: The consequences of attributional ambiguity. In D. M. Mackie, & D. L. Hamilton (Eds.), Affect, cognition, and stereotyping: Interactive processes in group perception (pp. 345-370). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Monin, B., & Miller, D. T. (2001). Moral credentials and the expression of prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 33-43.* Vorauer, J., & Kumhyr, S. M. (2001). Is this about you or me? Self- versus other-directed judgments and feelings in response to intergroup interaction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 706-719.*
|
|
February 21 |
Language and conversation Higgins, E. T. (1992). Achieving “shared reality” in the communication game: A social action that creates meaning. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 11, 107-125.* Hilton, D. (1990). Conversational processes and causal explanation. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 65-81.* Kemmelmeier, M., Bless, H., Schwarz, N., & Bohner, G. (2004). What research participants learn from rewards: A conversational logic analysis of rewarding reasoning performance. Cahiers de Psychologie Cognitive/Current Psychology of Cognition, 22, 267-287. Sanchez-Burks, J., Lee, F., Choi, I., Nisbett, R., Zhao, S., Koo, J. (2003). Conversing across cultures: East-west communication styles in work and nonwork contexts. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 363-372.* Semin, G. R., & Fiedler, K. (1988). The cognitive function of linguistic categories in describing persons: Social cognition and language. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 558-568.*
|
|
February 28 |
Relating to others
Andersen, S. M., Glassman, N. S., Chen, S., & Cole, S. W. (1995). Transference in social perception: The role of chronic accessibility in significant-other representations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 41-57.* Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Norman, C. (2001). Self-expansion model of motiviaton and cognition in relationships and beyond. In G. J. O. Fletcher & M. S. Clark (Eds.), Blackwell Handbook of Social Psychology: Interpersonal processes (pp. 478-499). Malden, MA: Blackwell. Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497-529.* Gottman, J., Coan, J., Carree, S., & Swanson, C. (1998). Predicting martial happiness and stability from newlywed interactions. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 5-22.* Hodgins, H. S., & Liebeskind, E. (2003). Apology versus defense: Antecedents and consequences. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 39, 297-316.*
|
|
March 7 |
Deception
DePaulo, B. M., & Kashy, D. A. (1998) Everyday lies in close and casual relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 63-79.* Ekman, P., & O’Sullivan, M. (1991). Who can catch a liar? American Psychologist, 46, 913-920.* Gordon, A. K., & Miller, A. G. (2000). Perspective differences in the construal of lies: Is deception in the eye of the beholder? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 46-55.* Haselton, M. G., Buss, D. M., Oubaid, V., & Angleitner, A. (2005). Sex, Lies, and Strategic Interference: The Psychology of Deception Between the sexes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 3-23.* Wilson, D. S., Near, D., & Miller, R. R. (1996). Machiavellianism: A synthesis of the evolutionary and psychological literatures. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 285-299.*
|
|
March 11 |
********* Deadline for topic/first draft of research proposal #1 ********
|
|
March 14 |
Affect and interpersonal comparisons
Cahill, S. E., & Eggleston, R. A. (1994). Managing emotions in public: The case of wheelchair users. Social Psychology Quarterly, 57, 300-312.* Harber, K. D., & Cohen, D. J. (2005). Broadcaster Theory of Social Sharing. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 24, 382-400.* Kulik, J. A., Mahler, H. I. M., & Moore, P. J. (1996). Social comparison and affiliation under threat: Effects of recovery from major surgery. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 967-979.* Tesser, A., Millar, M, & Moore, J. (1988). Some affective consequences of social comparison and reflection processes: The pain and pleasure of being close. Journal of Personality and social psychology, 54, 49-61.*
|
|
March 18 |
**************** Research proposal #1 is due ****************
|
|
March 21 |
SPRING BREAK – no class
|
|
March 28 |
Power, status and influence
Baumeister, Roy F., Zhang, L., & Vohs, K. D. (2004). Gossip as Cultural Learning. Review of General Psychology, 8, 111-121.* Galinsky, A. D., Gruenfeld, D. H., & Magee, J. C. (2002). From power to action. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 453-466.* Hall, J. A., Coats, E. J., & LeBeau, L. S. (2005). Nonverbal Behavior and the Vertical Dimension of Social Relations: A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 131, 898-924.* Krackhardt, D. (1990). Assessing the political landscape: Structure, cognition and power in organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35, 342-369.* Rafaeli, A., & Sutton, R. I., (1991). Emotional contrast strategies as means of social influence: Lessons from criminal interrogators and bill collectors. Academy of Management Journal, 34, 749-775.*
|
|
April 4 |
Conflict and interdependence
Clark, M. S., Mills, J., &Powell, M. C. (1986). Keeping track of needs in communal and exchange relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 333-338.* Murray, S. L., & Holmes, J. G. (1993). Seeing virtues in faults: Negativity and the transformation of interpersonal narratives in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 707-722.* Ross, L., & Ward. A. (1995). Psychological barriers to dispute resolution. In M. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 27, pp. 255-304). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Rusbult, C. E., & Martz, J. M. (1995). Remaining in an abusive relationship: An investment model analysis of nonvoluntary dependence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21, 558-571.* Van Lange, P. A. M., De Bruin, E. M. N.; Otten, W., & Joireman, J. A. (1997). Development of prosocial, individualistic, and competitive orientations: Theory and preliminary evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 733-746.*
|
|
April 11 |
Attraction, love and sex
Baumeister, R. F., & Bratslavsky, E. (1999). Passion, intimacy, and time: Passionate love as a function of change in intimacy. Personality & Social Psychology Review, 3, 49-67.* Beall, A. E., & Sternberg, R. J. (1995). The social construction of love. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 12, 417-438.* Foster, C. A., Witcher, B. S., Campbell, W. K., & Green, J. D. (1998). Arousal and attraction: Evidence for automatic and controlled processes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 86-101.* Harris, C. R. (2003). A review of sex differences in sexual jealousy, including self-report data, psychophysiological responses, interpersonal violence, and morbid jealousy. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 7, 102-128.* Schmitt, D. P. & International Sexuality Description Project (2003). Universal sex differences in the desire for sexual variety: Tests from 52 nations, 6 continents, and 13 islands. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 85-104.*
|
|
April 18 |
Prosocial behavior
Batson, C. D. (2001). Addressing the altruism question experimentally. In S. G. Post, L. G. Underwood, J. P. Schloss, J. P., & W. B. Hurlbut (Eds.). (2001). Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue (pp. 89-105). New York: Oxford University Press. Batson, C. D., Ahmad, N., Yin, J., Bedell, S. J., Johnson, J. W., Templin, C. M., & Whiteside, A. (1999). Two threats to the common good: Self-interested egoism and empathy and empathy-induced altruism. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 3-16.* Burnstein, E., Crandall, C., & Kitayama, S. (1994). Some neo-Darwinian decision rules for altruism: Weighing cues for inclusive fitness as a function of the biological importance of the decision. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 773-789.*
Holmes, J. G., Miller, D. T., & Lerner, M. J. (2002). Committing altruism under the cloak of self-interest: The exchange fiction. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 144-151.* Kemmelmeier, M., Jambor, E., & Letner, J. (in press). Individualism and good works: Cultural variation in giving and volunteering across the United States. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology.
|
|
April 25 |
Aggression
Baumeister, R. F., Smart, L., Boden, J. M. (1996). Relation of threatened egotism to violence and aggression: The dark side of high self-esteem. Psychological Review, 103, 5-33.* Bushman, B. J., Bonacci, A. M., Pedersen, W. C., Vasquez, E. A., & Miller, N. (2005). Chewing on it can chew you up: Effects of rumination on triggered displaced aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88, 969-983.* Richardson, D., Hammock, G. S., Smith, S. M., Gardner, W., et al. (1994). Empathy as a cognitive inhibitor of interpersonal aggression. Aggressive Behavior; 20, 275-289.* Smuts, B. (1996). Male aggression against women: An evolutionary perspective. In D. M. Buss & N. M. Malamuth (Eds.), Sex, power, conflict: Evolutionary and feminist perspectives (pp. 231-268). New York: Oxford University Press. [reprinted from Human Nature, 3, 1-44.]* Vandello, J. A., & Cohen, D. (2003). Male honor and female fidelity: Implicit cultural scripts that perpetuate domestic violence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 997-1010.*
|
|
May 2 |
Student presentations
|
|
May 6 |
********* Deadline for topic/first draft of research proposal #2 ********
|
|
May 9 |
Student presentations
|
|
May 13 |
**************** Research proposal #2 is due ****************
|
* = available via www.library.unr.edu