SOCIOLOGY 232-01

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY - SELF IN SOCIETY

Fall 1996

TR 12:30 - 1:45

Professor: Kenneth Allan, Ph.D. Office: Graham 321

Office hours: 2 - 3:30 TR (tentative) E-mail: kdallan@hamlet.uncg.edu

or by appointment: 334-5295

This course is designed to be an introduction to a sociological perspective of social psychology. In general, social psychology is concerned with the intersection between the individual and society. Sociology concentrates on the influence of social factors upon the construction of reality, identity, and self, and the reciprocal effects the individual has upon society. The focus of analysis in sociology is the interaction or encounter. Of particular concern for us will be the symbolic construction of reality and self, the place of language in thought and socialization, the general dynamics of interaction, and the social construction of the other.

Warning: This class requires you to render problematic the taken-for-granted, mundane constructions of reality, meaning, self, and the other.

There are two principal goals to this class:

1. to develop within the student the ability to think critically, analytically, and sociologically about reality, meaning, self, and the other;

2. to equip the student with the basic concepts and dynamics of a structural-constructionist perspective.

Required Text

Kollock, Peter and Jodi O'Brien. 1994. The Production of Reality; Essays and Readings in Social Psychology. Pine Forge Press. Available at the University Book Store.

Course Requirements

1. Attendance at all lectures, careful reading of all reading assignments, and participation in all class activities.

2. Completion of personal journal. The personal journal is designed to provide you with an opportunity to respond personally or academically to the class material on a weekly basisÑoften times I will provide you with an assignment. This journal needs to be kept up-to-date, i.e., entries should be made weekly. I will periodically review and comment on the journals. Generally, there will be two parts to every entry. Part one will consist of an abstract of the material covered during the week; part two will be one of two types of entries: a) an empirical insight (self) or observation (other) that the week's material brought to light; or, b) critical questions or problems associated with the material.

3. Four examinations: The semester is divided into two main divisionsÑthe first division will cover topics one and two; the second division will cover topic three. There will be an examination at the conclusion of each division, a cumulative final, and a capstone question.

Course Grade

Course grades will be assigned using the following approximate formula:

In-class examinations: 80% (4 X 20% = 80%)

Journal: 20%

Examination policy: Exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer and brief essay. Make-up exams will be given but they will have a different format (all essay). When possible, you will be given one week to respond in writing to any question missed on the two in-semester examinations. Responses must not only correct the part you missed on the examination but also present a full explanation of the conceptÑyou must convince me that you know and understand the concept. It is possible to be excluded from taking the cumulative examination: if your initial grade (i.e., before corrections) on the two in-semester exams is 80% or above, then you may opt out of the final and take the average of the two examinations as your cumulative grade. Everyone must complete the capstone question. FYI: I have no toleration for academic dishonesty.

Tentative Schedule

Topic 1: The Social Construction of Reality

Readings:

Mehan & Wood, 314 - 330;

Garfinkel, 331 - 342;

Pollner & McDonald-Wikler, 343 - 355;

Reiss, 356 - 359;

Berger & Kellner, 436 - 449;

Parenti, 402 - 411;

Conrad, 417 - 425;

Szasz, 426 - 435

Topic 2: The Social Construction of Meaning

Readings:

Cassirer, 67 - 68;

Burke, 69 - 72;

Strauss, 73 - 77;

Langer, 94 - 98;

Lee, 101 - 111;

Hofstadter, 112 - 118;

Hughes, 35;

Njeri, 291 - 298

Topic 3: The Social Construction of Self and Other

Readings:

Orwell, 142 - 146;

Staples, 156 - 158;

Hochschild, 159 - 171;

Kollock, Blumstein, Schwartz, 172 - 188;

Emerson, 189 - 202;

Strauss, 269 - 273;

Blumstein, 274 - 286;

Steele, 291 - 298;

Scott & Lyman, 219 - 238;

Hewitt & Stokes, 239 - 251;

Watzlawick, 360 - 372;

Snyder, 373 - 377;

Rosenthal & Jacobson, 378 - 382;

Stoddard, 450 - 453;

Ettelbrick, 454 - 458;

hooks, 493 - 496;

Epilogue, 497 - 508

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