PSYC239

Description

Section information text: This course provides a comprehensive overview of social psychological theories on prosocial behavior on various levels of analysis, ranging from individual and interpersonal forms of helping to collective action and helping behaviors on the societal level. Particular emphasis is placed on two questions: Why do we tend to help ingroup members more than outgroup members? What can we do to increase prosocial behavior across group lines? We will focus on forms of helping behavior that contribute to social justice and social change. Topics include situational and motivational factors that predict helping; evolutionary theories of prosocial behavior; factors that contribute to ingroup and outgroup helping; effects of helping on the provider and recipient of help; volunteering; rescuing and bystander behavior; solidarity and collective action; and international dimensions of helping (e.g., foreign aid). A particular effort is made to bridge theory and practice and to foster critical thinking about ways in which these theories apply to the real world and can be used to promote inclusive prosocial behavior. Prerequisites for this course require a grade of C- or better. This course fulfills the mid-level First Seminar requirement of the Psychology major.