PSYC250

Description

Power is fundamental to human psychology, intergroup relations, and societal structures and institutions. This course examines the psychology of power among people with privilege. What motivates people to strive for power? What are the consequences of power for intergroup relations? How is power institutionalized to privilege dominant groups in society? In this first seminar, we will turn to the psychological literature on power to discuss various theories of power, how power enables privilege among dominant group members, and the psychological and societal consequences of power relations between groups (e.g., health and wellbeing, moral concerns, and discrimination). Topics include the psychology of dominant group members (e.g., White Americans, Men, Heterosexual people), power basis theory, power as control, privilege awareness, institutional power in the criminal justice system, economic systems, political systems, and the media. We will explore these topics through group discussion, activities, and writing. This course fulfills the First Seminar requirement of the Psychology major.