FYSM158 ~ Psychology of Violence

MWF 9-9:50am
Maybank Hall, Room 103

* Course Syllabus *

Instructor

 Dr. Jen Wright
65 Coming Street, Rm 104
953-8196, wrightjj1 @ cofc.edu
Office hours: MWF 10-11am, TR 12:15-1:30pm
 

 

Required Texts

  Must We Fight? by William Ury, Editor (URY)
  Culture of Honor by Richard Nisbett (COH)
  The Biology of Violence by Debra Niehoff (BOV)
  additional readings – links below
 

 

Date Topic Reading Activity/Assignment Due Class (Lect/Disc) Notes
Mon: 1/11 Introduction   Discuss class/syllabus  
Weds: 1/13 Introduction   Forms of violence exercise Definition of Aggression/Violence
Fri: 1/15 NO CLASS

DON'T FORGET TO EMAIL ME YOUR VIOLENCE PAPER TOPIC
BY TUESDAY!

    
Mon: 1/18 NO CLASS      
Weds: 1/20 Evolutionary foundations of violence URY: Primate Behavior and Human Aggression (de Waal)
Article: Evolutionary Ethics, Aggression, and Violence: Lessons from Primate Research (de Waal)		   de Waal Model of Aggression
Fri: 1/22 Evolutionary foundations of violence Stanford (Ch 5): The Infanticide Wars
Mattson (Ch 10): Environmental Factors and Aggression in Nonhuman Primates (Wilson)
Article (optional): Sex & Society (de Waal)		 1st draft of Violence paper due Lecture notes
Mon: 1/25 Evolutionary foundations of violence BOV (Ch 3)   Notes on Ch 3
Weds: 1/27 Evolutionary foundations of violence Readings from Wild Justice?    
Fri: 1/29 Evolutionary foundations of violence   Student research presentations

 

 Graded Example 1, Example 2
Mon: 2/1 Historical foundations of violence   Student research presentations
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES		  
Weds: 2/3 Historical foundations of violence URY: The History of War -- Fact vs. Fiction (Ferguson)
Article: War Before History (Ferguson)		   Notes on History of War
Fri: 2/5 Historical foundations of violence Article: A History of Violence (Pinker)    
Mon: 2/8 Historical foundations of violence   Student research presentations  
Wed: 2/10 Historical foundations of violence   Student research presentations  
Fri: 2/12

EXAM 1

 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE    
Mon: 2/15 Neurobiological foundations of violence   Student research presentations   
Wed: 2/17 Neurobiological foundations of violence Ghosts in the Nursery (Ch 2)
The Threatened Brain, Maren		   Slides on brain development
Fri: 2/19 Neurobiological foundations of violence The Interaction of Biological and Social Measures, Raine    
Mon: 2/22 Neurobiological foundations of violence   Peer Review of Papers (BRING 2 COPIES OF YOUR PAPER TO CLASS!)  
Wed: 2/24 Neurobiological foundations of violence      
Fri: 2/26 Neurobiological foundations of violence Neuropsychological Factors (Ch 4)   Class notes 2/17 to 2/26
Mon: 3/1 Hormones BOV (Ch 5&6)   Notes on BOV Ch 5/6
Wed: 3/3 Hormones      
Fri: 3/5 Hormones      
   

SPRING BREAK

    
Mon: 3/15 Hormones Guest Lecture: Dr. Mike Ruscio   Guest lecture
Wed: 3/17

EXAM 2

 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE    
Fri: 3/19 Psychological foundations of violence The Basic Myths About Criminals 2nd draft of papers due Class notes
Mon: 3/22 Psychological foundations of violence Can Evil be Fun?   Class notes
Wed: 3/24 Psychological foundations of violence      
Fri: 3/26 Psychological foundations of violence Film: Columbine Documentary (Netflix)    
Mon: 3/29 Psychological foundations of violence   Student Presentations  
Wed: 3/31 Psychological foundations of violence   Student Presentations  
Fri: 4/2 Psychological foundations of violence How Evil Starts   Class notes
Mon: 4/5 Social foundations of violence Investigating Social Dynamics    
Wed: 4/7        
Fri: 4/9 Social foundations of violence Film: Beyond the Gates    
Mon: 4/12 Social foundations of violence Film: Beyond the Gates    
Wed: 4/14   Film discussion Film discussion paper  
Fri: 4/16 Social foundations of violence Film: Grey Zone    
Mon: 4/19 Social foundations of violence Film: Grey Zone    
Wed: 4/21   Film discussion Film discussion paper  
Fri: 4/23 Social foundations of violence Culture of Honor, Nisbett   Class notes
Mon: 4/26   Take home exam