PSY 230

Psychology of Prejudice and Ethnocentrism

 

 

Gary S. Gregg

[e-mail:  ggregg@kzoo.edu         phone:   337-7069 ]

 

    This course is designed to provide an overview of psychological theories of ethnocentrism, with an emphasis on how these might be applied to help reduce prejudice and discrimination.  It will focus on American racism and Nazi anti-Semitism as historical cases, and then more closely examine theories which seek to account for the “duality” or “ambivalence” of attitudes.

 

    Students will write a case study or literature review style research paper, using psychological theories to analyze a case of real-world ethnic conflict (i.e., Bosnia, Northern Ireland), a type of prejudice (i.e., anti-Semitism, sexism), or the consequences or amelioration of prejudice.

 

Grading will reflect the importance of each:

 

Three quizzes on the readings            45%

 

Individual paper                                      45%

 

Class participation                                 10%

 

 

Books to buy:

            Malcolm X:                 The Autobiography of Malcolm X
            Kovel:                         White Racism
            Arendt:                        Eichmann in Jerusalem
 
Other readings will be available on Electronic Reserve, with links from my home page.

 

Syllabus   Fall, 2004

 

 

 

Racial Prejudice in America

 

Topic

Reading

Wk. 1 Monday

Introduction

Coles:  “Joe”

Wk 1   Wed

Ethnography of racism

Malcolm X:  Autobiography  Ch. 1-8

Wk 1   Friday

Identity

Malcolm X:  Autobiography  Ch. 9-14

Wk 2  Monday

Development

Malcolm X:  Autobiography  Ch. 15-19