Listed in: Colloquia, as COLQ-338 | Psychology, as PSYC-339
Catherine A. Sanderson (Section 01)
(Offered as COLQ 338 and PSYC 339) Social norms, the unwritten rules that shape our behavior, influence virtually all aspects of our lives, from the clothes we wear to the car we drive to whether and how we vote. Although people follow these norms to fit in with their social group, they can also make crucial errors in their perception, which can lead to substantial consequences. This seminar is designed to help students examine the power of social norms, the factors that lead people to misperceive norms, and the consequences of such misperceptions. We’ll then turn to examining real-world interventions designed to shift social norms to change various types of behavior, from reducing bullying or binge drinking to increasing energy conservation and voting. Students will also assist with conducting an empirical examination of Project ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement), a program designed to create a police culture in which officers routinely intervene to prevent their colleagues from causing harm and making costly mistakes.
This course is part of a model of tutorials at Amherst designed to enable students to engage in substantive research with faculty in the humanities and humanistic social sciences.
Open to sophomores and juniors. Limited to 6 students. Spring Semester. Professor Sanderson.