Goals

UVic Pol 433 Seminar Goals

This is a 400 level course, meaning that it is an advanced, not an introductory course. And as a seminar, regular attendance and ongoing participation are essential. The seminar provides substantial experience with and insight into the construction and use of indirect and implicit measures of political bias.  These techniques provide a primary foundation for much contemporary Political Psychology as well as anti-bias activism.

In this class emphasis will placed upon groups of students presenting and facilitating discussion, and on alternate weeks, every seminar participant will devise and presenting an indirect or implicit measurement strategy for assessing bias. . As such, the course is intensively participatory. Working closely with others in such a focussed seminar setting, can prepare students for advanced academic study and ongoing political engagement.

In approaching Political Science 433 students should have some familiarity with the field Political Psychology, ideally by having completed UVic’s Poli 323. This is not a strict requirement, as the course materials for Pol 323 are readily available online. However, students who have taken a course in Political Psychology may be at somewhat of an advantage. If you have concerns about your preparation for this course, please consult with the instructor immediately after the first class.

There are no exams. Students working either individually or in groups will be evaluated upon oral and written presentations, as well as ongoing seminar participation.

POLI 323 Course Goals

The course will acquaint students with key theories and findings in the study of political psychology. In doing so we will be listening for echoes of the past in contemporary politics. The primary goal is to develop critical analytic and synthetic skills needed to gain psychological insight regarding populism, authoritarianism and political polarization. By engaging with the theories and experiments of leading psychological figures, students will also gain an understanding of many conceptual tools useful in understanding contemporary politics. By applying insights from psychology to the study of politics, students will better appreciate the challenges and opportunities of an interdisciplinary approach. Moreover, in reviewing the methods employed in the field of political psychology, students will strength their understanding of the strengths and limitations of contemporary social science.

Students will prepare two short papers, make two presentations, take three quizzes and participate in several class exercises. There will be no exam.