Fall Semester 2001
Tue/Thur: 5:30-6:45
Pafford 302

Instructor:  Jeffrey Reber, Ph.D.
Office:  Pafford 321
Phone:  838-3037
e-mail:  jreber@westga.edu
Office Hours:  MW: 12:00-2:00   TTH: 11:00-2:00 (or by appointment)
 

Required Texts:

 Kohn, A. (1990).  The Brighter Side of Human Nature:  Altruism and Empathy in Everyday Life.  Basic Books.

 Monroe, K. R. (1996).  The Heart of Altruism:  Perceptions of a Common Humanity.  Princeton, NJ:  Princeton University Press.
 

Course Objectives
· to become familiar with altruistic and egoistic theories of helping behavior
· to evaluate the hidden ideas underlying one’s own and others’ position on the possibility of human altruism
· to investigate altruism as a genuine motivation of helpfulness.
· to analyze and synthesize issues in a psychological context
 

Course Description
 In this course we will explore individually and together the possibility of human altruism as a motivation for helping behavior.  This exploration entails not only a survey of the various theories, beliefs, and ideas about altruism emerging from psychology, philosophy, religion, and economics, but also an evaluation of our personal theories, beliefs, and ideas about selfless behavior.  We will examine how these ideas might influence our view of the world and our behavior toward others.  We will carry out our exploration using at least 4 methods:  First, we will read and evaluate texts.  Second, we will have class discussions.  Third, we will participate in community service.  Fourth, each of you will conduct an individual research project.  Ultimately, you will be able to say not only whether you believe altruism is possible, but you will be able to articulate thoughtful and well supported reasons for your position.

 
Course Requirements

Initial Position Paper  Your first assignment in the course will be to write out an initial response to the question:  Is altruism possible?  In this response you should not only answer the question but also explain your answer.  That is, describe whatever theories, beliefs, and ideas lead you to your conclusion.  Furthermore, I want you to examine where those theories, beliefs, and ideas come from and why you have adopted them.  For example, do they come from your religious upbringing, a personal experience, family, culture, socioeconomic status, etc.?  This may take some thoughtful introspection, but try your best to trace and articulate the origins of your position.  Your paper should be from 3-5 pages, double-spaced, and typed.  It will be worth 25 points.

Journals  During the course I want you to keep a journal.  In the journal you should take notes, paste newspaper clippings, draw pictures, express feelings, describe experiences, and keep a record of anything else you encounter that relates to the question:  Is altruism possible?  Like any explorer you will want to put down anything and everything you experience in or out of class, so keep the journal with you at all times throughout the semester.  It will be an important resource for other class assignments.  It will be collected and graded at the end of class and is worth 25 points.

Discussion Leaders  Each of you will have the opportunity to lead one of our class discussions.  Discussion topics are listed in the class schedule and typically correspond with a particular chapter or reading for that day.  As class discussion leader(s) you will want to walk the class through the key points of the reading, prepare specific questions about the topic, and, where possible share findings from related research.  You will be responsible for keeping your classmates’ interest and attention and for encouraging their participation.  Undergraduates will lead discussions in pairs and graduates will lead discussions individually.  Your performance as discussion leader will be evaluated by all class participants and is worth a total of 15 points.

Community Service  Each of you is encouraged to seek out an opportunity for community service during the semester.  Community service could range from volunteer work with various non-profit organizations to city beautification.  You may work individually or in groups.  Your service will not be graded nor is it a requirement for the course, though it may be helpful to your personal investigation of altruism.

Final Position Paper  At the end of the course each of you will submit a final position paper.  The purpose of this paper is once again to answer the question:  Is altruism possible?  In this paper you will look back on your initial position paper, read through your journal, and consider your community service, the readings, and class discussions.  You will explain your answer drawing on these resources and experiences.  As with the initial paper you should describe the theories, ideas, and feelings that influence your position and discuss why it is you have adopted them.  Ultimately, I would like you to discuss where your exploration into the possibility of human altruism has taken you.  This assignment will be worth 50 points and should be from 8-12 pages long.
 

Course Grading
                                          Points Possible  Percent of Final Grade
Initial Position Paper                25                                22
Journals                                        25                                22
Discussion Leader                     15                                  13
Final Position Paper                  50                                   43_________
Total           115 points    100%

Grade Scale
A 90% and above
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F 59% and below
 

Tentative Fall 2001 Schedule

Date:    Topic     Reading Assignment

Aug. 21  Course Introduction    Syllabus
         23  No Class—Work on Initial Position Paper
         28  The Puzzle of Altruism   Monroe: Intro., Ch. 1
   Initial Position Paper due
 30  Entrepreneur/Philanthropist   Monroe Chps. 2,3
Sep.  4   Heroine/Rescuers    Monroe Chps. 4,5
 6   Sociocultural Attributes   Monroe Ch. 6
 11  Economic Approaches   Monroe Ch. 7
 13  Evolutionary Biology Explanations  Monroe Ch. 8
 18  Psychological Discussions   Monroe Ch. 9
         20  The Altruistic Perspective   Monroe Ch. 10
         25  Ethical Political Acts    Monroe Ch. 11,Concl.
         27  Existence of a “Human Nature”  Kohn Ch. 1
Oct.  2   Nature of “Human Nature”   Kohn Ch. 2
         4   Prosocial Practices    Kohn Ch. 3
         9   The Self and the Other   Kohn Ch. 4
         11  The Self with the Other   Kohn Ch. 5
         16  The ABCs of Caring    Kohn Ch. 6
         18  Altruism Lost     Kohn Ch. 7
         23  Altruism Regained    Kohn Ch. 8
 25  Beyond Altruism    Kohn Ch. 9
30 Western Thought     Handouts
Nov. 1   Eastern Thought     Handouts
6 Social Psychology     Handouts
8,13  Altruism and the Media
 15  Altruism, Relationship, and Ethics   Handouts
         20  Community Service
         22  Thanksgiving Holiday
         27  Reports on Individual Research
         29  Reports on Individual Research
Dec. 4   Reports on Individual Research and Conclusion
   Final Position Paper due