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SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE (PSYCH-UA 35) FALL 2020 Monday & Wednesday 4:55-6:10PM Online via Zoom (see NYU Classes)

Instructor: Office: Office Hours: Email: Phone:

Professor Jon Freeman Meyer 505 By appt. [email protected] 212.998.7825

TA: Office: Office Hours: Email:

Gustav JW Lundberg via Zoom Mon 11-1 PM (Zoom) [email protected]

TA: Office: Office Hours: Email:

Tatiana Roberts via Zoom Wed & Thurs 1-3 PM (Zoom) [email protected]

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will provide a broad overview of the field of social neuroscience. We will consider how social processes are implemented at the neural level, but also how neural mechanisms help give rise to social phenomena and cultural experiences. Many believe that the large expansion of the human brain evolved due to the complex demands of dealing with social others—competing or cooperating with them, deceiving or empathizing with them, understanding or misjudging them. What kind of “social brain” has this evolutionary past left us with? In this course, we will review core principles, theories, and methods guiding social neuroscience, as well as research examining the brain basis of processes such as theory of mind, emotion, stereotyping, social group identity, empathy, judging faces and bodies, morality, decisionmaking, the impact of culture and development, among others. Overall, this course will introduce students to the field of social neuroscience and its multi-level approach to understanding the brain in its social context. This course counts as a Core A or Core B course. REQUIRED TEXTS  

Ward, D. The Student’s Guide to Social Neuroscience, 2nd Edition. New York: Psychology Press. Selected articles (available on NYU Classes)

IMPORTANT DATES    

Exam #1: October 5 Exam #2: November 4 Research Critique Paper due: November 23, 4:55pm Exam #3 (Final Exam): December 9

GRADING   

Exams: 75% Research critique paper: 20% Lecture and recitation participation: 5%

ROUTES OF LEARNING Exams There will be 3 exams in this course including the final exam. Exam questions will be based on material presented and/or discussed in class, material from the reading assignments, and material from recitations, and will require you to go beyond memorization and apply, analyze, and synthesize information. The exams will consist of multiple-choice questions and a few short-answer questions. If you know that you will be missing an exam for a university-approved reason (e.g., religious observation, athletic competition, etc.), it is your responsibility to bring this to our attention as early as possible. Make-up exams are not given except for university-approved reasons or emergency situations that can be verified. Research Critique Paper The objective of the research critique paper is for you to gain practice (1) reading primary research articles, (2) thinking critically and independently about social neuroscience research and (3) communicating your ideas effectively. For this short paper assignment, you will select a primary research article of your choice. It is important that you meet with your TA weeks in advance to ensure your article is appropriate. The paper will begin by a brief summary of the article and then provide a critique of the research (positive and negative points are both acceptable). Papers should connect the work to concepts and related studies covered in class. The papers can also describe creative ways to improve or expand on the primary research and/or future studies that could specifically remedy issues you’ve identified with the primary research. The paper should be no longer than 4-5 pages doublespaced with formatting: 1” margins with Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica 11-12 pt. font. Late papers will be penalized by a full letter grade per each day overdue. Recitations Recitation sections will discuss additional primary readings posted on NYU Classes and will review and discuss lecture material. Attendance is required. SECTION 2 – Friday 9:30AM-10:45AM, Zoom, Tatiana SECTION 3 – Wednesday 12:30PM-1:45PM, Zoom, Gustav SECTION 4 – Tuesday 2:00PM-3:15PM, Zoom, Tatiana SECTION 5 – Thursday 9:30AM-10:45AM, Zoom, Gustav

COURSE SCHEDULE Supplementary readings will be posted on NYU Classes. Course schedule is subject to change based on the progression of the class. 1: Introduction to Social Neuroscience Wed, Sept 2 Overview Mon, Sept 7 NO CLASS: LABOR DAY Ward, Chapter 1 (Legislative Day – Classes meet Wed, Sept 9 on Monday Schedule) 2: Methods of Social Neuroscience Mon, Sept 14 Ward, Chapter 2 Wed, Sept 16 Ward, Chapter 2 (continued) 3: Emotion and Motivation Mon, Sept 21 Ward, Chapter 4 Wed, Sept 23 Ward, Chapter 4 (continued) 4: Understanding Others Mon, Sept 28 Ward, Chapter 6 Wed, Sept 30 Ward, Chapter 6 (continued) Exam #1 Mon, Oct 5 Emerging Perspectives: Graduate Student Research Wed, Oct 7

TA Presentations

5: Cultural Neuroscience Mon, Oct 12 Ward, Chapter 3 Wed, Oct 14 Ward, Chapter 3 (continued) 6: Groups, Prejudice, & Stereotyping Mon, Oct 19 Ward, Chapter 9 Wed, Oct 21 Ward, Chapter 9 (continued)

7: Reading Faces, Bodies, and Voices Mon, Oct 26 Ward, Chapter 5 Wed, Oct 28 Ward, Chapter 5 (continued) Mon, Nov 2 Ward, Chapter 5 (continued) EXAM #2 Wed, Nov 4 8: Social Decision-Making and Neuroeconomics Mon, Nov 9 Ward, Chapter 7 Wed, Nov 11

Ward, Chapter 7 (continued)

9: Developmental Social Neuroscience Mon, Nov 16 Ward, Chapter 11 Wed, Nov 18

Ward, Chapter 11 (continued)

10: Morality and Antisocial Behavior Ward, Chapter 10 Mon, Nov 23 RESEARCH CRITIQUE PAPER DUE @ 4:55pm Wed, Nov 25 Ward, Chapter 10 (continued) 11: Relationships Thurs, Nov 26 – Fri, Nov 27 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK Mon, Nov 30 Ward, Chapter 8 Wed, Dec 2 Ward, Chapter 8 12: Future of Social Neuroscience & Wrap-Up Mon, Dec 7 NYU Classes EXAM #3 (FINAL EXAM) Wed, Dec 9...