Breaking the Prejudice Habit
/By Mary Kite (Ball State University)
To help students understand the sources of their own and others' intergroup attitudes and the behaviors that stem from them.
Read MoreExamples of Action Teaching
These innovative action teaching efforts won the Social Psychology Network Action Teaching Award or received honorable mention.
Understanding Social Injustice by Walking in Another Person's Shoes
/By Fred Bemak and Rita Chi-Ying Chung (George Mason University)
To help students (1) gain an understanding of the psychological and sociological factors related to social injustices; (2) acquire analytical and reflective thinking skills to assess and understand the context, history, and contemporary realities of social injustices; (3) understand the personal lives of those affected by social injustices; and (4) gain clinical and advocacy skills to challenge social injustices
Read MoreExploring Human Diversity Through Street Interviews
/By Kristel Gallagher (Keystone College)
To (1) make students aware of the everyday diversity that exists around them; (2) reduce stereotypes and prejudices toward unfamiliar or misunderstood groups by fostering a sense of connectedness and empathy with strangers; (3) help students develop interpersonal and social skills, including cultural competency, in an unstructured situation; and (4) allow students to use the contact hypothesis in the real world and learn to avoid making the fundamental attribution error and activating a self-fulfilling prophecy
Read MoreBringing Organizational Psychology to Life Through Fundraising
/By: Adam M. Grant (University of Pennsylvania)
Excerpt: To help students develop knowledge and skills in organizational psychology about (1) leadership, (2) collaboration, (3) networking, (4) negotiation, and (5) prosocial behavior through contributing to a meaningful cause in a cycle of application, feedback, and reflection.
Read MoreApplying Principles of Social Influence to Create Prosocial Change
/By: Salena Brody (Collin College)
The main objective of this action teaching project is to show students how knowledge can be used to effect positive social change. Students are challenged to apply principles of persuasion to a social problem in a creative way and to engage, inspire, and motivate members of their campus community to be change agents themselves. Over the years, this project has raised thousands of dollars for people in need and inspired students to pursue leadership roles on our campus.
Read MoreBuilding Cross-Cultural Understanding Through Facebook
/By: Carie Forden and Amy Carrillo (Clarion University)
Excerpt: To give students the opportunity to: (1) experience meaningful cross-cultural interaction; (2) apply social psychological principles of prejudice and peacemaking to solving a real world problem; (3) strengthen their critical thinking skills; and (4) deepen their understanding and appreciation of diversity.
Read MoreFrom Wealth to Well-Being: Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness
/By: Lara B. Aknin (Simon Fraser University) and Elizabeth W. Dunn (University of British Columbia)
To help students (1) learn about cutting edge research on the emotional consequences of spending choices, (2) experience an in-class experiment and discuss experimental design features, and (3) consider how generosity can help the benefactor as well as the recipient.
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