Special Topics in Social/Clinical/Personality (310-0-20)

Topic

Unpacking your cultural self

Instructors

Stephanie Ann Fryberg

Meeting Info

Annenberg Hall G32: Thurs 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

What does it mean to be a "self"? What role does culture play in how you experience being a person? In this course, we will read texts from social and cultural psychology, but also on a smaller scale anthropology and sociology, to unpack our cultural selves. Research from social and cultural psychology tell us that what it means to be a self is deeply embedded in cultural contexts. Thus, we will examine other questions such as: To what extent is it possible to describe an "American" experience or to describe "not being American" but living or attending school in the U.S.? How are different people included in or excluded from the imagined community that is America? How does a person's race, class, gender and sexuality affect his or her experience of belonging to this country? These are just some of the questions we will consider as we explore the great diversity of childhood and young adult experiences of people who have grown up in or who are currently visiting this country. Our investigations will involve reading literature, watching films and examining a variety of cultural products as we draw on methods developed in both literary and psychological studies.

Registration Requirements

Prereq: Psych 110

Teaching Method

Class participation, Discussions, Films/videos, Group work, Presentations, Readings, Seminar, Writing assignments

Class Materials (Required)

All journal articles will be available online

Class Attributes

Attendance at 1st class mandatory
Prerequisites apply, see description