PSY 398 - Race, Identity, and Society

This course examines the roles of race and racism in psychology and in society. We will start by examining the sociohistorical construction of race, tracing the historical timeline from the Enlightenment in Europe to 19^th and 20^th century psychology in terms of how “science” was used to uphold pseudo-biological notions of white supremacy. We will then examine how racial identity was first studied in psychology as a form of resistance to this anti-Black norm, reading studies from the 1970s through today. Finally, we will draw on intersectional and other critical research from the past decades to understand the links between resisting oppression at the individual and societal levels.

Prerequisites
PSY 220 or PSY 251 or permission of the instructor

Credits 4

Notes
From time to time, departments design a new course to be offered either on a one-time basis or an experimental basis before deciding whether to make it a regular part of the curriculum.

New course

Area
Social Science

Division
Social Science

Compass Attributes
Social Sciences, Writing