820-931 Seminar on Interpersonal Attraction
     Final Meeting: Monday, 5 May 1997, 6:30 - 9:10
     Seminar Meetings: Mondays, 6:30 - 9:10 PM, Garland  130

     Instructor: Marshall Lev Dermer, Associate Professor of Psychology
     Office Hours: TR,  10:30 - 11:20 AM and by appointment
     Office Location: Garland 330
     Office Telephone: 229-6067
     Department Telephone: 229-4746
     Home Telephone: 228-4888
     E-Mail: dermer@csd.uwm.edu

     Texts:

           Skinner, B. F. (1953). _Science and human behavior._ New
     York: The Free Press. (Available at Follett's)

           Michael, J. (1993). _Concepts and principles of behavior
     analysis._ Kalamazoo, MI: Society for the Advancement of Behavior
     Analysis. (Available at Follett's)

           Winokur, S. (1976). _A primer of verbal behavior: an operant
     view._ Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. (Available at
     Clark's).

     Additional Readings:

           Dermer, M. L.  (1994). _Useful technical terms for behavior
     analysis._ Unpublished manuscript, University of
     Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

           Gewirtz, J. L., & Pel ez-Nogueras, M.  (1992).  B. F.
     Skinner's legacy to human infant behavior and development.  
     _American Psychologist_, _47_, 1411-1422.

           Gewirtz, J. L., & Pel ez-Nogueras, M.  (1992).  Infants'
     separation difficulties and distress due to misplaced maternal
     contingencies.  In T. M. Field, P. M. McCabe & N. Schneiderman
     (Eds.), _Stress and coping in infancy and childhood_ (pp. 19-46).  
     Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

           Gewirtz, J. L. (1972). Attachment, dependence, and a
     distinction in terms of stimulus control. In J. L. Gewirtz (Ed.),
     _Attachment and dependency_ (pp. 139-177).  Washington, DC: V. H.
     Winston & Sons.

           Dermer, M. L.  (1994). _Using elementary behaviorism to
     understand and create romantic love._ Unpublished manuscript,
     University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

           Davis, K. E., & Todd, M. J. (1982).  Friendship and love
     relationships.  In K. E. Davis & T. O. Mitchell (Eds.), _Advances
     in Descriptive Psychology.  Vol. 2._ (pp. 79-122).  Greenwich, CT:
     JAI Press.

           Davis, K. E. & Todd, M. J. (1985). Assessing friendship:
     Prototypes, paradigm cases and relationship assessment. In S.
     Duck & D. Perlman (Eds.), _Understanding personal relationships:
     An Interdisciplinary approach_ (p. 17-34). Beverly Hills, CA:
     Sage Publications.

           Davis, K. E. (1996). _The relationship rating form (RRF)/ A
     measure of the characteristics of romantic relationships and
     friendships._ Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychology,
     University of South Carolina.

           Fehr, B. (1988). Prototype analysis of the concepts of love
     and commitment. _Journal of Personality and Social Psychology_, _55_,
     557-579.

           Russell, J. A. (1991). In defense of a prototype approach
     to emotion concepts. _Journal of Personality and Social
     Psychology, 60_, 37-47.

           Fehr, B., & Russell, J. A. (1991). The concept of love viewed
     from a prototype perspective. _Journal of personality and social
     psychology, 60_, 425-438.

           Fehr, B. (1993). How do I love thee? Let me consult my
     prototype. In S. Duck (Ed.), _Individuals in relationships (Vol. 1)_
     (pp. 87-120). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

           Dermer, M. L.  (1997). _Towards understanding love and other
     affectionate behavior._ Unpublished manuscript, University of
     Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

           Gergen, M. M., & Gergen, K. J. (1995). What is this thing
     called love? Emotional scenarios in historical perspective.  
     _Journal of Narrative and Life History, 5,_ 221-237.

           Enright, R. D., & Zell, R. L. (1989).  Problems encountered
     when we forgive one another.  _Journal of Psychology and
     Christianity, 8_, 52-60.

           Hayes, S. C. (1984). Making sense of spirituality.  
     _Behaviorism, 12,_ 99-110.

           Wahking, H. (1992). Spiritual growth through grace and
     forgiveness. _Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 11,_ 198-206.

           Kimmel, E. B., & Kazanis, B. W. (1995). Explorations of the
     unrecognized spirituality of women's communion.  Special Issue:
     Women's spirituality, women's lives. _Women and Therapy, 16,_
     215-227.

           El Azayem, G. A., & Hedayat-Diba, Z. (1994). The
     psychological aspects of Islam: Basic principles of Islam and
     their psychological corollary. _International Journal for the
     Psychology of Religion, 4,_ 41-50.


     Manuscripts:

           Behavioristic interpretation explains behavior by relating
     well-studied operations, processes, and principles to particular
     circumstances. As the semester progresses students will become
     increasingly skilled at behavioristic interpretation through
     readings, discussions, and short homework assignments.

           To help each student prepare a short (ten-page limit) term
     paper, participants will present and discuss an interpretation in
     seminar. Most relevant, of course, are interpretations addressing
     interpersonal attraction. I have, however, accepted
     interpretations relevant to other kinds of evaluative and social
     behavior including: self-love, homosexual behavior,
     multiple-personalities, and bystander intervention effects.  
     Besides presenting the interpretation, the term paper may
     outline how the validity of an aspect of the interpretation could
     be examined in a single-subject experiment.

           Twenty percent of a term paper's grade will be based on
     rhetoric--grammar, spelling, etc.  A paper might receive a grade
     of B- for content and A- for rhetoric. These scores can be
     converted to the following Grade Point Value (GPV) scale by using
     this conversion table:

     GPV     13  12  11  10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0
     GRADE   A+  A   A-  B+   B   B-  C+  C   C-  D+  D   D-  F+  F

     The above scores correspond to an 8 and 11, respectively.  
     The overall grade for this paper would be approximately a B
     because: (.80 x 8 ) + ( .20 x 11 ) = 8.60 or about a B. I will,
     of course, provide comments for the first draft of each term
     paper and encourage students to submit a second draft.

     Course Grade:

           The course grade will be the letter grade associated with
     the following equation:

                   Course Grade = .50 M + .30 S + .20 H,

     where M is the GPV for the final draft of the term paper, S is the
     GPV for seminar contributions, and H is the average GPV for the
     homework assignments.

     Office Hours:

           Unless there is an emergency, you can count on my being in
     my office from 10:30-11:20 AM TR.

           I always carry an appointment book. Please feel free to
     meet and discuss the seminar or your progress.

     Special Circumstances:

           If you have a learning, sensory, or physical disability, or
     if you believe you require special help regarding seminar,
     reading assignments, or homework then please talk with me.

     Note:  Departmental policies regarding participation by students
     with disabilities, accommodation for religious observances,
     academic conduct, complaint procedures, grade appeal procedures,
     and other standing policies (e.g., concerning sexual harassment
     and incompletes) are available in Garland 138 during regular
     business hours.