CSP 55 Moderation

Conflicts related to group identity or opinion are all around us. Warring religious groups, segregation in housing, income inequality, as well as policies on climate change, immigration, guns, and marriage are all examples of groups in opposition. This course explores the dynamic nature of group formation and dissolution by focusing on individual beliefs. In particular, we will look at how individuals and social structures adapt in order to achieve moderation in the face of conflict. Drawing upon evidence collected through collaborative projects, you will use sociological, economic, and cognitive theories to pose critical questions about group integrity and personal adaptation. Working with your peers, you will then examine these questions using computer models and produce a final research project. No programming experience is required, but we will introduce tools for simulating social dynamic processes that you will be able to apply to other social and ecological phenomena. By studying what structural forces bind us together, you will come away from the course with a toolkit of quantitative and qualitative strategies to address conflict in new situations.